Induction of Ethoxyresorufin-o-deethylase (EROD) activity by Benzo[a]pyrene in Primary Culture of Gill Epithelial Cells from Tilapia fish

Primary gill cell lines and pollutants

Authors

  • Iji O. T. Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor Plantation Apata, Ibadan, Nigeria.
  • Myburgh J. G. Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
  • McGaw L. J. Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

Keywords:

Cultured gill epithelial cells, Oreochromis mossambicus, in-vitro assay, benzo[a]pyrene

Abstract

Using in vitro techniques in ecotoxicological studies to detect and measure chemically induced distress in waterbodies is gaining momentum. In South Africa, toxicity testing is a part of managing water resources. In our study, primary gill epithelial cells established from the gills of indigenous fish (Oreochromis mossambicus) were used to assess the CYP1A induction, serving as an alternative to whole fish toxicity testing. Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a potent aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Aryl) agonist usually found in contaminated water, was exposed to primary cultures of gill epithelial cells and a continuous fish gill cell line RTgill-W1 cells. The primary gill epithelial cells responded to CYP1A induction, while the commercially available RTgill-W1 cell line showed no activity (p < 0.001). Cytotoxicity, determined by the methyl thiazole tetrazolium (MTT) assay, was not observed following a 72-h exposure in the primary gill epithelial cells and the RTgill-W1 cell line to differing B[a]P concentrations. The gill epithelial cells isolated from the gills of Tilapia fish (Oreochromis mossambicus) were similar in morphology to fish gills. The results showed gill filament EROD activity as a sensitive, rapid, cost-effective biomarker that detects readily metabolized Aryl agonists in polluted water.

Published

2024-11-14

Issue

Section

Research Articles

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