Comparison of Cytochrome P450 1A Induction in Blood and Liver Cells of Sea Otters. EXXON VALDEZ Oil Spill Restoration Project Final Report. (Restoration Project 01534)

摘要

Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) in the most heavily oiled areas of western Prince William Sound have not recovered from the EVOS, based on estimates of otter abundance and survival rates. Exposure of sea otters to lingering oil appears to be a likely mechanism explaining lack of full recovery. This study was initiated to obtain further information on oil exposure, using the cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) biomarker. Previous work (Project //025) found that sea otters in oiled areas of western PWS had elevated levels of CYPlA, in blood samples collected in 1996-98. In summer 2001, as part of Project 01423, we resampled sea otters in oiled and unoiled areas of PWS, to monitor health and blood CYP1A values. Liver was also sampled from these otters for assays of CYP1A and for examination of histopathological changes.