Sammendrag
Specimens of European eel A. Anguilla were exposed to yperite in order to evaluate the effects of this chemical warfare agent on hepatic phase I and II detoxification enzymes and histopathological changes on external and internal organs. Fish were intramuscularly injected with 0.01, 0.1 and 1 mg/kg of yperite dissolved in corn oil. CYP1A1, UDPGT and GST genes were evaluated by RT- PCR and the related catalytic activities by biochemical assays. Samples from skin, muscle and liver were collected for histological analysis after post-mortem autoptic exam. A significant dose-dependent increase of CYP1A1 gene was observed at 24h coming back to control values within 48h. The related EROD activity increased significantly at 0.01 mg/kg of yperite at 24h and at 0.01 and 0.1 mg/kg after 48h. Significant increase of GST gene was evident after 24h while a slight increase of the related enzyme activity was observed at higher doses at both time of exposure. No modulation of UDPGT gene occurred within 48h of exposure, while enzyme activity increased significantly after 48h. Histological analysis showed the presence of acute inflammatory response already after 24h in skin layers and muscle, associate to cell degeneration and necrosis after 48h at the highest dose. Injuries were limited to the area of injection. Overall results indicate the ability of yperite to induce phase I and II detoxification enzymes, both at gene and catalytic activity levels, and the capability to cause serious pathological alterations in eels tissues.
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