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Hepatic cytochrome P450 activity and pollutant concentrations in paradise shelducks and southern black-backed gulls in the South Island of New Zealand

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Abstract

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes catalyse the oxidative metabolism of various xenobiotics including environmental pollutants. We investigated liver microsomal CYP marker activities in 60 paradise shelducks (Tadorna variegata; herbivore) and 77 southern black-backed gulls (Larus dominicanus; omnivore) collected at three sites with putatively different levels of pollution in the South Island of New Zealand. Ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity was high in birds at an urban landfill site compared to those at a relatively pristine and an agricultural site. Analysis of p-nitrophenol hydroxylase and erythromycin demethylase activities indicated the presence of two additional CYP isoforms in shelducks but no additional form in gulls. Total polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations (ranges: shelducks, 0.073–6.2; gulls, 8.2–330 ng/g wet weight) were high in landfill samples suggesting a link to EROD induction and, in landfill shelducks, EROD was independently associated with Hg and Pb concentration. PCB congener-specific assessments indicated the metabolism of at least two congeners (#28 and #74) is induced in shelducks. DDE concentrations (ranges: shelducks, 0.85–320; gulls, 44–4800 ng/g) were high in birds at the landfill and agricultural sites. Body weight tended to be lower in landfill birds, but whether this reflects the greater energetic demands of pollutant detoxification remains to be investigated.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the assistance of Frans Laas in sample collection. We also thank the Otago Fish and Game Council, the Department of Conservation Otago and West Coast Conservancies, and the landfill operators, Delta Utility Services and EnviroWaste Services. Pollutant analyses were supervised by Claire Hiess (AgriQuality) and Tracy Morrison (Environmental Laboratory Services). M. Numata was financially supported by a University of Otago School of Pharmacy Stipend.

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  1. Mihoko Numata

    Present address: Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, P.O. Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Mihoko Numata, J. Paul Fawcett & Dorothy J. Saville

  2. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Rhonda J. Rosengren

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  1. Mihoko Numata
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Correspondence to Mihoko Numata.

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Numata, M., Fawcett, J.P., Saville, D.J. et al. Hepatic cytochrome P450 activity and pollutant concentrations in paradise shelducks and southern black-backed gulls in the South Island of New Zealand. Ecotoxicology 17, 697–708 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-008-0218-9

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