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Biomarkers of Contaminant Exposure in Northern Pike (Esox lucius) from the Yukon River Basin, Alaska

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Abstract

As part of a larger investigation, northern pike (n = 158; Esox lucius) were collected from ten sites in the Yukon River Basin (YRB), Alaska, to document biomarkers and their correlations with organochlorine pesticide (total p,p’-DDT, total chlordane, dieldrin, and toxaphene), total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and elemental contaminant (arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, total mercury, selenium, and zinc) concentrations. A suite of biomarkers including somatic indices, hepatic 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity, vitellogenin concentrations, steroid hormone (17B- ustradiol and 16-kebtestosteront) concentrations, splenic macrophage aggregates (MAs), oocyte atresia, and other microscopic anomalies in various tissues were documented in YRB pike. Mean condition factor (0.50 to 0.68), hepatosomatic index (1.00% to 3.56%), and splenosomatic index (0.09% to 0.18%) were not anomalous at any site nor correlated with any contaminant concentration. Mean EROD activity (0.71 to 17.51 pmol/min/mg protein) was similar to basal activity levels previously measured in pike and was positively correlated with selenium concentrations (r = 0.88, P < 0.01). Vitellogenin concentrations in female (0.09 to 5.32 mg/mL) and male (<0.0005 to 0.097 mg/mL) pike were not correlated with any contaminant, but vitellogenin concentrations >0.01 mg/mL in male pike from multiple sites indicated exposure to estrogenic compounds. Mean steroid hormone concentrations and percent oocyte atresia were not anomalous in pike from any YRB site. Few site differences were significant for mean MA density (1.86 to 6.42 MA/mm2), size (812 to 1481 μm2), and tissue occupied (MA-%; 0.24% to 0.75%). A linear regression between MA-% and total PCBs was significant, although PCB concentrations were generally low in YRB pike (≤63 ng/g), and MA-% values in female pike (0.24% to 0.54%) were lower than in male pike (0.32% to 0.75%) at similar PCB concentrations. Greater numbers of MAs were found as zinc concentrations increased in YRB female pike, but it is unlikely that this is a causative relationship. Histological abnormalities observed in gill, liver, spleen, and kidney tissues were not likely a result of contaminant exposure but provide information on the general health of YRB pike. The most common histologic anomalies were parasitic infestations in various organs and developing nephrons and nephrocalcinosis in posterior kidney tissues. Overall, few biomarker responses in YRB pike were correlated with chemical contaminant concentrations, and YRB pike generally appeared to be healthy with no site having multiple anomalous biomarker responses.

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Acknowledgments

This study was conducted as a component of the Large River Monitoring Network of the United States Geological Survey Biomonitoring Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program. R. Lipkin created the map. We thank K. Chojnacki, G. Chuiko, A. Matz, K. Mueller, M. Ryan, C. Schmitt, and two anonymous reviewers for providing comments on earlier versions of this manuscript. Although information in this article was developed by the United States Geological Survey, the article may not necessarily reflect the views of this organization, and no official endorsement should be inferred.

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  1. T. S. Gross

    Present address: Florida Integrated Science Center, United States Geological Surgery, 7920 NW 71st St., Gainesville, FL, 32653, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Columbia Environmental Research Center, United States Geological Survey, 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA

    J. E. Hinck & D. E. Tillitt

  2. Leetown Science Center, United States Geological Survey, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV, 24530, USA

    V. S. Blazer

  3. Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, P. O. Box 100185, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    N. D. Denslow & T. S. Gross

  4. Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Boulevard, Seattle, WA, 98112, USA

    M. S. Myers

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  1. J. E. Hinck
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Hinck, J.E., Blazer, V.S., Denslow, N.D. et al. Biomarkers of Contaminant Exposure in Northern Pike (Esox lucius) from the Yukon River Basin, Alaska. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 52, 549–562 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-006-0134-z

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