Pacific Ocean–Wide Profile of CYP1A1 Expression, Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Ratios, and Organic Contaminant Burden in Sperm Whale Skin Biopsies

• DOI: 10.1289/ehp.0901809
• Publication Date: 2010-12-06T05:09:12Z
• Authors: Céline A.J. Godar...; Rebecca Clark; Maria Cristina Fossi; Letizia Marsili; Silvia Maltese; Adam G. West; Luciano Valenzuela; Victoria Rowntree; Ildiko Polyak; John C. Cannon; Kim Pinkerton; Nadia Rubio-Cisneros; Sarah L. Mesnick; Stephen B. Cox; Iain Kerr; Roger Payne; John J. Stegeman
• Keywords: Sperm whale; Blubber; Marine Pollution; Sentinel species; Marine ecosystem

Ocean pollution affects marine organisms and ecosystems as well humans. The International Oceanographic Commission recommends ocean health monitoring programs to investigate the presence of contaminants threatened species use multiple early-warning biomarker approaches.We explored hypothesis that contaminant analyses in skin biopsies sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) could reveal geographical trends exposure on an oceanwide scale.We analyzed cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) expression (by immunohistochemistry), stable nitrogen carbon isotope ratios (as general indicators trophic position latitude, respectively), burdens explore regional Pacific Ocean.Biomarker revealed significant differences within Ocean. CYP1A1 was highest whales from Galapagos, a United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organization World Heritage reserve, lowest sampling sites farthest away continents. We examined possible influence whales' sex, diet, or range other parameters variation expression, but data were inconclusive. In general, not significantly correlated with blubber. However, small sample sizes precluded detailed chemical analyses, power detect associations limited.Our large-scale study successful at identifying providing baseline for this known aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonists. we identify factors explained variation. Future profiles cetacean are warranted whether globally distributed chemicals occur biochemically relevant concentrations global basis, which may provide measure integrity.