Oxidative Stress in Laboratory-Incubated Double-Crested Cormorant Eggs Collected from the Great Lakes

Abstract

Double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) eggs were collected in 1998 from three sites on Lakes Huron and Superior and either analyzed for 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-like residues or artifically incubated. Some of the incubated eggs were injected with vitamin E (antioxidant) or piperonyl butoxide (CYPIA blocker) to examine the role of CYPIA and oxidative stress in normal bird development. Embryos (day 23) were analyzed for hepatic ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity and different measures of oxidative stress. Glutathione-related parameters were also measured in brain. In contrast to the historical data, there were no statistically significant differences in concentrations of chlorinated dioxins, furans, dioxin-like PCBs, or total TCDD-equivalents (TEQs) in eggs among sites. Survival and incidence of abnormalities were comparable at all study sites. Slight differences in liver, heart, and egg weight were observed among sites. A greater incidence of eye deformities was observed in embryos treated with vitamin E. Treatment with the CYPIA blocker, piperonyl butoxide, decreased the body weights of embryos. EROD activities were similar at all locations, but measures of oxidative stress varied among locations. There were greater levels of oxidized glutathione and oxidative DNA damage at Little Charity Island in Saginaw Bay. There was relatively great interindividual variation in biochemical responses and significant interrelation of the parameters of oxidative stress. While exposure to PCDD/DF and PCBs does not seem to explain the observed oxidative stress, the potential of these compounds to cause the observed effects can not be completely excluded.

Seasonal Variation in the Regulation of Redox State and Some Biotransformation Enzyme Activities in the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rusticaL.)

“…Increased activities or changed levels of all these biomarkers are associated with oxidative stress (Halliwell and Gutteridge 2007). With regard to totGSH, an increase (Alonso-Alvarez et al 2008), no change (Rattner et al 2000;Hilscherova et al 2003), and a decrease (Costantini and Bonadonna 2010) in oxidative stresses have been reported, indicating that it is not a suitable parameter for demonstrating the occurrence of oxidative conditions.…”

Catalase ameliorates polychlorinated biphenyl-induced cytotoxicity in nonmalignant human breast epithelial cells

“…Increased peroxide levels have been observed with exposure to PCB77 or PCB126 in marine invertebrates [18]. Exposures to PCBs and dioxin-like PCBs are reported to result in oxidative stress in wild life animals [19]. Human breast cancer (T47D and MDA-MB-231) and promyelocytic (HL-60) cells exposed to PCB153, PCB126, or PCB-hydroquinones caused DNA damage [20, 21].…”

670 nanometer light treatment attenuates dioxin toxicity in the developing chick embryo

“…Chickens are a classic model for studying developmental processes [23,24]. Birds are also well established as sensitive models of TCDD-induced embryo toxicity [25,26]. Our laboratory has studied TCDDrelated toxicity in the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus) and wild birds [27][28][29][30][31] and has documented TCDDrelated teratogenic changes, including increased embryo mortality, brain asymmetry, heart, limb, and craniofacial malformations, organ weight differences, as well as decreased weight and crown-rump length, confirming studies in other laboratories and in other species.…”