Assessment of the State of Hepatic Monooxygenase Activity in Laboratory and Feral Fish

Aspects of the use of induction of the cytochrome P-450/monooxygenase system as a biological indicator for environmental pollution are discussed. Among the more important considerations are selection of the fish to be monitored and selection of the assays to be utilized, both of which are reviewed. Specific examples of techniques which we have utilized, including exposure of fish by pumping environmental water into the laboratory and sampling of embryos and fry after laboratory culture of eggs collected from fish in various locations, are presented. The sensitive technique of assaying for PAH-induced cytochrome P-450 in fish by western blotting is described and an environmental application presented.