| Summary: | Mediterranean cetaceans, particularly odontocetes, accumulate high concentrations of organochlorine contaminants (Ocs) and are therefore exposed to high toxicological risk. Some OCs are known to be endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). The possibility that certain Mediterranean cetaceans (Stenella coeruleoalba, Delphinus delphis, Tursiops truncatus and Balaenoptera physalus) are subject to toxicological risk due to organochlorines and emerging contaminants, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) with endocrine disrupting capacity, was investigated using non-lethal “diagnostic” and “prognostic” methods. Benzo(a)pyrene monooxygenase (CYP1A1) activity in skin biopsies was used as a “diagnostic” indicator of exposure to organochlorines in odontocetes and mysticetes and in different populations of S. coeruleoalba. Marked differences in levels of OCs and CYP1A1 activity were found between fin whales and odontocetes. Organochlorine levels and CYP1A1 activity were significantly higher in the S. coeruleoalba population of the Mediterranean Whale Sanctuary than in those of two other study areas, suggesting that cetaceans are exposed to high risk in this protected area. As a new “prognostic” tool we explored interspecies and gender susceptibility to OC-EDCs and PBDEs using qualitative and semi-quantitative evaluation of target proteins, such as CYP450 1A1 and CYP450 2B in cultured cetacean fibroblasts, by western blot, immunofluorescence technique and PCR real time.
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