Evaluation of biomarkers in caged fish to assess the water quality in Masan Bay

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare enzymetic biomarker activities in fish caged at two sites, Masan Bay (contaminated) and Haeguemgang (reference). Previous studies on \\\\\\\\'wild\\\\\\\\' flatfish from these sites showed evidence of inhibition of acetyl and butyryl cholinesterase (AChE and BChE), and induction of ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) and cytochrome P-450 1A (CYP1A) concentrations in Masan Bay flatfish. In the present study, EROD, brain AChE (bAChE), muscle AChE (mAChE) and BChE (mBChE) in caged rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli) fish were measured at 0, 1, 3, 7, 15 and 30 day after caging. EROD activity in the caged fish was significantly higher in Masan Bay than in the Haeguemgang at 1, 3 and 7 day after caging, but not at 15 and 30 days of caging. bAChE activity was significantly inhibited at 3, 7 and 15 days, and mAChE activity was inhibited at 3 and 7 days after caging in Masan Bay. However, mBChE activity was not significantly inhibited during the experiment. Taken together, the data suggest that the caged fish were exposed at least transiently to CYP1A inducers and ChE inhibitors, and this is consistent with our previous observations.