¹State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Environmental Science Research Center, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
²Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021 China
³College of Biological Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021 China

^*Corresponding author: xhwang@jingxian.xmu.edu.cn

Abstract

   This paper studied the induction kinetics of the enzyme 7- ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase in the liver of the marine fish, Acanthopagrus schlegeli following the exposure to benzo (a)pyrene for up to 14 days at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0,5.0 µg l^-1. The results demonstrated a dose-response relationship between hepatic enzyme activities induction and benzo(a)pyrene concentration. Hepatic enzyme activities were significantly induced by the second day with exposure to the lower concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene (0.5 µg and 1.0 µg l^-1), and at 12 hours of exposure for the higher concentrations (2.0 and 5.0 µg l^-1). After 7 days depuration, the activities of the enzyme of fish returned to the control level. This indicated that while benzo(a)pyrene has an effect on the hepatic enzyme activity, the fish can eliminate a major part the enzyme and its metabolites.