Seasonal variation in cytochrome P450 immunopositive protein levels, lipid peroxidation and genetic toxicity in digestive gland of the mussel Mytilus edulis

The relationship between cytochrome P450 1A- and 2E-immunopositive proteins, lipid peroxidation and DNA strand breaks (SBs) was studied in Mytilus edulis digestive gland at different seasons and at different sites around the UK coast. Cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A)-immunopositive protein and DNA strand breaks were generally lowest in December but there was no correlation between PAH exposure (indicated by chemical measurement and CYP1A-immunopositive protein expression) and DNA strand breaks which was highest at the relatively non-polluted site (Port Quin). As with CYP1A, CYP2E1-immunopositive protein was maximal at most sites in May. Lipid peroxidation, in contrast, did not alter markedly throughout the year. In conclusion, DNA strand breakage was not correlated with any of the above parameters although it did correlate with "scope for growth" as did the inverse of PAH levels. The study highlights the need to establish the relative contribution of DNA damage and DNA repair processes to the production of DNA strand breaks and emphasises the need to consider seasonal variation in interpretation of biomarkers. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.