Anguilla anguilla L. liver organ culture as a toxicological model:: in vivo and in vitro liver EROD induction by β-naphthoflavone

In vivo eel's liver EROD (Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase) induction either by an intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of 4 mg/Kg or by water diluted 2.7 mu M beta-naphtoflavone (BNF) exposure, during 24 hours and 3 days, respectively, does not affect in vitro liver cortisol uptake from MEM (Minimum Essential Media) at 1, 3, 4 and 24 hours. In vivo liver EROD induction continues in vitro, since it significantly increases from 0 up to 4 hours and at 24 hours. However, in vivo liver EROD activity induction is strongly enhanced in vitro, either by MEM containing cortisol or by serum-free MEM (MEM-S). Eel's liver organ cultures exposed to 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.9, 2.7 mu M BNF in MEM-S, during 24 hours, demonstrated a dose-related significant increase in EROD activity. Eel's liver organ culture seems to be a good ecotoxicological model for EROD induction and for the study of biotransformation mechanisms.