Flow cytometry for the evaluation of chromosomal damage in turbot Psetta maxima (L.) exposed to the dissolved fraction of heavy fuel oil in sea water: a comparison with classical biomarkers

International audienceTurbot Psetta maxima were exposed 5 days to the dissolved fraction of fuel oil number 2, then decontaminated over 30 days in clean sea water. Biliary metabolites and ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity were evaluated during and after the contamination. These results were compared with chromosomal damage measured by flow cytometry (FCM). Erythrocyte nuclear abnormality, micronuclei and immaturity were also evaluated over the exposure period. Biliary metabolites and EROD analyses showed a clear and early response: biliary metabolites were detected from the first day of contamination to the 14th day of depuration, EROD activity increased during the contamination period reached a maximum 3 days after the beginning of the decontamination and decreased to the control value after 1 month of depuration. FCM showed a bimodal response: a first increase of coefficient of variation of blood cell DNA content was observed during the contamination and a second one started after 14 days of depuration and was maintained for at least 2 weeks. Erythrocyte morphology analysis showed a strong increase in nuclear abnormality during the contamination period. These results confirm previous work and show that in the context of marine accidental pollution by heavy fuel oil, the measurements of chromosomal damage by FCM allow the detection of a genotoxic response in fishes