A rapid and sensitive cell culture bioassay for measuring ethoxyresorufin-o-deethylase (EROD) activity in cultured hepatocytes exposed to halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons extracted from wild bird eggs

Abstract

An improved method for determining the effect of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and other halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (HAHs) on ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity in primary cultures of chicken embryo hepatocytes is described. Cells were cultured in 48-well plates, and EROD activity was determined with a computer-operated fluorescence multi-well plate reader. Assays were carried out directly within multi-well plates, and dose-response curves were obtained approximately 100 times faster than other methods. The method can be used to measure EROD-inducing potencies of complex mixtures of HAHs extracted from wild bird eggs. It may have potential use as a cost-effective screening tool for determining the toxic potencies of complex mixtures of HAHs in environmental samples.