Abstract
The stability of hepatic mixed-function oxygenase (MFO) activity and metallothionein (MT) level in white sucker ( Catostomus commersoni) was investigated in order to develop standardized freezing and storage procedures for liver samples. Feral white suckers were collected in the St. Lawrence River (Québec, Canada). Liver samples were divided into three groups (A, B and C). They were frozen in liquid nitrogen and then stored at −145°C as (A) S10 fraction; (B) homogenates; (C) pieces of liver. Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and ethoxyresorufin- O-deethylase (EROD) activities, and MT concentrations were measured on the S10 fraction in all three groups after storage periods of 2, 7, 14, 21, 84 and 168 days. Results showed that EROD and AHH activities and MT concentrations were stable for up to 168 days, regardless of sample preparation. No significant differences were observed for AHH and EROD levels between the three treatment methods. Treatment A (storage of S10 fraction) maintained significantly higher levels of MT than either treatment B or C.
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