Altering cytochrome P4501A activity affects polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism and toxicity in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) phenanthrene and retene (7-isopropyl-1-methyl phenanthrene) are lethal to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) larvae during chronic exposures. Phenanthrene is a low-toxicity, non-cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A)-inducing compound that accumulates in fish tissues during exposure to lethal concentrations in water. Retene is a higher toxicity CYP1A-inducing compound that is not detectable in tissue at lethal exposure concentrations.