(DDTs and PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as toxicological stress marker of the immune system of different species of cetaceans odontocetes (Stenella coeruleoalba, Delphinus capensis, Physeter macrocephalus) and mysticetes (Balaenoptera physalus, Balaenoptera edeni). doi:10.1016/j.cbpa.2010.06.069 10. Impact of pollution on the development of glass eels (Anguilla anguilla) entering three NW Portuguese estuaries L. Guimarães, C. Gravato, J. Santos, M. Faria, A. Alves (University of Porto, CIIMAR, Portugal); L. Guilhermino (University of Porto, CIIMAR/ ICBAS, Portugal) European eel (Anguilla anguilla) stocks have strongly decreased over the past decades, culminating with the inclusion of this species in the HELCOM Red list and the CITES Convention, as protection measures. Exposure to pollution has been indicated as one possible cause for this decline. The present study investigated the physiological and health status of glass eels, at their entrance and after five months of development in estuaries with different levels and types of contamina- tion. The Fulton's condition index and several biomarkers involved in physiological processes vital for the survival and/or performance of the animals were used to evaluate their health condition: the activities of the enzymes cholinesterases (ChE), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), sodium/potassium ATPase (Na + /K + -ATPase), glutathione S-trans- ferases (GST), the total (TG), reduced (GSH) and oxidised glutathione (GSSG) levels, and the extent of lipid peroxidation (LPO). Glass eels were collected during November 2005 and March 2006 in the Minho estuary (reference), and the polluted Lima and Douro estuaries. Several water quality parameters were also measured (e.g. temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, conductivity, pH, and nutrient concentrations). A redundancy analysis (RDA) was used to integrate all data. The results indicate that glass eels arriving to the three different estuaries were at similar physiological and health conditions. However, after 5 months developing in the polluted estuaries they were already smaller than those from the reference estuary, and exhibited a decline in biomarkers of neurotransmission, energy metabolism, and antioxidative defences. The RDA allowed depicting patterns of biological effects and the influence of water quality parameters on these responses. Work supported by national-FCT and FEDER-EU funds through the project EELEANORA (POCTI/BSE/47918/2002). doi:10.1016/j.cbpa.2010.06.070 11. Evaluation of the effects of nonylphenol in fourth-instar larvae of Chironomus riparius (Diptera) P. Martinez-Paz, M. Morales, J.L. Martínez-Guitarte, G. Morcillo (Biología y Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Ciencias UNED, Madrid, Spain) 4-Nonylphenol (NP) is a breakdown product of nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE), used as surfactants in the industry. They appear in sediments and waste water. NP mimics the action of the female hormone estrogen in mammals and there are different studies that report chronic and acute effects of it in aquatic organisms. The midge Chironomus is widely used in aquatic toxicology as an appropriate test species. The present study was undertaken to determine the early molecular and subcellular effects of NP in Chironomus riparius larvae. The effects of a wide range of NP treatments (at 24h and different concentrations) were examined in the expression of selected genes. Transcription levels were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The analysis included stress-induced genes, such as HSP70, and hormone- related genes, such as the ecdysone receptor gene (EcR) and ultraspiracle (Usp). Furthermore, the activity of detoxification enzyme Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) was evaluated. Our study provides evidence for selective changes induced by NP exposure. The most remarkable ones were an upregulation of stress-related genes and an increase of the GST activity. In contrast, EcR and Usp do not show transcriptional changes. Acknowledgements: Funded by MICINN, Spain, Project ref: CTM2009-07189. doi:10.1016/j.cbpa.2010.06.071 12. Application of a biomarker–transcriptomics approach utilizing mussels in the evaluation of the water quality in a marine coastal area of Medio Campidano (Sardinia, Italy) A. Negri, F. Dondero, A. Dagnino, L. Boatti, S. Sforzini, F. Capri, C. Oliveri, A. Viarengo (University of Piemonte Orientale, DiSAV, Italy); L.A. Chessa (ISE-CNR, Istituto per lo studio degli Ecosistemi, Sassari, Italy) A systems toxicology approach based on combination of biomar- kers and transcriptomics analyses was used to assess the occurrence of a stress syndrome in mussels caged in proximity of a decommis- sioned mine site in marine coastal area of Medio Campidano (Sardinia, Italy). Mussels (M. galloprovincialis) were caged for 28 days in front of the Piscinas stream, supposed to drain pollutants from the abandoned mine sites (PIS), and in a reference site (CTR). The health status of transplanted mussels was determined involving a battery of nine biomarkers (stress, exposure and genotoxicity biomarkers) and applying an Expert System of Classification. Gene expression profiles were evaluated using a cDNA-microarray encompassing 1.7K se- quences. The expression of mt10 and mt20 genes was further investigated in quantitative PCR analysis. Results showed a mild stress in the animals sampled at PIS: data show significant alterations (Mann–Whitney U-test, p<0.05) in Lysosomal-Membrane-Stability, Neutral-Lipid and Metallothionein content, suggesting a moderate stress induced by heavy metals exposure. The transcriptomic analysis did not show the modulation of genes involved in detoxification processes, but we found two putative sequences implicated in antibacterial humoral response and other genes involved in devel- opmental processes. RT-Q-PCR data showed a stimulated transcrip- tion of the mt20 gene in mussels from PIS. Finally, data on bioaccumulation indicated very high levels of Pb (12 fold) and other metals at a lower extent (Fe, Mn and Cd) in the animals sampled at PIS, while PAHs were below the detection levels. This complex of data seems to indicate a possible risk for both humans and the ecosystem mainly related to the leakage of metals – mainly Pb – from the decommissioned site. doi:10.1016/j.cbpa.2010.06.072 13. Investigating drug-metabolising cytochrome P450 (cyp) isoforms in a fish hepatocyte model J. Corcoran, A. Lange, C.R. Tyler (University of Exeter, UK); M.J. Winter (Brixham Environmental Laboratory, AstraZeneca, UK) S25 Abstracts / Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A 157 (2010) S22–S28