Short communication Development of new-tools to investigate toxicological hazard due to endocrine disruptor organochlorines and emerging contaminants in Mediterranean cetaceans

Abstract The possibility that certain Mediterranean cetaceans are subject to toxicological hazard due toorganochlorines and emerging contaminants, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) withendocrine disrupting capacity, was investigated using non-lethal methods. The need for new bio-markers for EDCs and for a “cell model” to explore the diVerent susceptibilities to several classes ofECDs, including emerging contaminants, led us to culture Wbroblasts of diVerent cetacean species(“dolphins in test tubes”). We then explored interspecies and gender susceptibility to OC-EDCs andPBDEs using qualitative and semi-quantitative evaluation of target proteins, such as CYP1A andCYP2B in cultured cetacean Wbroblasts ( Stenella coeruleoalba , Tursiops truncatus and Balaenopteraphysalus ), by western blot and immunoXuorescence techniques.© 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Mediterranean cetaceans; Organochlorine contaminants; Brominated Xame retardants; Endocrinedisrupting chemicals; Fibroblasts cell culture; ImmunoXuorescence technique; Western blot