In vivo and in vitro biotransformation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the edible crab, Cancer pagurus

We investigated the ability of the edible crab (Cancer pagurus) to biotransform polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds in vivo and in vitro. In vivo the metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) was analysed by direct fluorimetry of hepatopancreas cytosol, demonstrating the formation of water-soluble metabolites of this PAH compound. A pyrene hydroxylase assay was developed for in vitro studies. The activity was dependent upon artificially supported NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, but no induction effect was observed in crabs treated with BaP (5 mg/kg) up to 30 d after treatment.