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Organochlorine distribution and immune responses in rehabilitating northern elephant seals
xiv, 176 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm.
The overall goal of this study was to use rehabilitating
juvenile northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) as
a model to investigate changes in organochlorine (OC)
concentrations in serum and blubber relative to changes in
body composition. According to this model, rehabilitating
seals are hypothesized to initially demonstrate poor body
condition, high levels of serum OCs and relatively low
blubber OCs; after rehabilitation, seals are hypothesized to
demonstrate improved body condition, decreased serum OCs and
increased blubber OCs. An additional goal was to establish
assays to assess immune responsiveness relative to serum OC
concentration. Samples for the determination of' body
condition, serum and blubber OC concentrations, and immune
responses were obtained from each seal on three occasions at
one month intervals. Fat mass was used as an index of body
condition and was determined from total body water (TBW)
using the equation, TB W (kg) = -2.96 + 0.51 -M (kg). Paired
serum and blubber samples yielded comparable determinations
of OC concentration, but a predictive relationship could not
be developed to estimate blubber OC concentrations from blood
OC concentrations. Similarly, a consistent relationship
could not be identified between OC concentrations and body
condition. Two assays were established to assess immune
responses in northern elephant seals. These were an
interleukin 2 MRNA expression assay and a whole blood
lymphoproliferative assay. In summary, the data could not
relationship between body condition and OC concentrations in
this system; however, the data did show that OC
concentrations were dynamic in serum and blubber. It was
suggested that a greater number of samples per seal, analyzed
relative to a more accurate index of body composition would
permit the identification of a relationship between body fat
and OCs. The immunotoxic risk imposed by serum levels is
still unknown, but two additional assays developed as part of
this project are expected to assist in future elucidation of
"Major Subject: Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences".
Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilms Inc.
Includes bibliographical references: pages 124-139.