Variation of basal EROD activities in ten passerine bird species--relationships with diet and migration status.

ABSTRACT: Inter-specific differences in animal defence mechanisms against toxic substances are currently poorly understood. The ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) enzyme plays an important role in defence against toxic chemicals in a wide variety of animals, and it is an important biomarker for environmental contamination. We compared basal hepatic EROD activity levels among ten passerine species to see if there is inter-specific variation in enzyme activity, especially in relation to their diet and migration status. Migratory insectivores showed higher EROD activity compared to granivores. We hypothesize that the variable invertebrate diet of migratory insectivores contains a wider range of natural toxins than the narrower diet of granivores. This may have affected the evolution of mixed function

SUBMITTER: Rainio MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3315499 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature