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Transcript
Background
• Man made chemicals are everywhere –
in virtually all living creatures and environments
• Synthetic chemicals can mimic natural hormones
upsetting normal reproductive and
developmental processes
• Immunosuppression has also been linked
to organic pollutants
• If pollution loads can act as endocrine disruptors
and depress immunity, individuals may experience
lowered survivability.
Background- Cont.

While contaminants occur in low levels in
many animals, due to the persistant nature
of the compounds, body burdens increase
with an increase in trophic level.
OBJECTIVE:
• To look at the body burden of
organochlorine and heavy metals compared to
thyroid function (including retinol) and
immunoglobulin values
The Function of Thyroid and Retinol Hormones
• Hormones represent an integrated response
to a number of environmental and physiological
factors that influence reproduction,
growth, metabolism, and body condition.
• Thyroid hormones are involved in the regulation
of energy management in mammals through
changes in basal metabolic rate, the absorption
of carbohydrates from the intestine,
lipid metabolism, and heat production.

Retinoic acid (vitamin A) must be present
for protein synthesis to occur. Low levels
contribute to decreased ability to make antibodies.
DDT
Single Hormone Action
EXTERNAL PERTURBATIONS
Environmental Change
Disease
Change in Food Abundance/Quality
Increased Predators
Contaminants
PHOTOPERIOD/SEASON
STRESS
HYPOTHALAMUS
Releasing
Hormones
PITUITARY
Innervation
Other Factors
TROPIC HORMONES
TSH GnRH ACTH
THYROID
GONAD
IMMUNE SYTEM
ADRENAL
ADRENAL HORMONES
GONADAL STEROIDS
THYROXINE
METABOLIC HOMEOSTASIS
Growth, Reproduction
THYMUS MARROW
LYMPHOCYTES

IgG
Crosses placenta (in some
species)
 Important in primary and
secondary immune response
 Most prevalent
immunoglobulin in serum
IgM

 Activation of B cell
 Important in primary
immune response

 Most important
immunoglobulin in
agglutinating bacteria in
serum



IgA
Most prevalent
immunoglobulin in mucosal
areas of the body (e.g. milk,
saliva, tears)
 Most important
immuoglobulin in removing
bacteria from mucosal areas
IgD
 No known function, except
activation of B cell
IgE
 Involved in allergic
responses
 Involved in response to
parasites

Determination of Immunoglobulin Levels
.

Monoclonal antibodies against Steller sea lion
immunoglobulins are used in the development of an
ELISA that will allow us to monitor immunoglobulin
levels in serum samples.

Reagents can be used:
1) To determine the immunocompetence of an animal.
2) To determine specific immunoglobulin titers for specific
pathogens within captive or wild Steller sea lions.
3) As a tool in for monitoring the immunological health of
these animals
Methodology for OC Evaluation
Two methods used to investigate OC loads:

I.
HPLC/PDA (high-performance liquid chromatography
with photodiode array detection)  this method was
developed to rapidly measure toxic “dioxin-like” CBs
and congeners. It is less expensive and less time
consuming but has higher LODs (levels of detection)
II.
HRGC/ECD (high-resolution gas chromatography with
electron capture detector)  this method is
approximately 1000x more sensitive but involves
longer sample prep and less cost effective.
Sample Justification

Goal is to obtain Steller sea lion samples from
geographic range and all age groups. Most of
the North Pacific basin is represented.

Samples will be tested for
immunocompetence, OC loads, and hormones

Multivariate analysis performed to determine
relationships, spatial and temporal trends
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the Russian
Federation, NMFS, ADF&G, the Universities
of Hawaii, Alaska (Fairbanks), Southern
Mississippi and the many graduate
students and interns that have helped this
project continue to grow and prosper.