Effects of ingestion of hibernia and Prudhoe Bay crude oils on hepatic and renal mixed function oxidase in nestling herring gulls (Larus argentatus).

Oral administration of Prudhoe Bay crude or Hibernia crude to nestling herring gulls increased the hepatic cytochrome P-450 content 4-fold. Concomitantly, there was an increase in various mixed-function oxidase and phase II enzyme activities. 7-Ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase was elevated 19-fold, benzo(a)pyrene 3-hydroxylase 6-fold, aniline hydroxylase 3-fold, and aminopyrine N-demethylase and uridine diphosphate glucuronyl transferase 2-fold. There was no change in reduced glutathione S-transferase activity. Renal mixed-function oxidase activities were also elevated. Herring gull livers contained very low levels of DT-diaphorase activity which was inducible 3- to 5-fold by oil administration.