Impacts of crude oil toxicity on mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) cardiomyocytes

Cardiac function is known to be impaired across levels of the biological organization following exposure to crude oil. Impacts on cellular function in the heart could better elucidate potential mechanisms underlying this response. Isolated mahi-mahi ventricular heart cells were exposed to either control extracellular saline, or extracellular saline containing water accommodated fraction (WAF) dilutions (10, 20, and 40%). Various aspects of contractility including sarcomere shortening, calcium handling characteristics, force frequency responses, and action potential changes were recorded using an IonOptix real-time recording system. Total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) analysis was performed with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry using selective ion monitoring (GC/MS-SIM) according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) method 8270D. Dilutions of high energy water accommodated fraction (HEWAF) were measured using an LS‌-45 spectrophotometer made by Perkin-Elmer.