Comparative studies of liver and brain glycogen content of male and female Clarias batrachus (L.) after exposure of different doses of arsenic

Different doses of arsenic (As) were used to investigate comparative toxicity on the liver and brain glycogen content on male and female Indian catfish Clarias batrachus (L.). As-induced effects were associated with gender, dose (5, 10, or 15?mg?L^?1), and varying time periods (48, 96, or 144?h). It was noted that As produced dose- and time-dependent liver glycogenolysis and late brain glycogenolysis. Liver glycogenolysis was significantly increased after 48?h at all three As doses. At the highest dose 15?mg?L^?1, liver glycogen were markedly diminished at in both male and female fish, but in females more reduction was observed than in males. However, with brain glycogen, the significant decrease was noted at 144?h with all three dose levels in both genders, with male being more susceptible. Thus, this study indicates that As produces glycogenolysis. The reduction in the liver glycogen content was more pronounced in female than in the male fish, whereas brain glycogen content decrease was more prominent in males.     

氯氰菊酯对唐鱼肝和鳃组织超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性的影响

在实验室条件下采用静水法生物测试,研究了氯氰菊酯对唐鱼(Tanichthys albonubes)的急性毒性及其对肝和鳃组织超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性的影响。结果表明,氯氰菊酯对唐鱼24、48、72、96h半致死浓度分别为27.27、15.94、10.13、6.61μg·L-1;经1、3、5μg·L-1浓度处理6、12、24、48、72h,结果显示唐鱼SOD在低浓度氯氰菊酯的胁迫下呈现明显的浓度效应关系,将唐鱼SOD作为农药等污染物的污染指标具有重要的应用前景,为安全使用农药和防止水体污染提供有益的理论参考依据。     

Effect of pesticides carbaryl and phorate on serum cholesterol level in fish,Clarias batrachus (Linn)

Freshwater edible catfish Clarias batrachus (Linn.) was treated with sublethal concentration of two different groups of pesticides- carbaryl, a carbamate and phorate, an organophosphate for 24 ,72 ,120 and 168 h. The disorders of lipid metabolism were observed in serum. Cholesterol levels in the serum decreased significantly throughout the exposure period with both the pesticides. These results indicate one significant manifestation of the toxic response from the fish under the stress of pesticide exposure.     

Acute and chronic toxic effect of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) on biomarker response in post larvae of Penaeus monodon (Fabricus, 1798)

Metal pollution produces damage to marine organisms at the cellular level possibly leading to ecological imbalance. The present investigation focused on the acute and chronic toxicity of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) by examining the effects of biomarker enzymes in post-larvae of Penaeus monodon (Tiger prawn). Antioxidant biomarker responses such as lipid peroxidation (LPO) and catalase (CAT) activity for Pb and Zn were determined following chronic exposure. Acute Lethal Concentration ₅₀ (LC₅₀) values observed in the study at 96?h for Pb and Zn at 5.77?±?0.32?mg?L^?1 and 3.02?±?0.82?mg?L^?1, respectively. The estimated No Observed Effect Concentration and Lowest Observed Effect Concentration values for Pb were 0.014 and 0.029?mg?L^?1 and that recorded for Zn was 0.011 and 0.022?mg?L^?1, respectively. Among the two metals studied, toxicity of Zn was found to be greater to P. monodon than Pb. The activities of antioxidant defense enzymes and total protein content differed significantly from control following exposure to both metals. Overall, the biomarker studies demonstrated that alterations in antioxidant enzymes and induction of LPO reflect the consequences of heavy metal exposure in P. monodon.     

Uptake and toxicity of some pesticides on three freshwater fishes (Oreochromis niloticus,Clarias gariepinus and Chrysicthys nigrodigitatus)

Studies were carried out to determine the toxicity of some selected pesticides on fresh water fish in a tropical environment. The uptake of the pesticides lindane, pentachlorophenol (PCP), and propoxur, which are frequently used by farmers and industrialists were studied in concrete ponds at the University of Cape Coast, in Ghana. The fishes used for the study were Oreochromis niloticus, Clarias gariepinus, and Chrysicthys nigrodigitatus, and were obtained from cultured ponds in the Cape Coast District and Mankessim in the Central Region and Weija Dam, in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Single high lethal concentration (SD) or acute treatment and cumulative/chronic (or multiple minor) lethal concentration (CD) treatment were employed in administering the pesticides to the fishes via water. Gas chromatograph (GC) Electron Capture Detector (ECD) analysis was done on the dead fishes to see the extent of ingestion. The LC₅₀ values obtained for lindane on the three fish samples were as follows: Chrysicthys?–?0.38?mg?L^?1; Oreochromis?–?0.42?mg?L^?1, and Clarias?–?1.2?mg?L^?1. Mortalities occurred in fish within 3–5 days of application. For the PCP on Chrysicthys, Oreochromis, and Clarias species the LC₅₀ values were 0.42, 0.32 and 0.64?mg?L^?1, respectively for over a 2–3 day period. For a three-time influx period of propoxur the LC₅₀ for Chrysicthys, Oreochromis, and Clarias, were 22.0, 30.40, and 45.04 (all in mg?L^?1), respectively. The results obtained indicated that the pesticides had adverse effects on the general growth and reproduction of fishes. Gonadosomatic indices also showed that the pesticides affected the development of the body, the gonads, and their reproduction.     

Effects of daily nickel intake on the bio-accumulation,body weight and length in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Nickel pollution is a serious environmental problem, and its effects may provoke alterations in the ecosystem and in organism of animals and humans. Dermatitis, eczema, and asthma are some illnesses caused by Ni²⁺ poisoning. In this work, fish fed either Ni²⁺-enriched pellets or commercial pellets were studied. The amount of Ni²⁺ in fish were measurements by adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV) with dimethylglyoxime as a complexing agent. The analysis of Ni²⁺ in fish by AdSV established that its accumulation occurs principally in viscera (670.86 ± 5.82 µg g^?1), in the head (697.12 ± 2.77 µg g^?1) and in the muscle (405.82 ± 3.26 µg g^?1), both after 12 months of experiments. Ni²⁺ adsorbs preferentially in organs such as the stomach, the intestine, and the kidneys and acts in the central nervous system as well. Tilapia growth and mass were significantly affected by Ni²⁺ poisoning. From statistical analysis, observed that the results for lengths, weights and metal concentration were different for each sampling at significance level of p < 0.05. The Ni²⁺ concentration in tilapia was enough to cause the death of tilapias; however, it did not occur because the presence of Zn²⁺ might act as protective agent of heavy metals.     

A screening of liver,kidney, and thyroid gland morphology in organochlorine-contaminated glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreus) from Svalbard

Concentrations of organochlorine (OC) contaminants and histomorphology of liver, kidney, and thyroid tissues were studied in nine adult and one subadult glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreus) collected at Svalbard on 2 August 2011. Concentrations of liver polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB; range: 150–2820?ng?g^?1 ww), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT; range: 58–724?ng?g^?1 ww), and chlordanes (CHL; range: 11–126?ng?g^?1 ww) dominated the OC profile followed by hexachlorobenzene (HCB; range: 11–42?ng?g^?1 ww), mirex (range: 2–52?ng?g^?1 ww), and β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH; range: 1–7?ng?g^?1 ww). Histological examination of the liver showed mononuclear cell infiltrations and granulomas in 10 and 6 gulls, respectively, while intense intrahepatic lipid accumulation (steatosis) was found in two and focal necrosis in one gull. In kidney, glomerular sclerosis and adhesions was found in five and one gull, respectively. Thickening of the glomerular basement membranes and tubular necrosis was found in four and seven gulls, respectively, while mononuclear cell infiltrations were found in two individuals. In the thyroid gland, a high density of small follicles accompanied by follicular epithelial cell proliferation was observed in five glaucous gulls. Gulls with hepatic steatosis had significantly higher ΣDDT levels than the gulls without hepatic steatosis and a similar trend was found for ΣPCB. When normalizing OC concentrations for lipid content in liver, gulls with lipid granulomas had significantly lower β-HCH and significantly higher mirex levels, respectively, than gulls without lipid granulomas. Also; gulls with thickening of the glomerular basement membranes had non-significantly higher ΣPCB levels than gulls without. The histological findings were similar to those of controlled laboratory studies and OC-contaminated wildlife (e.g., polar bears; Ursus maritimus) and the data of this study therefore suggest that OC exposure may be a co-factor in the development of organ alterations in glaucous gulls. However, other environmental factors such as age, element exposure, and infectious micropathogens cannot be ruled out as co-factors, and it is uncertain if the tissue changes found exert adverse health effects on the population of Svalbard glaucous gulls.     

我国地表水中药物与个人护理品污染现状及其繁殖毒性筛查

根据文献报道,我国地表水中已检出至少144种药物及个人护理用品(pharmaceuticals and personal care products,PPCPs),包括抗生素、激素、其他药物、个人护理品(personal care products,PCPs)4大类,其中检出浓度最高的达到了μg·L~(-1)量级,在长期的污染下有可能对水生生物产生内分泌干扰效应或繁殖毒性,进而影响到整个水生生物种群的繁衍变化。因此,有必要根据我国地表水中PPCPs的污染水平,筛查出具有潜在生态风险的PPCPs。由于目前缺乏针对PPCPs类污染物的筛选体系,以国内外优先控制污染物筛选体系为基础,借鉴基于风险的欧洲兽药分级方法,利用风险指数(risk index,RI),筛选得出目前我国的地表水中有16种具有繁殖毒性的PPCPs的RI1,包括1种抗生素,5种激素类药物,3种其他药物和7种PCPs,其中乙炔雌二醇(ethinylestradiol,EE2)的RI最高(115 730),其次是壬基酚(nonylphenol,NP)(1 796)、邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(dibutyl phthalate,DBP)(255.31),对水生态环境有较高的风险的PPCPs需进一步进行较高层次的风险评价。     

Lead- and cadmium-induced histopathological changes in gill,kidney and liver tissue of freshwater climbing perch Anabas testudineus (Bloch, 1792)

The objective of this study was to examine the toxicological effect of two major heavy metal pollutants, lead chloride (PbCl₂) and cadmium chloride (CdCl₂), in the freshwater climbing perch, Anabas testudineus. Fish were exposed to 1.0 and 2.0 mg/L both metals and histopathological changes in gill, kidney and liver tissues were studied. Major changes observed in gill tissue were epithelial lifting, proliferation of epithelial cells, fusion of secondary lamellae, hyperplasia and hypertrophy of mucous cells, and necrosis of epithelial cells. Cell necrosis, degenerated kidney tubules, congestion, lymphocytic infiltration and vacuolation were the major abnormalities observed in kidney tissue. The most conspicuous changes in liver were darker nucleoli, irregularly shaped hepatocytes with dilated blood capillaries, and focal as well as single necrosis. Fish specimens exposed to PbCl₂ exhibited pronounced changes in all tissues examined compared with those exposed to CdCl₂. It is evident from this study that heavy metals can cause significant histopathological changes in fish tissue.     

Distribution and binding pattern of benzo(a)pyrene in rat liver,lung and kidney constituents after oral administration

Orally administered ³H‐benzo(a)pyrene (BP) was persistent in protein fraction of liver, lung and kidney. The radioactivity in this fraction increased with time after administration and accounted for about 50%, 40% and 65% of total radioactivity in liver, lung and kidney, respectively at 48 hr. The BP metabolites binding proteins were located in cytosol and had molecular weights of 40,000–60,000 and 80,000–100,000 as determined by gel filtration and polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis. In addition, at 48hr after administration, about 80% of radioactivity in high molecular weight protein fraction was found to be precipitated by trichloroacetic acid treatment.

These results suggest that BP metabolites might be transported by and are persistent in these protein fractions of liver, lung and kidney if the intake of BP is continuous. These proteins, therefore, appeared to be closely related to cell toxicity or mutagenicity in these organs as well as DNA.     

Toxicity of endosulfan on growth,photosynthesis, and nitrogenase activity in two species of Nostoc (Nostoc muscorum and Nostoc calcicola)

Treatments of the cyanobacteria Nostoc muscorum and Nostoc calcicola with the insecticide endosulfan (5, 10, and 20?µg?mL^?1) inhibited growth, photosynthetic pigments, photosynthetic, and nitrogenase activities. The sensitivity of N. muscorum to endosulfan was higher than that of N. calcicola. The toxic effect of endosulfan was more pronounced on phycocyanin; however, a considerable reduction in chlorophyll a and carotenoids was also noticed. ¹⁴C-fixation appeared to be more sensitive to the insecticide than photosynthetic oxygen evolution. Endosulfan caused strong inhibition of photosystem (PS) II activity whereas PS I was least affected. The inhibition of PS II activity was partially restored by electron donors (DPC, NH₂OH, and MnCl₂) at low dose of endosulfan. Nitrogenase activity was significantly suppressed in both species by the endosulfan at high dose (20?µg?mL^?1). On the basis of our comparative analysis, N. calcicola was found to be endosulfan resistant and can be used in paddy fields for better productivity under pesticide stress.     

Bioaccumulation of cadmium,lead and zinc in liver and kidney of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) from NW Spain: influence of gender and age

Cd, Pb, and Zn were quantified in liver and kidney of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) which were hunted during the 2003–2011 hunting seasons in Galicia (NW Spain). The effects of age and gender were evaluated to determine whether these variables should be included in future biomonitoring studies. The concentrations of hepatic and renal Cd (average 0.6 and 1.3 µg/g) and Pb (0.8 and 0.06 µg/g, respectively) were similar to background levels, with no known toxicological relevance. Similarly, the average levels of Zn in liver and kidney (77 and 17 µg/g) were in the range of physiological levels for canids. Although no significant gender-dependent variations were observed, the effect of aging was evident: the levels of hepatic Pb and both hepatic and renal Cd were higher in adults than in juveniles. Age should be included as a parameter during future biomonitoring programs focusing on trace metal bioaccumulation in red foxes.     

纳米水稳型C60（nC60）促进Zn2+和Cr6+ 在大型溞体内的吸收、抗氧化性和急性毒性

富勒烯(C60)作为一种被广泛使用的纳米工程材料,其环境行为和所造成的毒效应越来越引起人们的关注,特别是其与重金属的联合毒性.文章选取模式生物大型溞研究纳米水稳型富勒烯(nC60)与Zn+和Cr6+的联合毒性.按EPA 2024急性毒性试验结果,nC60对大型溞48 h-LC50为0.47 mg·L-1,最大无观察效应浓度(NOEC)为0.10 mg·L-1.NOEC浓度选定为nC60亚急性试验浓度,用于联合毒性试验.nC60增强了Zn2+和Cr6+对大型溞的毒性,Zn2和Cr6+对大型溞48 h-LC50分别由2.33mg·L-1和0.40mg·L-1降低为1.52 mg·L-1和033 mg·L-1;nC60增加了大型溞对Zn2+和Cr6+的摄入,暴露1440 min后体内Zn2+和Cr6+累积量分别由6.52 μg·g-1湿重和1.52 μg·g-1湿重增加到9.98 μg ·g-1湿重和3.01 μg·g-1湿重;nC60和Zn2+和Cr6+联合作用于大型潘后,大型溞SOD酶活性均呈现出增强的诱导现象,联合作用时诱导作用强于两种物质单独作用.此研究表明:在亚急性浓度下,nC60增强了Zn2+和Cr6+对大型溞的毒性,提高了大型潘体内Zn2+和Cr6+的积累,并提高大型溞体内自由基活性.     

Effect of host and larval frass volatiles on behavioural response of the old house borer,Hylotrupes bajulus (L.) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), in a wind tunnel bioassay

Summary. In a wind tunnel bioassay the effect of three concentrations of natural extracts of (1) Scots pine wood, Pinus sylvestris, and (2) larval frass on the behavioural response of unmated females and males of the old house borer, Hylotrupes bajulus, was tested and compared to the behavioural effects of the male-produced sex pheromone (3R)-3-hydroxy-2-hexanone. The influence on the behaviour of both sexes was found to be equally significant for the two higher concentrated hexane extracts of wood and larval frass. Therefore several synthetic monoterpenes present in the extracts and ethanol were tested at the two higher concentrations (1:100, 1:1000 vol/vol). Among the higher concentrated monoterpenoid hydrocarbons [(+)-α-pinene, (+)-β-pinene, (+)-limonene], only α-pinene increased the activity, orientation towards scent source and interest towards conspecifics. The tests with higher concentrated ethanol and the oxygenated monoterpenes [(-)-verbenone, (-)-trans-pinocarveol, (+)-terpinen-4-ol, (+)-α-terpineol, (-)-myrtenol] revealed that verbenone is the most effective stimulant for the females, followed by trans-pinocarveol, terpinen-4-ol and α-terpineol. For males, terpinen-4-ol was the only mediator significantly inducing attraction and orientation towards the scent source combined with an interest in conspecifics apparent by fighting or courtship behaviour. Males did not respond to verbenone which is a main compound of larval frass. Myrtenol and ethanol were ineffective in both sexes. In fact behavioural observations suggest that the beetles were repelled by the high dose of myrtenol. Using the ten-fold lower dose of the synthetic monoterpenes (1:1000 vol/vol), all semiochemicals except myrtenol lost activity. Myrtenol, however, induced behavioural responses, like increased activity and orientation towards scent source, only at the low concentration. Based on the results, primary attraction of unmated old house borer is probably mediated by monoterpenes of coniferous wood, while secondary attraction to infested wood would occur in response to volatiles of larval frass. Received 5 May 1999; accepted 30 September 1999