Influence of hypothyroidism on oxidative stress,c-Fos expression,cell cycle,and apoptosis in rats testes

The molecular basis of male reproduction for cross-regulation between androgen and thyroid hormone axes is still rudimentary. This study aims to define a possible mechanism of hypothyroidism-induced reproductive influence with respect to sex hormone, mineral, sperm motility, oxidative stress, c-Fos expression, cell cycle, and apoptosis in rat testes. The Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group (NS) and hypothyroidism group [1 ml/100g BW/day, 0.1% propylthiouracil (PTU)] by intragastric gavage for 60 days. Blood samples were collected to measure the serum levels. The epididymis was excised to measure sperm motility and testes were excised to measure mineral, oxidative stress, c-Fos expression, cell cycle, and apoptosis. After 60 days, body weight, relative testes weight, triiodothyronine, and total thyroxine were all significantly decreased, whereas thyroid stimulating hormone was increased in the hypothyroidism group. A significant increase in sex hormone level of estradiol (E2) and significant decreases in testosterone (T) and T/E2 ratio were observed following PTU treatment. And sperm quality was also significantly changed. There were significant decreases in the contents of calcium (Ca²⁺) and zinc (Zn²⁺). On the other hand, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide contents significantly increased, whereas the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase and nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide content significantly decreased in hypothyroid rats. The mRNA and protein expressions of c-Fos decreased significantly. The cell percentage in G0/G1 phase increased significantly, whereas decreased significantly in S and G2/M phases. Also, a significant increase in testicular cell apoptosis was observed in hypothyroid-treated rats. These results suggested that hypothyroidism could affect reproductive function in the form of changed sex hormone levels, sperm motility and testicular Ca²⁺ and Zn²⁺, and enhanced oxidative stress leading to c-Fos abnormal expression and increased apoptosis.     

Cu(II), Fe(III) and Mn(II) combinations as environmental stress factors have distinguishing effects on Enterococcus hirae

Pollution by various heavy metals as environmental stress factors might affect bacteria. It was established that iron (Fe(III)), manganese (Mn(II)) and copper (Cu(II)) ion combinations caused effects on Enterococcus hirae that differed from the sum of the effects when the metals were added separately. It was shown that the Cu²⁺-Fe³⁺ combination decreased the growth and ATPase activity of membrane vesicles of wild-type E. hirae ATCC9790 and atpD mutant (with defective F_oF₁-ATPase) MS116. Addition of Mn²⁺-Fe³⁺ combinations within the same concentration range had no effects on growth compared to control (without heavy metals). ATPase activity was increased in the presence of Mn²⁺-Fe³⁺, while together with 0.2 mmol/L N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), ATPase activity was decreased compared to control (when only 0.2 mmol/L DCCD was present). These results indicate that heavy metals ion combinations probably affect the FOF1-ATPase, leading to conformational changes. Moreover the action may be direct or be mediated by environment redox potential. The effects observed when Fe³⁺ was added separately disappeared in both cases, which might be a result of competing processes between Fe³⁺ and other heavy metals. These findings are novel and improve the understanding of heavy metals ions effects on bacteria, and could be applied for regulation of stress response patterns in the environment.     

Cu(II), Fe(III) and Mn(II) combinations as environmental stress factors have distinguishing effects on Enterococcus hirae

Pollution by various heavy metals as environmental stress factors might affect bacteria. It was established that iron (Fe(III)), manganese (Mn(II)) and copper (Cu(II)) ion combinations caused effects on Enterococcus hirae that differed from the sum of the effects when the metals were added separately. It was shown that the Cu^2 +–Fe^3 + combination decreased the growth and ATPase activity of membrane vesicles of wild-type E. hirae ATCC9790 and atpD mutant (with defective F_oF₁-ATPase) MS116. Addition of Mn^2 +–Fe^3 + combinations within the same concentration range had no effects on growth compared to control (without heavy metals). ATPase activity was increased in the presence of Mn^2 +–Fe^3 +, while together with 0.2 mmol/L N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), ATPase activity was decreased compared to control (when only 0.2 mmol/L DCCD was present). These results indicate that heavy metals ion combinations probably affect the F_OF₁-ATPase, leading to conformational changes. Moreover the action may be direct or be mediated by environment redox potential. The effects observed when Fe^3 + was added separately disappeared in both cases, which might be a result of competing processes between Fe^3 + and other heavy metals. These findings are novel and improve the understanding of heavy metals ions effects on bacteria, and could be applied for regulation of stress response patterns in the environment.     

Cu(Ⅱ), Fe(Ⅲ) and Mn(Ⅱ) combinations as environmental stress factors have distinguishing effects on Enterococcus hirae

Pollution by various heavy metals as environmental stress factors might affect bacteria. It was established that iron(Fe(Ⅲ)), manganese(Mn(Ⅱ)) and copper(Cu(Ⅱ)) ion combinations caused effects on Enterococcus hirae that differed from the sum of the effects when the metals were added separately. It was shown that the Cu2+–Fe3+combination decreased the growth and ATPase activity of membrane vesicles of wild-type E. hirae ATCC9790 and atp D mutant(with defective FoF1-ATPase) MS116. Addition of Mn2+–Fe3+combinations within the same concentration range had no effects on growth compared to control(without heavy metals). ATPase activity was increased in the presence of Mn2+–Fe3+, while together with0.2 mmol/L N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide(DCCD), ATPase activity was decreased compared to control(when only 0.2 mmol/L DCCD was present). These results indicate that heavy metals ion combinations probably affect the FOF1-ATPase, leading to conformational changes. Moreover the action may be direct or be mediated by environment redox potential.The effects observed when Fe3+was added separately disappeared in both cases, which might be a result of competing processes between Fe3+and other heavy metals. These findings are novel and improve the understanding of heavy metals ions effects on bacteria,and could be applied for regulation of stress response patterns in the environment.     

Fuelwood assessment at the micro-watershed level:a case study in Garhwal Himalaya,India

Biomass,as fuelwood,is one of the major sources of energy in rural areas,especially in the mountainous regions of the world.As the increasing human population exerts more pressure on the forest thereby inducing an adverse effect on the sustainability of the ecosystem,which consequently causes fuelwood crisis at a local level,this crisis is spatio-temporal in nature.Thus,the major objective of this study is to assess the sustainability of fuelwood at different probable scenarios at a micro watershed level.The present study was conducted in the Phakot watershed,the Tehri Garhwal district of central Himalaya in India,during 2006-2008.Based on the vegetation composition in the study area,the net primary productivity(NPP)value of the Oak forest,and mixed oak and sal forests,was used for the quantification of fuelwood availability in evergreen and deciduous forests,respectively.The fuelwood demand was calculated on the basis of seasonal fuelwood consumption values.Nine probable permutations for availability-demand scenarios assuming the existence of high(H),low(L)and average(A)conditions were analyzed for evaluating the stress.The available annual harvestable fuelwood in the watershed is in the minimum and maximum ranges of 2283.28 to 4066.00 tons,respectively,per year whereas it has a demand of 110.76 tons as the minimum to 3659 tons as the maximum annually.This shows that in the current availabilitydemand scenario,the watershed does not have fuelwood crisis in the present situation but needs to maintain the sustainability of the system.Based on our study,it is concluded that,globally,more spatio-temporal study is required to understand the issues at the local level.     

嘉兴市水污染源解析及等标污染负荷评价

研究水环境污染的主要来源及主要污染物,对于区域水污染治理具有重要意义。本文通过分析嘉兴市各类污染物入河量,以及污染物等标排放量的计算,得出了嘉兴市水环境污染的主要污染物和主要污染源。结果表明,嘉兴市面源污染物的入河量大于点源,畜禽养殖是面源污染的主要来源,也是总磷的主要来源。点污染的主要来源是城镇生活,其中,桐乡市污染物入河量最大,各区县的污染物入河量总体服从桐乡市﹥南湖区﹥嘉善县﹥平湖市﹥海宁市﹥秀洲区﹥海盐县的分布。等标污染负荷的方法显示：嘉兴市的主要污染源是畜禽养殖、城镇生活和农田;总氮、氨氮和总磷为主要污染物。     

静态应力降与动态应力降比值方法在东北地区震后趋势判定中的应用

计算静态应力降与动态应力降之比Y值,根据Y值的大小初步判定地震类型,是震后趋势判定的一种新方法,对震后趋势快速判定有一定意义。通过计算我省历年有影响地震的Y值,发现2005年以来黑龙江省及其周边地区中强地震静态应力降与动态应力降之比(Y值)在0.3~0.6之间,总体来说Y值较大,其地震类型以孤立型地震为主,吉林省前郭县地震Y值为0.37,与我省其他中强地震相比,Y值相对较低,初步判定为震群型地震。     

日粮中铜胁迫对吉富罗非鱼幼鱼抗氧化、脂质过氧化及肝脏组织结构的影响

吉富罗非鱼是我国南方沿海地区水产养殖中的主要经济鱼类之一,但近年来,随着我国城镇化和工业化进程的推进,罗非鱼养殖面临着前所未有的铜富集的挑战。为探明日粮中铜胁迫对吉富罗非鱼幼鱼抗氧化系统和肝脏组织结构的影响,将1 080条罗非鱼幼鱼暴露于6个浓度梯度(0、3、30、300、1 000、3 000 mg·kg-1)的高铜日粮中,通过60 d的暴露试验,实时测定罗非鱼血清与肝脏抗氧化能力,监测肝脏病理变化。结果表明,在本试验条件下,罗非鱼幼鱼血清和肝脏中MDA的含量随日粮中铜含量的增加和胁迫时间的延长显著升高,而SOD、GSH-PX和Cu Zn-SOD的活性表现出先升高后降低的趋势;各组间肝脏表现出不同程度的病变,主要是浊肿变性和脂肪变性,且第Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ组肝脏病变严重。综上,日粮中铜胁迫对吉富罗非鱼幼鱼的抗氧化机能有较明显的抑制作用,长时间的暴露能严重损伤其肝脏的组织结构,因此,建议吉富罗非鱼幼鱼日粮中铜的实际含量应控制在42.36 mg·kg-1以下。     

不同粒径微塑料对三氯生在热带爪蛙蝌蚪体内积累分布及其生态毒性的影响

三氯生（TCS）作为药物和个人护理品（PPCPs）中常见的抗菌剂,在水环境中存在与聚苯乙烯微塑料（PS-MPs）复合污染的生态健康风险.本研究旨在探究0.1、5、20 μm PS-MPs吸附TCS在蝌蚪体内累积情况,以及对蝌蚪毒性的作用.结果表明,PS-MPs吸附TCS在蝌蚪体内的积累能力依次为：TCS+5 μm PS组>TCS+20 μm PS组>TCS+0.1 μm PS组,累积量分别为3.27、1.8 mg·g^-1、无累积效应.值得注意的是,蝌蚪经不同粒径PS-MPs（2 mg·L^-1）、TCS（1 μg·L^-1）单独及复合暴露7 d后,各实验组脂质代谢水平均表现出丙酮酸含量增加（p<0.05）、甘油三酯含量降低（p<0.05）的趋势.复合组中TCS+0.1 μm PS组蝌蚪体内丙酮酸（Pyruvate）含量上升水平最显著（p<0.05）;TCS+20 μm PS组蝌蚪体内甘油三酯（TG）含量下降水平最显著（p<0.05）,这可能与脂代谢调控基因ppar-α、cpt1-β表达水平显著提升有关（p<0.05）.此外,PS-MPs、TCS单一和复合暴露 还会增加蝌蚪体内CAT、SOD酶活性.与脂质代谢结果不同的是,复合组中TCS+5 μm PS组蝌蚪体内CAT、SOD酶活性上升最显著（p<0.05）,这可能与调控基因cat、sod表达水平显著提升有关（p<0.05）.研究表明,复合暴露组对蝌蚪生理水平的影响高于单一暴露组,而不同复合处理组对蝌蚪脂质代谢水平和抗氧化水平影响具有差异,该结果可为评估微塑料（MPs）吸附亲脂性污染物对水生动物的毒性效应和生态风险提供 信息和参考.     

代森锰及其代谢物的神经毒性影响与机制研究

以SH-SY5Y和PC12细胞为实验模型,深入探讨了代森锰(Maneb)及其代谢产物对多巴胺能神经细胞的毒性影响与机制.结果表明,Maneb的有机部分和金属离子成分单独暴露不具有明显的毒性作用,联合暴露具有协同效应,且对细胞活性的抑制程度与同一浓度水平的Maneb相当,其原因与诱导活性氧自由基生成、细胞凋亡相关.此外,蛋白免疫印迹法发现,Maneb下调Bcl-2的表达、上调Bax、细胞色素C的水平,同时激活Caspase-3,提示线粒体凋亡途径在Maneb诱导多巴胺能神经细胞凋亡过程中的重要作用.