高残留农药福美双对斑马鱼胚胎脊索的特异性影响

福美双在我国是一种广泛使用的二硫代甲氨基甲酸盐类农药,它的高残留性已经引起世界各国的重视. 以斑马鱼胚胎作为试验动物模型,从分子水平探讨了福美双对胚胎脊索弯曲的毒性作用机制.结果表明,福美双造成斑马鱼胚胎脊索弯曲与重叠等形态学变化,脊索弯曲程度与福美双的染毒浓度呈正相关. 通过Ⅱ型胶原蛋白抗体染色表明,福美双引起软骨发育的变化与Ⅱ型胶原蛋白表达的降低密切相关. 试验进一步表明,斑马鱼胚胎适合作为农药毒性评价的模型.      

β-Glucuronidase activity in mouse oocytes,mouse preimplantation embryos,and human gametes

A microfluorimetric assay was designed to monitor β-glucuronidase (β-gluc) activity during the early development of mouse embryos and was also applied to measure β-gluc activity in human sperm cells and single human oocytes. Mouse oocytes and preimplantation embryos at different stages of development, failed fertilized human oocytes, and human sperm cells were collected, and β-gluc activity was analysed. In the mouse, β-gluc activity could be measured starting from the morula stage on in a pooled sample of 15 embryos and at blasto-cyst formation in one single embryo. β-Gluc activity was low in human sperm cells. The enzyme could be readily demonstrated in 87 per cent of non-fertilized human oocytes. Considerable variation in β-gluc activity was noticed between individual oocytes.     

Chromosome 18 analysis by fluorescence in situ hybridization (fish) in human blastomeres of abnormal embryos after in vitro fertilization (ivf) attempt

We performed fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with a chromosome 18-specific probe on human abnormal cleaved embryos, fertilized either by two spermatozoa and exhibiting three pronuclei (3 PN) or normally fertilized and exhibiting two pronuclei (2 PN) with subsequent severe fragmentation and/or blocking. The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of chromosome 18 anomalies among these embryos, in order to evaluate the FISH efficiency on such material and to obtain more precise and complete data than those obtained with classical cytogenetic analysis. For the 3 PN cleaved embryos, FISH confirmed the frequent regulation towards diploidy (25 per cent) and the high frequency of mosaics (53 per cent). For the 2 PN blocked or damaged embryos, FISH permitted chromosome evaluation, which was otherwise impossible with classical cytogenetic techniques: we also found a high mosaic frequency (45 per cent) with these embryos. If this frequency were the same for normally developing embryos, it would be a major obstacle to the reliability of either chromosomal or genetic preimplantation diagnosis.     

Effect of UV-B exposure on eggs and embryos of patagonian anurans and evidence of photoprotection

In Patagonia, enhanced levels of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) are affecting not only the southernmost territories but the northern as well, and there is a growing body of evidence indicating effects on terrestrial and aquatic communities. Anurans occur along a wide geographical gradient in Patagonia and are common in shallow waters, usually breeding during spring when seasonal UV-B radiation is at its highest level. In this paper we analyse the effective irradiances (I) experienced in nature by eggs and embryos of the patagonian anurans Pleurodema bufoninum, Pleurodema thaul and Bufo spinulosus papillosus, considering water and egg jelly optical properties. Besides, we determine photoprotective pigments in eggs and embryos of the different species, and ontogenetic shifts in pigment concentration. Finally, we studied the effects of natural and enhanced levels of UV-B on eggs of P. bufoninum aiming to evaluate the role of the jelly envelope in screening the damaging radiation. The evidence gathered in this work shows that natural and enhanced UV-B levels did not induce significant changes on the survivorship but incremented the occurrence of malformations. Also, the species experiencing high levels of exposure presented high concentrations of melanin suggesting that exposure to sunlight triggers photoprotection by pigments. Collectively our results suggest that the studied species bear certain levels of adaptation to cope with high ambient UVR conferred by environmental and biological factors.     

CdSe/ZnS量子点对斑马鱼胚胎发育的毒性效应

本研究以模式生物斑马鱼(Danio rerio)为对象,观察在不同浓度Cd Se/Zn S量子点(Cd Se/Zn S QDs)暴露下,斑马鱼胚胎形态发育、氧化应激以及金属硫蛋白MT基因和应激蛋白Hsp70基因表达变化情况.结果表明,Cd Se/Zn S QDs对斑马鱼胚胎72 hpf(hours post fertilization)的半致畸效应浓度(EC50)为316.994 nmol·L-1.QDs暴露影响了斑马鱼胚胎的死亡率、畸形率、孵化率、自主运动频率和体长,以及引起胚胎卵凝集,心包囊肿,脊椎弯曲等多种毒性效应;同时导致斑马鱼体内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性变化以及丙二醛(MDA)含量增加.QDs还诱导斑马鱼MT基因和Hsp70基因表达上调,斑马鱼机体产生一系列自我保护反应来减轻QDs所造成的伤害.这表明:Cd Se/Zn S QDs对斑马鱼胚胎产生了毒性效应,其毒性可能与其核心Cd2+的释放、粒径大小以及氧化应激有关.     

Heavy metals and pesticides in anuran spawn and tadpoles,water, and sediment

High concentrations of metals (cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc) and of lindane were measured in the sediment and in the spawn and tadpoles of Bufo bufo, Rana dalmatina, and Rana ridibunda from two Austrian locations. Residues in spawn suggest maternal transfer. Increase of the metal concentrations from spawn to advanced tadpole stage is explained by the larval microphaguous feeding habits which cause high exposition of the tadpoles to substances concentrating in sediments and suspended particles. Metal and pesticide concentrations in spawn and tadpoles are toxic to various other aquatic organisms and are furthermore considered to be potentially hazardous to the anurans themselves. The results are conform with world‐wide observations of contamination of anuran larvae with heavy metals, and prove the significance of non‐point source chemical exposure due to allochthonous toxicant input by wind load and precipitation.     

What is the relationship between self-reported aberrant driving behaviors,mindfulness, and self-reported crashes and infringements?

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between self-reported aberrant driving behaviors, mindfulness, and self-reported crashes and infringements.

Methods: Three hundred and eighteen participants (M = 46.0 years, SD = 13.7 years; female: 81.8%) completed an online survey that assessed aberrant driving behaviors, mindfulness (including regular mindfulness meditation [MM]), and self-reported crashes and infringements during the past 2 years. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the relationship between self-reported aberrant driving behaviors and mindfulness simultaneously, as well as with participants' age and estimated kilometers driven over the past year.

Results: The results of the SEM showed that mindfulness was negatively related to each self-reported aberrant driving behavior, with the strongest relationships being between mindfulness and driving-related lapses (?0.58) and errors (?0.46). Participants who practice MM had significantly fewer crashes in the past 2 years and reported significantly fewer driving-related violations and lapses compared to participants who did not practice MM (crashes: 9.3% vs. 18.8%, P < .05; violations: M = 6.66 [SD = 3.44] vs. M = 7.68 [SD = 4.53], P < .05; errors: M = 5.17 [SD = 3.44] vs. M = 6.19 [SD = 4.12], P < .05).

Conclusions: More research is needed to understand whether MM results in more mindful and attentive drivers or whether individuals who practice MM may have other traits or behaviors that are linked to improved safety.     

城市污水对斑马鱼胚胎的影响

采用静态法,在实验室控制条件下,观察处理前后的城市污水对斑马鱼胚胎的毒性效应,并探讨其对斑马鱼胚胎可能的毒性机理。结果表明,兰州市安宁区M污水处理厂处理前的污水、处理后接触池出水和接触池出水入黄河排污口水对胚胎均有较高的毒性,其72 h EC50在21.384%～108.492%之间;对处理胚胎孵化成的仔鱼毒性也很明显。上述几种污水均降低斑马鱼胚胎的孵化率,增加胚胎及其孵化仔鱼的畸形。     

水体酸化条件下Cu(II)对斑马鱼胚胎的毒性效应

为评价由酸雨、酸性矿山排水等环境污染导致的水体酸化及水体重金属联合作用对水生生物的生态毒性效应,研究了不同pH值(pH=3、4、5、6、7和7.8)条件下Cu2+对斑马鱼胚胎发育的影响。结果表明,酸性水体及Cu2+单一存在时,酸对斑马鱼胚胎24h半数效应浓度值EC50为pH=3.65,Cu2+(pH=7.8)对斑马鱼胚胎24h-EC50为0.267mg·L-1;当水体酸化及水体中的Cu2+共存时,较低的pH对Cu2+的生物毒性起协同作用,表现为随溶液pH的降低,各浓度Cu2+对斑马鱼胚胎的24h凝结率显著增高(P24h致死率=0.001),而斑马鱼胚胎96h孵化率显著降低(P96h孵化率=0.002),且不同浓度的Cu2+之间的生物毒性效应存在显著性差异(P24h致死率=0.0321;P96h孵化率=0.0028)。这说明酸性水体和Cu2+都显著影响斑马鱼胚胎的发育,且Cu2+在酸性水体中对斑马鱼胚胎的毒性显著增强。因此,在受重金属Cu2+污染的地区,如同时受到酸雨或酸性矿山排水等较低pH值和Cu2+的双重胁迫,较低浓度的Cu2+就能够对水生生物的生殖发育及水生生态系统产生严重的影响和危害。     

低浓度二噁英抑制青鳉幼鱼耳泡生成与SOX9b相关联

2,3,7,8-四氯二苯并对二恶英(2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin,TCDD)是一种持久性环境有机污染物质,它在有机体内的蓄积性引起研究人员的重视。以青鳉胚胎作为实验动物模型,使用原位杂交和定量聚合酶链锁反应(Polymerase Chain Reaction,PCR)技术从分子水平探讨了TCDD对胚胎耳泡的发育及其毒性作用机制。结果表明,TCDD造成青鳉幼鱼耳泡生成障碍。通过原位杂交和q PCR分析表明,TCDD引起软骨发育的变化与SOX9b表达降低有密切的关联。研究认为青鳉胚胎是一种非常敏感的TCDD模式动物,其耳泡软骨发育以及SOX9b基因表达可能是一种二恶英发育毒性的效应标记物。