Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in different tissues of the cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) from Dongting Lake, China

Tissue distribution provides important information regarding the pharmacokinetic behavior of pollutants and is invaluable when analyzing the risk posed to avian species by the exposure to such kind of pollutants. In this study, concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) were determined in muscle, liver, spleen, kidney, stomach, gall bladder, skin, heart, pancreas, intestine and lung tissue extracts of cormorants collected from Dongting Lake, China. Tissue distribution results showed preferential accumulation of PCDD/Fs in both liver and skin. The total concentration of PCDD/Fs ranged from 421 to 5696 pg/g lipid weight. Octachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) was the predominant congener in all tissues and contributed between 31% and 82% to all 17 PCDD/Fs in different tissues. The liver/muscle ratios progressively increased with the degree of chlorination of PCDDs, except for OCDD. The relative toxic potential of PCDDs and PCDFs in tissues were calculated using the World Health Organization (WHO) Toxic Equivalency Factors (TEFs) for birds. The concentrations of WHO-toxic equivalent in different tissues ranged between 14.8 and 2021 pg/g lipid weight. These results indicated PCDD/Fs may have been bio-accumulated in cormorant via food-web. Furthermore, when compared with studies reported in the literatures, the PCDD/Fs levels in the cormorant collected from Dongting Lake were still relatively high.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in chicken tissues and eggs from an electronic waste recycling area in southeast China

The levels and distributions of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in chicken tissues from an electronic waste (e-waste) recycling area in southeast China were investigated. Human dietary intake by local residents via chicken muscle and eggs was estimated. The mean PBDEs concentrations in tissues ranged from 15.2 to 3138.1 ng/g lipid weight (lw) and in egg the concentration was 563.5 ng/g lw. The results showed that the level of total PBDEs (PPBDEs) in the chicken tissue was 2–3 orders of magnitude higher than those reported in the literature. The large di erence of PPBDEs concentrations between tissues confirmed that the distribution of PBDEs in tissues depend on tissue-specificity rather than the “lipid-compartment”. BDE-209 was the predominant congener (82.5%– 94.7% of PPBDEs) in all chicken tissues except in brain (34.7% of PPBDEs), which indicated that deca-BDE (the major commercial PBDE formulation comprising 65%–70% of total production) was major pollution source in this area and could be bioaccumulated in terrestrial animals. The dietary PBDEs intake of the local residents from chicken muscle and egg, assuming only local bred chickens and eggs were consumed, ranged from 2.2 to 22.5 ng/(day kg body weight (bw)) with a mean value of 13.5 ng/(day kg bw), which was one order of magnitude higher than the value reported in previous studies for consumption of all foodstu s.     

Heavy metal analysis in fish‐kill cases in rivers in Guipuzcoa (Spain)∗

Some fish‐kills in Basque rivers were studied by gill tissue analysis: Samples were wet digested and the solution was analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy. In three cases, the cause was linked to the effluents of an aluminium anodizing factory, cyanide caused one kill and copper wastes were related with another. Three cases were attributed to natural reasons and one of the kills was of unknown origin.     

Metallothionein induction in mice by CCL4: Hepatic Zn‐status and distribution of administered Cd∗

Induction of metallothionein (MT), Zn status and the subcellular distribution of administered Cd were studied in liver after single administration of CC1₄ to mice. Hepatic MT was increased up to 153±16 μMT/g liver 18 h after injection of 2ml CCl₄/kg body weight. The observed decrease in Zn bound to cytosolic high molecular weight proteins from 25.5 ± 0.6 to 19.8±1.1 resp. 19.0 ± 1.7 μgZn/g and the increase in MT bound Zn from 4.0±0.5 to 9.5 ± 1.1 resp. 10.9±1.1 μgZn/g compensate each other.

Zn content of whole liver and hepatic cytosol remained unchanged. Hepatic subcellular distribution of 4 mg Cd/kg body weight, administered 2 h prior termination was also influenced by CC1₄. Cd bound to high molecular weight proteins decreased from 10.0±1.0 to 7.2±1.6 resp. 3.7 ± 2.6 μg Cd/g and Cd bound to MT increased from 12.5 ± 1.4 to 18.0 ± 3.8 resp. 23.1± 6.4 μgCd/g. Cd content of both, whole liver and cytosol was not significantly different from control. The induction of MT has been suggested to be beneficial due to its role in the sequestration of toxic metals. The depletion of Zn from cytosolic high molecular weight proteins however might adversively influence essential physiological processes.     

Fluoride in drinking water exacerbates glomerulonephritis and induces liver damage in ICR-derived glomerulonephritis mice

To evaluate the effects of fluoride on the kidney and the liver of ICR-derived glomerulonephritis (ICGN) mice by using laboratory tests and pathological examinations, fluoride was administered to the ICGN mice at 0, 25, 50, 100, and 150?ppm in drinking water for 4 weeks and to the ICR mice, which have normal kidney function at 0 and 150?ppm. The BUN, creatinine, GOT, and GPT in the serum of each mouse were determined. When a mouse died, the sample from the day closest to the death was assigned for the mean. Pathological changes in the kidney were examined after PAS (periodic acid-Schiff) staining. All of the ICGN mice in the 150?ppm group and one of seven in the 100?ppm group died before the end of week 4, but no ICR mice died. For ICGN mice, the mean value of body weight in the 150?ppm group was significantly lower than those in 0?ppm group and other fluoride-administered groups. The mean values of relative liver and kidney weights in the 100 and 150?ppm groups were significantly lower than those in the control. The mean values of BUN, creatinine, and GPT in the 150?ppm group were significantly higher than those in the control. The thickness of the glomerular capillary wall and the increased mesangial matrix in the kidney were prominent in the fluoride-administered ICGN mice. These results suggested that fluoride severely exacerbated glomerulonephritis and tublar-intestitial changes in ICGN mice.     

Concentrations of cadmium,manganese, copper,zinc, and lead in the tissues of the oyster (Crassostrea iredalei) obtained from Setiu Lagoon,Terengganu, Malaysia

Heavy metals pollution in aquatic environments is a major problem contributing to human health issues. The study of these pollutants through bioindicators such as the oyster Crassostrea iredalei is important for (1) determining the levels and sources and (2) regulating the quantity of pollutants. The concentrations of cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) in tissues of C. iredalei, sediment and surrounding water was measured, and data was analyzed to determine the relationship between sampling periods and between oyster tissue, sediment, and water. The highest concentration of metals in oyster tissue was Zn, followed by Cu, Mn, Cd, and Pb. Concentrations of Cd, Cu, and Zn exceeded the maximum level allowed according to the Malaysian Food Act of 1983, which is equivalent to the WHO recommended levels of heavy metals in organisms used for consumption. The highest metal concentration in sediment was Mn followed by Zn, Pb, Cu, and Cd. Concentrations of heavy metals in surrounding water were Zn, Pb, Cu, Mn, and Cd. There was no correlation between metal concentration in oyster tissue and in sediment for all five metals.     

Acute effects of low-dose cypermethrin on male rat cells

Effects of synthetic pyrethroid insecticide α-cypermethrin were investigated following intradermal dose (5–50 mM) of cypermethrin to male albino Wistar rats. Glucose, protein, cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, uric acid, creatinine, hemoglobin, blood RBC, and WBC content were determined 6 h after pesticide administration. Biochemical parameters and blood cell count changed significantly in treated rats at all doses. Low-dose cypermethrin affected early biochemical changes in rats.     

苯并[a]芘对马氏珠母贝鳃组织抗氧化酶活性的影响

将马氏珠母贝（Pinctada martensi）暴露于不同质量浓度（1、4和8μg.L-1）苯并[a]芘B[a]P中,检测暴露后第3、7和10天后,马氏珠母贝鳃组织抗氧化酶（超氧化物歧化酶SOD、谷胱甘肽硫转移酶GST和过氧化氢酶CAT）对苯并[a]芘胁迫的生态毒理效应。结果表明：暴露时间为3、7 d时,SOD活性无明显变化,随着暴露时间的延长,SOD活性在第10天时被激活;在胁迫初期,GST活性被激活,随后表现出逐渐降低的趋势,在暴露后10 d,不同质量浓度组GST活性变化趋于稳定。当暴露质量浓度相同时,表现出明显的时—效关系;而CAT活性在第7天被激活,随着时间的延长,高质量浓度（4和8μg.L-1）组表现出先升高后下降的趋势,并表现出一定的时-效关系。SOD、GST和CAT均可作为B[a]P污染的生物标志物,活性变化相对于SOD,GST和CAT对B[a]P的胁迫更加敏感。     

不同强度冷刺激对大鼠心脏、大脑、睾丸和肺脏中CIRP表达的影响

采用Western blot和实时荧光定量RT-PCR方法,研究不同强度不同时间冷刺激后大鼠心脏、大脑、睾丸和肺脏中冷诱导RNA结合蛋白(CIRP)的表达情况.结果表明:常温(20℃±1℃)下大鼠4种组织中均存在一定的CIRP的表达;急性冷刺激组(-10℃±1℃、-4℃±1℃、0℃±1℃、4℃±1℃)心脏、大脑和睾丸中CIRP mRNA表达在冷刺激0～6 h呈上升趋势,6 h时达到最高值,随后呈下降趋势,肺脏中CIRP mRNA表达在0～6 h呈下降趋势,在6 h时达到最低值,随后呈上升趋势;慢性冷应激组(10℃±1℃)大鼠心脏、大脑和睾丸3种组织中CIRP mRNA在不同时间点(1周、2周、3 W周)的表达均高于正常对照组(P>0.05),肺脏CIRP mRNA表达均低于对照组(P>0.05),并且同一组织不同时间点之间差异不显著(P>0.05).可见冷刺激后CIRP的表达存在一定规律并且表现出组织特异性,可能与组织保护特异性有关.     

十溴联苯醚(BDE-209)对离体条件下小鼠肾脏和脑组织SOD活力和MDA含量的影响

十溴联苯醚(decabromodiphenyl ether,BDE-209)是目前应用最广泛的的溴系阻燃剂,其环境风险引起很大关注。本实验以小鼠肾脏和脑组织为实验材料,研究了离体条件下BDE-209的急性氧化损伤效应。BDE-209染毒终浓度设置为0,1,2,4和8μg·mL-1,采用NBT和TBA法分别测定SOD(superoxide dismutase)活性和MDA(malondialdehyde)含量。结果显示,随着BDE-209染毒浓度的升高,小鼠肾脏和脑组织的SOD活性先升高后降低,较高染毒浓度组的SOD活性与对照组相比显著性降低;MDA含量逐渐上升,并且与对照组相比较高染毒浓度组的MDA含量显著上升。以上结果说明,离体条件下BDE-209对小鼠肾脏和脑组织能够产生急性氧化应激,并导致脂质过氧化损伤。