Changes in hematological profile of male albino rats after acephate administration

The present study was designed to evaluate the possible adverse effects of acephate, an organophosphate insecticide, on hematological parameters in male albino rats. Acephate was administered orally to rats at either 25, 50, or 75 mg/kg bwt/day for 30 days. Data showed a significant decrease in total erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration, and hematocrit value; however, an increase in total leukocyte count was noted. The levels of blood sugar and blood urea were significantly elevated when administered by acephate. There were no significant changes in mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration for all doses. Thus, obtained results collectively revealed that acephate administration produced significant alterations in hematological parameters in dose-dependent manner.     

The protective potential of Nitraria retusa on penconazole-induced hepatic injury in adult rats

The protective effect of Nitraria retusa fruit extract against hepatotoxicity induced by penconazole at a dose of 67 mg/kg body weight given intraperitoneally every two days to male Wistar rats was investigated. Penconazole exposure increased malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and advanced oxidation protein product levels. Hepatic biomarkers as well as enzymatic (catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) and nonenzymatic (vitamin C, non-protein thiols and metallothioneins) antioxidant status were also altered. Treatment with N. retusa extract improved all parameters cited above. Liver histological studies confirmed the biochemical parameters. These results provide a scientific basis for the use of N. retusa fruit against hepatotoxicity.     

Dermal exposure to pesticides modifies antioxidant enzymes in tissues of rats

Abstract

Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities were determined in rat tissues after dermal exposure to pesticides. Two experiments were conducted in male SD rats, 190–210 g body weight. Acephate (ACP), methamidophos (MAP) and nicotine (NIC) were dissolved either individually or together in 0.25 mL of 50% ethanol, which contained: AP=12.6 or MAP 1.3 or NIC= 9.6 mg; EXP 1 ‐ individual pesticide exposure; 64 rats, 16/group; EXP 2 ‐ mixture of AP+MAP+NIC at levels of IX, 2X, 3X; 48 rats, 12/group; 0.25 mL of solution or ethanol (Controls) was applied to 25 mm² area of shaved skin 3 times a week. Half the rats were terminated after 4 weeks and the rest after 4 weeks of stopping exposure. Single pesticides decreased erythrocyte (RBC) SOD by 17 % after exposure and in the NIC group after post exposure (P#0.05). Increasing concentrations of AP+MAP+NIC mixture elevated RBC SOD by 22 % in the 2X and 3X groups and CAT by 13 % in the 3X group (P#0.05); post exposure increased RBC SOD by 2–3 fold and CAT activity by 13 % in all 3 groups. Liver GPX increased by 30–40 % and CAT decreased by 12 % in all exposed and post exposed groups (P#0.05). The results suggest that dermal exposure to mixtures of pesticides can selectively induce SOD, CAT and GPX activities in RBC and liver.     

黄精多糖对老龄大鼠衰老生理生化指标的影响

以水提法从黄精（Ｐｏｌｙｇｏｎａｔｕｍｓｐ）中得到的粗多糖成分（ＰＰ）进行了老龄大鼠的衰老生理生化指标测定试验．两种剂量的ＰＰ灌喂老龄大鼠１ｍｏ后，测定其１２项衰老生理生化指标：胸腺指数和脾脏指数，外周血淋巴细胞ＡＮＡＥ活性，红细胞、视网膜、晶体核、晶体皮质的ＳＯＤ活性，心脏、血浆中过氧化脂质含量，肝脏、肾脏中脂褐质含量及脑中Ｂ型单胺氧化酶活性．结果表明：除胸腺指数、血浆中过氧化脂质含量无显著性变化外，其他１０项指标均有明显的改善作用；试验结果经统计学处理有显著性差异．     

应用流式细胞分析技术研究微纳尺度SiO2对雄性大鼠睾丸生精细胞的毒性作用

为了进一步研究纳米与微米尺度SiO2对雄性大鼠的生殖毒性作用,选择不同剂量的纳米SiO2(20～40nm)与微米SiO2(1～10μm),采用气管滴注方式对雄性Wistar大鼠分组染毒.于染毒5周后处死大鼠,应用流式细胞技术对睾丸生精细胞进行分析.结果表明:1)高、低剂量纳米SiO2组及高剂量微米SiO2组细胞凋亡率均显著高于对照组;2)与对照组相比,高、低剂量纳米SiO2组及高剂量微米SiO2组1C细胞显著减少,4C细胞显著增加;3)与对照组相比,高剂量纳米SiO2组和高剂量微米SiO2组G0/G1期细胞比例显著降低,高剂量纳米SiO2组G2/M期细胞比例显著增加.结果提示纳米SiO2能够阻滞细胞周期进程,诱导生精细胞凋亡;与微米SiO2相比,纳米SiO2对大鼠睾丸生精细胞的损伤有更严重的趋势.     

慢性铝暴露致大鼠骨与软骨损伤胶原途径的动态分析

为了探讨慢性铝暴露致大鼠骨与软骨损伤胶原途径的机制及胶原代谢水平,实验将100只4周龄清洁级Wistar大鼠随机均分成染铝组(430mg·L-1Al3+)与对照组(蒸馏水),通过饮水染铝,每隔30d处死染铝大鼠和对照大鼠各10只,设立5个观测点,最长染铝时间为150d.同时,用电子秤每30d称大鼠体重1次;用火焰原子吸收分光光度法测定血清、骨与软骨中铝含量;用固相夹心ELISA法检测血清中Ⅰ型前胶原羧基末端前肽(PICP)、Ⅰ型胶原C末端肽(CTX-Ⅰ)、Ⅱ型胶原(collagenⅡ)和Ⅱ型胶原C末端肽(CTX-Ⅱ)含量.结果表明,大鼠铝中毒模型复制成功;随着铝暴露时间的延长,染铝组大鼠体重在染铝60d后显著低于对照组(p0.01);染铝组血清、骨与软骨中铝含量逐渐升高,显著高于对照组(p0.01);PICP、Ⅱ型胶原合成量呈逐渐下降趋势,且显著低于对照组(p0.05,p0.01);CTX-Ⅰ和CTX-Ⅱ含量持续维持在高水平,分别在铝暴露90d、60d后显著高于对照组(p0.01).说明长时间铝暴露可致铝在骨与软骨中蓄积,并使骨与软骨中结构性胶原减少,引发骨与软骨损伤.     

微纳尺度SiO2对雄性大鼠生殖功能损伤的实验研究

为了探讨纳米与微米尺度SiO2对雄性大鼠的生殖毒性作用,选择不同剂量的纳米SiO2(20～40nm)与微米SiO2(1～10μm)采用气管滴注方式对雄性Wistar大鼠分组染毒.于染毒5周后处死大鼠,检查附睾精子形态,并检测睾丸组织和血清中睾丸功能标志酶活性变化以及性激素含量的变化.结果表明:1)高、低剂量的纳米和微米SiO2染毒均可使大鼠发生程度不同的精子数量减少、精子活动率降低、精子畸形率升高;2)纳米SiO2染毒可使大鼠睾丸组织SDH、LDH和血清中ACP活性显著降低,而微米SiO2染毒对这些指标的影响不显著;3)纳米SiO2和高剂量微米SiO2染毒可使大鼠血清T和睾丸匀浆T浓度显著降低,而对血清LH没有显著影响;4)与微米SiO2相比,纳米SiO2对大鼠生殖功能的损伤有更严重的趋势,但相同剂量下,纳米SiO2和微米SiO2相比,各指标均无显著性差异.以上结果表明,微米和纳米尺度SiO2染毒均可使大鼠生殖功能产生损伤,使部分生殖功能指标发生显著变化;与微米SiO2相比,纳米SiO2对大鼠生殖功能的损伤有更严重的趋势.     

Remote Forest Refugia for Fijian Wildlife

Abstract:  On Pacific islands non-native rats and mongooses threaten many native species. In Fiji we compared visitation rates of rats and mongooses at bait stations and measured biomass of leaf-litter invertebrates to assess the relative predation pressure from these species in forest areas at different distances from the forest edge. Forest areas over 5 km from the forest edge had significantly fewer baits encountered by rats or mongooses than did natural forest areas nearer agricultural and urban habitats. Remote forest areas may function as a last refuge for island species threatened by predation from non-native rats and mongooses. The biomass of leaf-litter invertebrates in remote forest areas was higher, indicating a refuge effect for some taxa targeted by rats and mongooses. Protection of the few remaining large blocks of natural forests on Pacific islands may be the most cost-effective approach for conserving many island endemics threatened by rats and mongooses. Logging roads can compromise this refuge effect by acting as dispersal routes for rats into natural forests.     

Physiological Rearrangements in the Progeny of White Rats in the Zone of the Chernobyl Accident

Studies on six generations of white rats kept at the experimental station in Chernobyl showed that the dynamics of hormonal rearrangements and endocrine responses evoked by additional stress (hypokinesia) were generation- and sex-dependent. The male rats of the first five generations were characterized by hypercorticoidism, early involutional shifts, and decreased reactivity in response to hypokinesia. By the sixth and seventh generations, the hormonal profiles shifted toward an increase in the background level of sex hormones and their role in the response to hypokinesia. In female rats, the hormonal indices and reactivity changed less significantly.