Proteomics analysis of zebrafish brain following chronically exposed to bisphenol A

Bisphenol A, a plastic monomer and plasticizer, is a well-known endocrine disrupter, widely present in the aquatic environment, but little is known regarding its neurotoxicity in fish. Herein, we investigated its effects on male zebrafish brain. Zebrafish were exposed to 10 µg/L BPA for 45 days. An isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation approach coupled with nano high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis was employed to detect and identify differentially expressed proteins. A total of 46 proteins was identified and categorized into functional classes that mostly included metabolism and transport, cytoplasm and organelle, ion and nucleotide binding, indicating that bisphenol A toxicity in fish brain is complex. The biological pathways of starch and sucrose metabolism, calcium signaling, and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis were also induced. Proteomic analyses add new perspectives to bisphenol A neurotoxicity in aquatic organisms.     

The unrecognized danger of a new transportation mechanism of injury--pedicabs

Objective

Pedicabs are a new and controversial transportation innovation for tourists in congested areas in several U.S. cities. Scant literature on this trauma mechanism exists. The purpose of this study is to identify the incidence, demographics, morbidity, mortality, and potential for injury prevention of pedicab incidents amongst major trauma admissions at an urban, academic Level I Trauma Center.

Patients & Methods

Researchers conducted a retrospective review of the Trauma Registry from 2000 to 2009. All patients identified as being injured in a pedicab incident were reviewed. Demographics, diagnoses, toxicology, treatments, and injury severity scale (ISS) were collected. Outcomes included mortality, ICU, and hospital length of stay (LOS), discharge disposition, and hospital charges. A photographic survey of 50 local pedicabs was examined for the presence and use of safety equipment.

Results

During the period of January 2000 to July 2009 there were 15 major trauma victims from identified pedicab incidents. Falling from the pedicab was the mechanism of injury in 14 of 15 cases. There were two fatalities in victims following severe traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injury, skull fracture, or loss of consciousness was seen in 11/15 victims. Ethanol ingestion was detected in blood tests of 10 of the 14 adult victims. Median charges of hospitalization due to a pedicab related injury was US$29,956 ± 77,482. A photographic survey of 50 local pedicabs reveals very limited use of safety belts by passengers despite existing city ordinances.

Conclusions

Major trauma victims of pedicab incidents in the United States suffer significant injuries and death. Most cases occurred in passengers falling from the pedicab at night after alcohol ingestion. There is an opportunity for implementation of strategies toward improved injury prevention with this new form of transport.     

Distribution of benzo[a]pyrene in discrete regions of rat brain tissue using light microscopic autoradiography and gamma counting

In order to study the distribution of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) in rat brain, Sprague-Dawley male rats, 21-day-old, weighted 40–50 g were given a single intravenous (iv) injection of 3.7 × 10⁵ Bq kg^?1 of ¹⁴C-B[a]P. Rats were sacrificed at 1, 6, 12, 24, or 48 h after the administration of radiolabeled B[a]P. Light microscopic autoradiography and gamma counting were used. Gamma counting and light microscopic autoradiography showed that ¹⁴C-B[a]P localized in hippocampus at 1 h, in cerebral cortex at 6 h, and corpus striatum at 24 h after treatment. After B[a]P administration, silver grains rose with time reaching a peak at 24 h and sharp decrease at 48 h. The silver grains distribution was higher in neurons than in gliocytes. Thus, B[a]P penetrated the blood-brain barrier and distributed in various regions of rat brain.     

Effects of two organophosphorus insecticides on some biochemical constituents in the nervous system and liver of rabbits

Abstract

Male Baladi rabbits were acutely and sub‐chronically intoxicated with cyanofenphos and profenophos. The levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, B‐lipoproteins and total proteins were determined in the serum, brain, spinal cord and sciatic nerve of rabbits. Moreover, the activities of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and glutamic‐pyruvic transaminase were determined in the liver of the animals. The whole Studie revealed that the biochemical constituents were highly affected by the tested insecticides. Also, the liver function suffered from adverse effects of the tested insecticides.     

A Radio Communication System for Neuronal Signals

To collect neuronal activity data from awake,freely behaving animals,we developed miniature telemetry recording system.The integrated system consists of four major components:1) Microelectrodes and micro-driver assembly,2) analog front end(AFE),3) programmable system on chip(PSoC),and 4) radio transceiver and the LabVIEW were used as a platform for the graphic user interface.The result showed the system was able to record and analyze neuronal recordings in freely moving animals and lasted continuously for a time period of a week or more.This is very useful for the study of the interdisciplinary research of neuroscience and information engineering techniques.The circuits and architecture of the devices can be adapted for neurobiology and research with other small animals.     

大凉疣螈脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)基因的克隆与序列分析

大凉疣螈 (Ｔｙｌｏｔｏｔｒｉｔｏｎｔａｌｉａｎｇｅｎｓｉｓ)属于两栖纲有尾目蝾螈科 ,仅分布在我国四川省西南部 ,活动范围狭窄 ,数量有限 ,是我国二级保护动物[1] .两栖动物在生物进化中是承上启下的关键动物 ,它们开启了脊椎动物登上陆地的历史 ,而且是真正陆生脊椎动物—爬行动物的祖先 ,其生理、结构等方面与鱼类和爬行类都有着明显的差别 .脑源性神经营养因子 (ｂｒａｉｎ ｄｅｒｉｖｅｄｎｅｕｒｏｔｒｏｐｈｉｃｆａｃｔｏｒ,ＢＤＮＦ)是神经营养因子家族的一员 ,ＢＤＮＦ在脊椎动物胚胎神经系统的发育、分化及在成体神经系统维…     

二氧化硫吸入对小鼠脑、心、肾、睾丸超微结构的影响

为了研究二氧化硫(SO2)对小鼠脑、心、肾、睾丸超微结构的影响,以探讨其毒性作用的本质,对小鼠进行SO2动态吸入染毒.设对照组及SO2染毒组(28、56 mg·m-3),取各组小鼠脑、心、肾、睾丸于电镜下观察.结果表明:(1)SO2染毒组小鼠脑组织的部分神经元细胞和许多胶质细胞受损,可见胶质细胞核畸形、内质网扩张、线粒体肿胀,以及神经纤维发生髓鞘分离的现象,2种剂量未见明显差异.(2)SO2染毒组小鼠心肌细胞的线粒体肿胀,肌原纤维结构紊乱,细胞核染色质有边集、团块状改变现象,血管内皮细胞肿胀,心肌闰盘扩张、松解;剂量较高的SO2(56 mg·m-3)染毒组小鼠,还可见到心肌纤维断裂、溶解,部分心肌细胞肌膜破裂,细胞器释出现象,并可观察到淋巴细胞浸润(3)SO2染毒组小鼠肾近曲小管上皮细胞受损严重,肾小球和远曲小管上皮细胞也有一定程度的损伤,可见内质网扩张、线粒体肿胀现象;SO2剂量为56 mg·m-3的染毒组较剂量为28 mg·m-3染毒组更为严重,可见肾小管上皮细胞嗜酸性变、线粒体空泡变现象.(4)SO2染毒可引起小鼠睾丸的基膜、各级生精细胞、精子和支持细胞发生病理改变,可观察到线粒体肿胀、核膜不清、精细胞顶体脱落现象;SO2剂量为56 mg·m-3时比剂量为28 mg·m-3时超微结构损伤严重,可见基膜破损、细胞器释出现象.本研究为SO2是一种全身性有毒因子的观点提供了病理形态学证据.     

Abnormalities of the foetal cerebral cortex

Prenatal ultrasound has concentrated on readily visible cerebral structures including head size, shape, ventricles, CSP (cavum septi pellucidi), cerebellar size/vermian presence and cisterna magna. However, apart from these easily visible structures it is important to evaluate the brain itself. Patients who initially appear to have mild isolated findings such as borderline ventriculomegaly in fact can have many more subtle findings that significantly alter prognosis and management that can be detected on detailed examination of the brain. There has been rapid evolution in imaging these foetuses, especially with neurosonography and MRI, and a revolution in understanding the underlying genetic and biochemical mechanisms. There is increasing emphasis to detect cortical abnormalities as early as possible. This article reviews development of the cerebral cortex, the classification, aetiologies and clinical manifestations of cortical disorders, normal and abnormal appearances at ultrasound and MRI, and approaches to investigation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.