LIPID PEROXIDATION AND ANTIOXIDANT ENZYME ACTIVITY IN DIFFERENT ORGANS OF MICE EXPOSED TO LOW LEVEL OF MERCURY

The effects of mercuric chloride (Hg) on lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) levels in different organs of mice (CD-1) were evaluated. Mice were exposed (2 days/week) to 0.0 (control), 0.8 (low) and 8.0 (mid) and 80.0 (high) gHg/kg/day for 2 weeks. The high dose group was excluded from the study due to high mortality. LPO levels in kidney, testis and epididymus at low and mid doses; GR and GPx levels in testis at mid dose; SOD levels in brain and testis at both doses, liver and epididymus at mid dose; GSH levels in testis at both doses were significantly increased compared to their controls. However, the GR levels in kidney at both doses and in epididymus at mid dose; GPx levels in kidney and epididymus and SOD levels in kidney at both the doses; GSH levels in epididymus at mid dose were significantly decreased compared to their control. Body weight gain and food efficiency were significantly reduced (<0.05) in mid dose. These results indicated that Hg treatment enhanced LPO in all tissues, but showed significant enhancement only in kidney, testis and epididymus suggesting that these organs were more susceptible to Hg toxicity. The increase in antioxidant enzyme levels in testis could be a mechanism protecting the cells against reactive oxygen species.     

砷暴露诱导小鼠空肠结构损伤和免疫紊乱

以C57BL/6雄性小鼠为受试动物,研究慢性饮水型砷(As)暴露对肠道的损伤效应及作用机制.小鼠饮用含5 mg·L~(-1)或50 mg·L~(-1) As的亚砷酸钠(NaAsO_2)水溶液6个月后,检测空肠组织的氧化应激指标、病理学改变、免疫相关基因表达及黏膜杯状细胞数量.结果发现,As组小鼠空肠组织的超氧化物歧化酶活性和总抗氧化能力显著下降,脂质过氧化产物丙二醛含量显著升高;空肠黏膜受到侵蚀,上皮吸收细胞排列紊乱,部分肠绒毛脱落.氧化应激指标及病理学改变呈现剂量依赖性.5 mg·L~(-1) As组免疫相关基因TNF-α、IFN-γ、IL-4、IL-5和IL-13的mRNA水平显著升高,黏膜杯状细胞数量显著增加;50 mg·L~(-1)As组TNF-α、IFN-γ和IL-4显著下调表达,IL-5和IL-13的表达水平及黏膜杯状细胞数量无显著变化.结果表明,慢性饮水型As暴露诱导小鼠空肠氧化损伤及组织结构改变的同时可能诱发了肠道免疫紊乱.As暴露引起的黏膜损伤可能与As诱导空肠的氧化损伤相关.     

Geographic Variation in the Seasonal Reproductive Strategy of the Mite Varroa jacobsoni in the Honeybee Nest

Variation in the reproduction of Varroa jacobsoni mite was studied in relation to the expansion of the range of its parasitism on the honeybee. Geographic differences in the seasonal dynamics of mite reproduction in the nests of bee families were revealed. Variation in the sex ratio of mites and the factors inhibiting their reproduction at the northern boundary of the honeybee range are considered. The forms of parthenogenetic reproduction in V. jacobsoni are discussed.     

邻苯二甲酸丁基苄酯对小鼠睾丸能量代谢相关酶的影响

为了从生殖细胞能量代谢角度探讨邻苯二甲酸丁基苄酯(BBP)对雄性小鼠生殖损伤的机制,以昆明系雄性小白鼠为实验对象,研究了BBP对小鼠睾丸组织能量代谢相关酶的影响.实验设0、125、250、500、1000mg·kg-1(质量分数)5组浓度梯度,连续灌胃染毒30d后,采用分光光度法检测小鼠睾丸组织匀浆中乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、琥珀酸脱氢酶(SDH)、Ca-Mg-ATPase酶的活性以及睾丸脏器系数.结果发现,1)与对照组相比,高浓度染毒组(500、1000mg·kg-1)LDH、SDH和Ca-Mg-ATPase活性均极显著降低(p<0.01);而低浓度染毒组(125mg·kg-1)3种酶活性均无显著变化(p>0.05);中浓度染毒组(250mg·kg-1)LDH没有显著变化(p>0.05),而SDH、Ca-Mg-ATPase均显著降低(p<0.05,p<0.01).2)染毒30d后,各染毒组睾丸脏器系数略有下降,但与对照组相比,差异均未达到显著水平(p>0.05).以上结果表明,较高水平的BBP不仅可以干扰睾丸组织有氧代谢及无氧代谢的产能过程,还可以干扰生殖细胞对能量的利用,提示能量代谢的障碍可能是BBP对雄性生殖细胞产生损伤的原因之一.     

BPA暴露对本体和子代胰岛β细胞转录组差异对比分析

双酚A(BPA)作为一种典型的环境内分泌干扰物,与二型糖尿病和肥胖症等代谢类疾病密切相关.在这项研究中,旨在探讨BPA直接暴露以及围产期暴露对本体和子代胰岛β细胞影响的差异,从而实现对不同易感人群的精准预防与治疗.通过对GEO数据库中GSE126297和GSE82175两个数据集进行分析,共筛选出108个共有的差异基因,其中28个表达趋势一致,而另外80个表达趋势相反.随后对本体和子代单独的差异基因,以及共有差异基因进行了GO和KEGG对比分析.此外,利用String数据库和Cytoscape分析PPI网络中的紧密联系的基因,并将其可视化,进一步从28个表达趋势一致的基因中筛选出相互作用最为紧密的基因集1(Iqgap2,Igf2r和Rab18);从80个表达趋势相反的基因中筛选出相互作用紧密的基因集2(Polr2f,Ccnt2,Polr2e,Kdm7a,Fbl)和基因集3(Atp5g2,Atp5o和Ndufa6).最后,通过GEPIA在线验证上述基因在胰腺癌样本中的表达,研究发现Rab18,Polr2f,Polr2e,Fbl,Atp5g2,Atp5o和Ndufa6在胰腺癌病例中的表达均显著上升.同时,上述基因在本体中呈现显著上升趋势,而对于子代,只有Rab18显著上升,其他基因则呈下降趋势.综上,BPA对本体和子代的影响有一定的关联,其中关联的关键基因的异常表达可能会增加本体罹患胰腺癌的风险,而对于子代则会影响代谢过程和细胞结构.     

彗星电泳法测定双酚A对雄性幼龄小鼠脑细胞的DNA损伤

双酚A是一种日常生活中无处不在的环境雌激素,具有生殖和神经毒性,但低剂量长期暴露对发育期青少年的危害性常常被低估或忽视。本研究以4周龄雄性清洁级小鼠为实验对象,以茶油作为溶媒对照,分别以双酚A浓度为0μg·m L-1、0.1μg·m L-1、10μg·m L-1和1 000μg·m L-1的茶油灌胃小鼠8周,然后利用彗星电泳法检测各组小鼠脑细胞的DNA损伤。结果显示,不同浓度双酚A暴露8周后,彗星电泳图像显示小鼠脑细胞DNA出现不同程度的损伤,随着暴露剂量的增加,带有彗尾的脑细胞比率从对照组小鼠的9.5%分别升高到暴露组小鼠的34.5%、36.0%和50.5%,细胞总体的尾部DNA含量、尾长和尾矩也都逐渐增加,而且各双酚A暴露组小鼠与溶媒对照组小鼠脑细胞都具有显著性差异(P0.01),这说明中长期双酚A暴露(包括低浓度环境暴露)会导致雄性幼龄小鼠脑细胞的DNA损伤。     

内质网应激介导的凋亡在PBDE-47致大鼠海马损伤中的作用

为了明确内质网应激(endoplasmic reticulum stress,ERS)介导的凋亡在2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚(2,2’,4,4’-tetrabromodiphenylether,PBDE-47)致大鼠神经毒性中的作用,在脑发育的突增期(出生第10天),分别用0 mg·kg~(-1)、1 mg·kg~(-1)、5 mg·kg~(-1)和10mg·kg~(-1)PBDE-47进行单次灌胃染毒,并从出生第8天开始每天给予150 mg·kg~(-1)ERS抑制剂4-苯基丁酸(phenylbutyric acid,PBA),持续3周。仔鼠出生第8周末,从对照组、10 mg·kg~(-1)PBDE-47处理组、150 mg·kg~(-1)PBA处理组和150 mg·kg~(-1)PBA+10mg·kg~(-1)PBDE处理组中随机选取8只大鼠进行水迷宫实验。然后将所有动物断头处死,分离大鼠海马组织,观察其海马组织形态学改变、测定ERS标志分子(GRP78、IRE1和CHOP)和凋亡相关蛋白Cyt c的表达水平。结果显示,10 mg·kg~(-1)PBDE-47处理可导致雌性大鼠海马CA4区细胞排列紊乱、锥形神经细胞数量减少甚至消失,尼氏小体数量减少,大鼠逃避潜伏期延长(P0.05)。5和10 mg·kg~(-1)PBDE-47处理可显著上调ERS相关蛋白IRE1和CHOP的表达水平(P0.05),并明显增强海马组织凋亡相关蛋白Cyt c的表达。PBA干预可明显降低PBDE-47诱导的IRE1和CHOP以及Cyt c蛋白的表达水平,提示PBDE-47可通过ERS介导凋亡,导致大鼠海马组织损伤,从而影响大鼠学习记忆功能。     

Biochemical evaluation of hepatotoxicity in mice due to administration of artemether

Effects of artemether administration on liver and selected biochemical parameters were evaluated. Eighty albino mice were divided into four equal groups. Group 1 was given water which served as control, while groups 2, 3, and 4 were given 1.2, 2.4, or 4.8 mg kg^?1 body weight artemether intramuscularly for five consecutive days. On day 6 all mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and blood was collected for analysis of alanine and aspartate transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, copper, and total proteins. Liver tissues were prepared for histological studies. It was found that the serum alanine and aspartate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase activities were higher in groups treated with artemether compared to control. The serum concentrations of copper and total proteins were lower than control. The histological features of liver tissues after administration of artemether showed histopathological alterations. These findings showed that artemether administration may have reversible adverse effects on mouse hepatocytes.     

Toxicological effects of mouse diet contaminated with tributyltin on the immune and neurological systems of C57BL/6 mice

Organotin compounds, widely used as antifouling agents, are known to bioaccumulate in the food chain. Among organotin compounds, tributyltin (TBT), a toxic and widespread contaminant, has become a serious factor in environmental pollution and is suspected of being immunotoxic in animals. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of 80 µg of TBT per kilogram of body weight (kg bw), provided in food, on the immune and neurological systems of C57Bl/6 mice. Data showed that TBT increased the proliferation of T and B lymphocytes in both adult and juvenile female and juvenile male mice, but that it decreased the proliferation of both T and B lymphocytes in adult male mice. The macrophages activity in female and male juvenile mice was higher than in adults of both sexes. The natural killer cytotoxic activity was also increased in juvenile and adult males and females compared to the control groups. In the brain, we observed the presence of TBT in the hippocampus, the striatum, the cortex, and the cerebellum in both the male and female groups. The highest levels were observed in the cortex of females and males, while the lowest levels were found in the cerebellum. TBT also induced an increase in the levels of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) in the striatum, the hippocampus and in cortical structures but not in the cerebellum where the levels of TBT are lower. Our findings indicate that TBT modulated the immune and nervous systems causing endocrine and nervous perturbations.     

Effects of benzo(a)pyrene on blood components,tumor markers,and oxidative status in mice

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of long-term exposure to benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) in mice. Hemogram, tumor markers, oxidative status, and B(a)P residues in liver tissue were evaluated. Sixty albino Swiss mice were randomly distributed equally into three groups; the control was given 0.1?mL corn oil once a week for 8 weeks. The other two groups were given 20 and 40?mg B(a)P per kg body weight once a week orally for the same period. B(a)P-treated mice suffered from depression and ascites, and macrocytic normochromic anemia was recorded at the 16th and 30th week. There was marked leukocytosis with lymphocytosis at the early stage of the experiment, followed by leukopenia, lymphopenia, and neutropenia at the end of the experiment. Monocytes and arginase activity were elevated throughout the experiment. Alpha feto-protein was detected only in the experimental groups in the 30th week of the experiment. A marked increase in lipid peroxides associated with a decrease in reduced glutathione and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity was observed in liver homogenate of the B(a)P-exposed animals. Residues of B(a)P were detected in liver tissue with a concentration parallel to the B(a)P dose level. In conclusion, B(a)P caused abnormal changes in the hemogram, evidence of tumor formation through B(a)P-induced oxidative stress, and it was accumulated in the liver tissue of mice.