Cobalt-induced oxidative stress in brain, liver and kidney of goldfish Carassius auratus

Cobalt is an essential element, but at high concentrations it is toxic. In addition to its well-known function as an integral part of cobalamin (vitamin B₁₂), cobalt has recently been shown to be a mimetic of hypoxia and a stimulator of the production of reactive oxygen species. The present study investigated the responses of goldfish, Carassius auratus, to 96 h exposure to 50, 100 or 150 mg L⁻¹ Co²⁺ in aquarium water (administered as CoCl₂). The concentrations of cobalt in aquaria did not change during fish exposure. Exposure to cobalt resulted in increased levels of lipid peroxides in brain (a 111% increase after exposure to 150 mg L⁻¹ Co²⁺) and liver (30-66% increases after exposure to 50-150 mg L⁻¹ Co²⁺), whereas the content of protein carbonyls rose only in kidney (by 112%) after exposure to 150 mg L⁻¹ cobalt. Low molecular mass thiols were depleted by 24-41% in brain in response to cobalt treatment. The activities of primary antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, were substantially suppressed in brain and liver as a result of Co²⁺ exposure, whereas in kidney catalase activity was unchanged and SOD activity increased. The activities of glutathione-related enzymes, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase, did not change as a result of cobalt exposure, but glutathione reductase activity increased by ∼40% and ∼70% in brain and kidney, respectively. Taken together, these data show that exposure of fish to Co²⁺ ions results in the development of oxidative stress and the activation of defense systems in different goldfish tissues.     

Renewable Resources and Enzymatic Processes to Create Functional Polymers: Adapting Materials and Reactions from Food Processing

We are exploiting materials and concepts from food science to create functionalized, environmentally friendly derivatives of the biopolymer chitosan, a byproduct of seafood processing. Functional groups are grafted onto chitosan using tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for food browning. The functionalizing groups studied include low-molecular-weight phenols derived from natural sources and high-molecular-weight proteins. The approach of using low-molecular-weight phenols to functionalize chitosan is illustrated with arbutin, a natural phenol found in pears. Results demonstrate that tyrosinase initiates reactions that lead to the conversion of arbutin–chitosan solutions into gels. These gels can be rapidly broken by treatment with the chitosan-hydrolyzing enzyme chitosanase, demonstrating that the chitosan derivatives remain biodegradable. We briefly review other studies in which low-molecular-weight natural phenols are enzymatically grafted onto chitosan to confer functional properties. The creation of co-polymers is illustrated by results in which tyrosinase is used to couple gelatin onto chitosan. Gelatin is a proteinaceous byproduct of meat production. The tyrosinase-generated gelatin–chitosan conjugates have been observed to offer interesting rheological and thermal properties. These results demonstrate the potential for using renewable resources and enzymatic processing to create environmentally friendly polymers with useful functional properties.     

微囊藻毒素-LR对鸡肝脏的氧化损伤影响

蓝藻虽然能产生有毒的生物毒素,但是也含有较高的蛋白质。为探索蓝藻饲料化利用的可能性,本文通过腹腔注射的方式研究了微囊藻毒素-LR(MC-LR)对崇仁麻鸡的半数致死剂量(LD_(50))及其对肝脏的氧化损伤。实验设计了4个剂量组(对照组、5、10和20μg·kg~(-1)MC-LR),并在1、3、12、24和48 h检测了谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量以及谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(GST)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPX)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性变化。结果表明,MC-LR对崇仁麻鸡的LD_(50)值为34.67μg·kg~(-1)体重(bw),95%的置信限为33.51～35.83μg·kg~(-1)bw。在MC-LR的作用下,鸡肝出现了氧化应激现象。3个染毒组鸡肝中GSH含量呈现先下降而后上升恢复至正常水平的趋势,GST酶活力表现为先上升而后下降至正常值的趋势,这说明GSH和GST共同参与了鸡肝中MC-LR的解毒;鸡肝中GPX酶活性在前3小时先保持不变(除了1 h的高剂量组),随即显著上升,这说明GPX和GSH共同参与了鸡肝中过量活性氧自由基(ROS)的清除,GPX可以作为监测MC-LR引起鸡毒性作用的生物标志物。CAT酶活力表现为先显著下降(P<0.05)而后快速上升至正常值的趋势,SOD酶在整个实验期间几乎保持稳定,这可能与SOD酶活性较高所致。     

Effects of mercury graded doses on redox status,metallothionein levels and genotoxicity in the intestine of sea cucumber Holothuria forskali

Mercury (Hg) is a ubiquitous and a major environmental metal pollutant in the aquatic ecosystem. The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of mercury graded doses exposure on oxidative stress, redox status, metallothionein levels and genotoxicity in the intestine of sea cucumber Holothuria forskali. Specimens were exposed for 96?h to three concentrations of Hg (40, 80 and 160?µg/L). Exposure of H. forskali to Hg promoted oxidative stress with an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PCO) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) levels. An increase of glutathione (GSH), vitamin C (ViteC) and non-protein thiols (NPSH) contents was also observed. Additionally, antioxidant activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) increased especially with the highest doses of Hg indicating a great defense of the antioxidant system. Our investigation revealed an increase in total Metallothionein (MT) content which was more pronounced at the sharpest concentrations of Hg. A significant decline of AChE activity was also observed. In the intestine of Hg-treated H. forskali genotoxicity was confirmed by DNA degradation.     

草甘膦与镉复合胁迫对玉米幼苗抗氧化酶活性及光合作用的影响

为了探讨草甘膦(PMG)与重金属镉(Cd)复合胁迫对作物(玉米幼苗)生长的影响作用机制。通过温室盆栽试验,分别进行了不同浓度的PMG单一处理(浓度分别设计为0、1.25、2.5、5、10、20 mg·kg~(-1))和不同浓度的PMG(浓度分别为0、1.25、2.5、5、10、20 mg·kg~(-1))与浓度5 mg·kg~(-1)Cd2+的复合处理。采用分光光度法和连续激发式荧光仪分别对玉米幼苗抗氧化酶(过氧化物酶POD、过氧化氢酶CAT、超氧化物歧化酶SOD)、丙二醛(MDA)、叶绿素含量、荧光动力学曲线及相关参数进行了测定。结果表明,单一和复合胁迫分别在PMG浓度为1.25~5 mg·kg~(-1)、1.25~2.5 mg·kg~(-1)时,玉米幼苗通过增大抗氧化酶(SOD、POD、CAT)活性,清除积累过多的活性氧自由基,提高叶绿素含量的合成,加大光合作用速率,促进玉米幼苗的生长;单一和复合胁迫分别在PMG浓度为5~20 mg·kg~(-1)、2.5~20 mg·kg~(-1)时,由于玉米幼苗积累了过多的膜脂过氧化物,导致抗氧化系统损坏,阻碍叶绿素含量的合成,同时也损害了PSII的功能(MO、φPO、ΨO、φEO、φDO、ABS/RC、TRO/RC、ETO/RC、DIO/RC、PIABS),导致玉米幼苗光合作用受到抑制,阻碍幼苗的生长。研究表明,草甘膦单一胁迫和与重金属镉复合胁迫,对玉米幼苗酶活性及光合作用的影响,均随处理浓度的升高表现为双阶段性,低浓度促进,高浓度抑制;与同浓度的PMG单一处理相比,Cd2+的存在,加大了PMG单独存在时的损害作用,使得玉米幼苗对PMG胁迫的敏感浓度点从5 mg·kg~(-1)降低到2.5 mg·kg~(-1)。     

体育场馆内PM_(2.5)暴露对运动大鼠行为学及相关无氧代谢酶活性的影响

通过非暴露式气管滴注法建立损伤模型,按照低、中、高3种剂量细颗粒物(PM_(2.5))进行染毒,以研究不同浓度PM_(2.5)对运动大鼠行为学及部分无氧代谢酶活性的影响。实验选取32只雄性Wistar SPF(specific pathogen free,SPF)大鼠随机分为运动对照组(EC)、高剂量运动组(30 mg·kg~(-1))(HPE)、中剂量运动组(15 mg·kg~(-1))(MPE)、低剂量运动组(7.5 mg·kg~(-1))(LPE),利用卒中指数和神经病学症状评分对大鼠的行为学进行评价,通过酶联免疫法(ELISA)测定大鼠血清、肺泡灌洗液(BALF)以及股四头肌组织中己糖激酶(HK)、丙酮酸激酶(PK)、磷酸果糖激酶(PFK-1)的活性。结果表明,与EC相比,3个剂量暴露组中,卒中指数和神经病学症状评分差异均有统计学意义;LPE、MPE、HPE组各组织中HK、PK、PFK-1活性均下降,差异有统计学意义(P0.05或P0.01)。综上所述,急性PM_(2.5)暴露可对大鼠行为学产生不利的影响,使大鼠部分组织的无氧代谢酶酶活性降低,影响机体的运动能力。     

2种类型多壁碳纳米管对蛋白核小球藻的毒理研究

碳纳米材料由于其具有优异的性能,得以广泛生产和使用,其不可避免会进入水环境中,对水生生态系统造成潜在影响。多壁碳纳米管(P-MWCNTs)和羟基化多壁碳纳米管(MWCNTs-OH)作为纳米材料的典型代表,应用非常广泛,其潜在的环境效应受到人们越来越多的关注。为此,本文以蛋白核小球藻(Chlorella pyrenoidosa)作为受试生物,通过暴露实验,研究了P-MWCNTs和MWCNTs-OH对蛋白核小球藻的生物学效应。研究结果表明：1)当P-MWCNTs浓度≤10 mg·L-1、MWCNTs-OH≤20 mg·L-1浓度时对蛋白核小球藻生长未造成影响;2)暴露96 h后,当P-MWCNTs≤10 mg·L-1、MWCNTs-OH浓度≤20 mg·L-1时,蛋白核小球藻细胞可溶性蛋白质含量增加,当P-MWCNTs浓度≥20 mg·L-1、MWCNTs-OH浓度≥40 mg·L-1时,2种类型MWCNTs均对蛋白核小球藻造成毒性效应;3)随着2种类型MWCNTs浓度的增加,蛋白核小球藻细胞总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)值减少,蛋白核小球藻细胞丙二醛(MDA)含量显著增加,细胞的健康程度逐渐恶化,细胞结构受到严重损伤;4)MWCNTs-OH比P-MWCNTs具有更好的生物相容性。     

铀胁迫对香根草生理生化指标的影响

采用水培方式研究了不同质量浓度(0、0.1 mg/L、1 mg/L、5mg/L、10 mg/L、20 mg/L)铀胁迫下香根草光合色素质量比、可溶性蛋白质质量比、丙二醛(MDA)含量、抗氧化酶(超氧化物歧化酶SOD、过氧化物酶POD、过氧化氢酶CAT)活性、非酶物质(非蛋白巯基NPT、谷胱甘肽GSH和植物络合素PCs)含量的变化.结果表明,铀质量浓度为0.1 mg/L和1 mg/L时,可促进香根草光合色素和可溶性蛋白质质量比的增加,但随铀质量浓度增加,光合色素和可溶性蛋白质质量比逐渐下降.铀胁迫诱导香根草体内MDA含量、POD活性和CAT活性呈明显升高的趋势,SOD活性则表现为逐渐下降的趋势.不同质量浓度铀胁迫对香根草根部NPT、GSH和PCs含量无明显影响,铀质量浓度为0.1 mg/L时香根草根部NPT、GSH和PCs含量略有增加;随铀胁迫质量浓度增加,叶片内GSH含量逐渐下降,NPT和PCs含量则逐渐升高.     

一种能同时固定CO2和N2的微生物——兼性固CO2、N2菌的分离鉴定及其验证实验

"温室效应"日趋严重,生物固碳特别是微生物固碳将发挥独特的作用.固定N2的微生物固氮菌和固定CO2的微生物固碳菌早已被研究和发现,但能同时固定大气中的CO2、N2并以CO2、N2分别为碳、氮源的微生物至今未见报道,本研究称之为兼性固CO2、N2菌.研究通过固碳菌、固氮菌培养基的优化组合出无碳、氮培养基(分别以空中的CO2、N2为碳源和氮源);通过无氮碳源的兼性固碳氮菌培养基进行分离,筛选分离到一株分别以CO2和N2为碳源和氮源.通过对该菌株的生长特性和固碳酶活性及固氮酶活性进行测定;利用PCR和琼脂糖凝胶电泳技术检测到该菌含有固碳酶RubisCO中cbbL基因及固氮酶nifH基因片段的特异性条带;对该菌进行对照验证实验证明该菌能同时固定空气中的CO2和N2并分别以CO2和N2为碳源和氮源;最后对其形态观察和16SrRNA全序列分析证明该菌株HSJ隶属于链霉菌.     

四环素类抗生素对不同蔬菜生长的影响及其富集转运特征

本研究探讨了四环素类抗生素(TCs)对两种蔬菜生长的影响及其在蔬菜体内的富集和转运特征,以期为四环素类抗生素的植物毒性和对人体健康的风险评价提供理论基础.采用土培试验研究了不同水平(0、50和150 mg·kg-1)的四环素类抗生素(四环素TC、土霉素OTC、金霉素CTC)对生菜和小白菜生长、抗生素含量及其富集转运特征的影响.结果表明,TCs总体上抑制了生菜的生长,地上部和地下部鲜重分别较CK降低了1.56%~26.84%和17.36%~51.04%,小白菜地上部和地下部鲜重反而较对照提高了3.7%~7.3%和3.1%~82.2%.TCs在一定程度上增加了生菜和小白菜的气孔导度(Gs)和蒸腾速率(Tr),抑制了生菜的净光合速率(Pn),Pn在TCs为150 mg·kg-1时较CK降低了32.43%~82.43%.TCs还抑制了生菜和小白菜的SOD活性,较CK降低了29.17%~223.12%,以OTC的抑制作用最强.生菜和小白菜的MDA含量在TCs为150mg·kg-1时达到最大值(生菜地上部除外).小白菜地上部和地下部TCs的含量均高于生菜,以CTC处理的小白菜和生菜TCs含量较高.种植生菜的土壤TCs残留量高于小白菜土壤,以OTC处理的土壤TCs残留量最高.小白菜对TCs的富集系数和转运系数分别是生菜的1.07~7.35倍和1.15~2.25倍.3种四环素类抗生素中以OTC和CTC的生态风险较大.