Effects of lead on calmodulin content,proliferation and interleukin-2 in lymphocytes of mice

The mechanism inderlying lead (Pb)-induced toxicity was presumed to involve interaction between Pb²⁺ and calcium (Ca²⁺) associated with calmodulin-dependent systems. The aim of this study was to (1) examine the hypothesis that Pb alters calmodulin content and (2) assess the effects of Pb on proliferation and interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels in lymphocytes. The influence of Pb on calmodulin content in mouse lymphocytes was assessed by western blot, while the proliferation of lymphocytes was studied using MTT test, and IL-2 level by ELISA assay. The results showed that 100?µM PbCl₂ decreased calmodulin content, phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced proliferation, and IL-2 levels, but a lower concentration (1?µM PbCl₂) did not appear to be effective. Evidence indicates that IL-2 levels and lymphocyte proliferation might not be calmodulin content dependent. Our data suggested that Pb²⁺-induced toxicity was likely to be complex with multiple factors involved, including calmodulin, IL-2, and proliferation of lymphocytes.     

有机酸对根际土壤中铅形态及其生物毒性的影响

采用根袋盆栽试验和连续浸提方法研究外源柠檬酸、EDTA对根际土壤中Pb形态转化及其生物毒性的影响。结果表明，有机酸能明显活化根际土壤中的Pb，高浓度(3mmol／L)比低浓度(0．5mmol／L)的柠檬酸对Pb的活化能力强；EDTA在低浓度(0．5mmol／L)时对Pb的活化能力就很强。柠檬酸、EDTA能增强土壤Pb的毒性，提高小麦根部对Pb的吸收，并促进Pb由根部向地上部转移。     

铅暴露与排放对中华鲟幼鱼血液中ALT、AST活力的影响

采用水溶液静态置换法,从中华鲟(Acipenser sinensis)受精卵发育至96 h开始,研究了其在0(对照组)、0.2、0.8和1.6mg·L~(-1) Pb~(2+)水溶液中暴露16周,随后排放6周,对中华鲟幼鱼血液中ALT、AST活力的影响.结果显示:Pb暴露后幼鱼血液中的ALT和AST活力均表现为随Pb暴露剂量增加而升高的趋势,1.6mg·L~(-1)组ALT活力与其它各组比较呈极显著差异(P<0.01);0.8和1.6mg·L~(-1)组AST活力与对照组比较分别呈显著差异(P<0.05)和极显著差异(P<0.01). Pb排放后,各暴露组血液中ALT活力降低至对照组水平(P>0.05);1.6 mg·L~(-1)组的AST活力依然较高.超出对照组近2倍(P<0.01).对照组血液的AST/ALT值在2.24～2.32之间;随Pb质量浓度增加,暴露后AST/ALT值呈增加趋势.Pb排放后AST/ALT值降低,但1.6 mg·L~(-1)组与其余各组比较仍维持较高值(P<0.05).初步认为,0.2 mg·L~(-1)和0.8 mg·L~(-1) Pb~(2+)暴露导致中华鲟幼鱼肝细胞不同程度受损,经Pb排放后,轻度受损的组织细胞能够恢复.血液中的AST/ALT值在判断鱼类组织损伤中也具有重要意义.     

Effects of paclobutrazol (PP333) on lead and zinc accumulations in Pseudostellaria maximowicziana

Paclobutrazol (PP333) can enhance the resistance capabilities of plants to stress conditions. In this study, PP333 were sprayed on the lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) accumulator plant Pseudostellaria maximowicziana, which was planted in Pb–Zn contaminated soil, and the effects of PP333 on Pb and Zn accumulation levels in P. maximowicziana were studied. Spraying 10?mg/L PP333 increased, while 20, 30 and 50?mg/L PP333 decreased, the biomass of P. maximowicziana compared with the control. The 10?mg/L PP333 had no significant effects on the photosynthetic pigment contents of P. maximowicziana compared with the control, while the other doses increased the contents. The activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase) and the Pb and Zn concentrations in P. maximowicziana were increased by PP333 compared with the control. These items had the increase trend with the increase of PP333 concentrations. Only 10 and 20?mg/L PP333 increased the amount of Pb extracted by P. maximowicziana shoots, while all of the doses increased the amount of Zn extracted by P. maximowicziana shoots. Thus, low concentration of PP333 could promote the growth and heavy metal extraction ability of P. maximowicziana shoots, with the 10?mg/L being the best.     

Antioxidant role of ascorbic acid on oxidative stress induced by sub-acute exposure of lead and cypermethrin in erythrocytes of Wistar rats

This study aimed to evaluate the reparative potential of ascorbic acid (AA, 100 mg/kg, orally for 28 days) in sub-acute lead (Pb, 100 ppm in drinking water for 28 days) or cypermethrin (CPM, 50 mg/kg, orally in vehicle for 28 days) poisoning alone and as binary mixture on the basis of oxidative stress parameters in erythrocytes of Wistar rats. Both Pb and CPM produced significant increase in lipid peroxidation along with elevated glutathione-S-transferase and catalase activity individually but not as a binary mixture. Glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly increased but glutathione levels were significantly reduced irrespective of single or co-exposure while the activity of superoxide dismutase and erythrocytic protein content were not significantly affected. Co-exposure led to a comparatively lower level of oxidative stress than that induced by Pb or CPM alone indicating an antagonistic toxicodynamic profile in rat erythrocytes. Co-administration of AA along with Pb and/or CPM significantly restored the oxidative stress parameters to normal values. Overall results indicated that co-exposure induces a lower level of oxidative stress and AA ameliorates Pb- and/or CPM-induced oxidative damage in rat erythrocytes.     

Effects of nano-silicon and common silicon on lead uptake and translocation in two rice cultivars

The current study investigated the effects of nano-silicon (Si) and common Si on lead (Pb) toxicity, uptake, translocation, and accumulation in the rice cultivars Yangdao 6 and Yu 44 grown in soil containing two different Pb levels (500 mg·kg⁻¹ and 1000 mg·kg⁻¹). The results showed that Si application alleviated the toxic effects of Pb on rice growth. Under soil Pb treatments of 500 and 1000 mg·kg⁻¹, the biomasses of plants supplied with common Si and nano-Si were 1.8%–5.2% and 3.3%–11.8% higher, respectively, than those of plants with no Si supply (control). Compared to the control, Pb concentrations in rice shoots supplied with common Si and nano-Si were reduced by 14.3%–31.4% and 27.6%–54.0%, respectively. Pb concentrations in rice grains treated with common Si and nano-Si decreased by 21.3%–40.9% and 38.6%–64.8%, respectively. Pb translocation factors (TFs) from roots to shoots decreased by 15.0%–29.3% and 25.6%–50.8%, respectively. The TFs from shoots to grains reduced by 8.3%–13.7% and 15.3%–21.1%, respectively, after Si application. The magnitudes of the effects observed on plants decreased in the following order: nano-Si treatment>common Si treatment and high-grain-Pb-accumulating cultivar (Yangdao 6)>low-grain-Pb-accumulating cultivar (Yu 44) and heavy Pb stress (1000 mg·kg⁻¹)>moderate Pb stress (500 mg·kg⁻¹)>no Pb treatment. The results of the study indicate that nano-Si is more efficient than common Si in ameliorating the toxic effects of Pb on rice growth, preventing Pb transfer from rice roots to aboveground parts, and blocking Pb accumulation in rice grains, especially in high-Pb-accumulating rice cultivars and in heavily Pb-polluted soils.     

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.     

施用石灰对Pb、Cd、Zn在土壤中的形态及大白菜中累积的影响

重金属的不同形态对于作物吸收重金属及受害具有十分密切的关系,通过施用石灰改变重金属的形态、毒性以及对作物的影响具有重要的意义。以大白菜(Brassica pekinensis)为研究对象,通过盆栽试验,探讨了在铅、镉和锌污染土壤上,施用石灰对土壤中不同形态镉、铅和锌含量及在大白菜中累积的影响。结果表明,施用石灰后,土壤中碳酸盐结合态Pb、Cd和Zn含量明显减少,铁、锰氧化物结合态和有机物结合态Pb、Cd和Zn含量明显增加;对大白菜吸收Pb、Cd和Zn均起到较好的抑制作用,石灰用量为5g·kg-1土时,对大白菜吸收Pb、Cd和Zn的抑制效果最好。     

Chronic exposure effects of copper on growth,metamorphosis and thyroid gland,liver health in Chinese toad,Bufo gargarizans tadpoles

The impact of copper exposure on Chinese toad (Bufo gargarizans) tadpoles was investigated in this study. First, the 96h LC50 value of copper was 8.697 μM, by means of a 4 d acute toxicity test. Second, we studied the chronic effects of copper on B. gargarizans tadpoles at control, 0.025, 0.1 and 1.0 μM concentration. Survival, body length, body weight, developmental stage, incidence of metamorphic climax, and size at metamorphic climax were determined. In tadpoles developed to metamorphic climax (stage G42), liver and thyroid gland were assessed histologically. Copper at 0.1 and 1.0 μM could inhibit tadpole growth and prolong tadpole metamorphic progress relative to controls. Tadpole size (total length and weight) at stage G42 is also affected in the 0.1 and 1.0 μM treatments. In addition, histological examinations have revealed that 1.0 μM copper could cause significant pathological changes and hepatocytes degeneration in liver. Furthermore, histomorphological measurements indicated that copper at 0.1 and 1.0 μM reduced thyroid gland size, diameter and number of follicle. In conclusion, our study suggests that Cu could damage the liver and thyroid gland, so growth and metamorphosis of B. gargarizans tadpoles were inhibited resulted of disrupting liver metabolism and THs homeostasis.     

Effects of dietary copper exposure on accumulation,growth, and hematological parameters in Cyprinus carpio

The influence of dietary copper (Cu) exposure on accumulation, growth, and hematological parameters was investigated in Cyprinus carpio after sub-chronic ingestion of 0, 250, 500, 750 or 1000?mg?kg^?1 for 60 days. The profile of Cu accumulation among tissues in C. carpio was dependent on the exposure period and Cu concentration. Liver of C. carpio was the predominant storage tissue and the order of Cu accumulation in tissues was liver?>?intestine?> gill?>?kidney?>?muscle. Cu concentration at >125?mg?kg^?1 reduced growth rate, and was inversely related to growth. The RNA?:?DNA ratios were not affected by exposure and there was no correlation between growth rate and RNA?:?DNA ratio in liver and muscle. There were no significant effects of exposure on blood parameters except for magnesium. Cu exposure time and dose increased the serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) activity levels.     

Acute and chronic toxic effect of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) on biomarker response in post larvae of Penaeus monodon (Fabricus, 1798)

Metal pollution produces damage to marine organisms at the cellular level possibly leading to ecological imbalance. The present investigation focused on the acute and chronic toxicity of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) by examining the effects of biomarker enzymes in post-larvae of Penaeus monodon (Tiger prawn). Antioxidant biomarker responses such as lipid peroxidation (LPO) and catalase (CAT) activity for Pb and Zn were determined following chronic exposure. Acute Lethal Concentration ₅₀ (LC₅₀) values observed in the study at 96?h for Pb and Zn at 5.77?±?0.32?mg?L^?1 and 3.02?±?0.82?mg?L^?1, respectively. The estimated No Observed Effect Concentration and Lowest Observed Effect Concentration values for Pb were 0.014 and 0.029?mg?L^?1 and that recorded for Zn was 0.011 and 0.022?mg?L^?1, respectively. Among the two metals studied, toxicity of Zn was found to be greater to P. monodon than Pb. The activities of antioxidant defense enzymes and total protein content differed significantly from control following exposure to both metals. Overall, the biomarker studies demonstrated that alterations in antioxidant enzymes and induction of LPO reflect the consequences of heavy metal exposure in P. monodon.     

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.     

Effects of embryonic exposure to conspecific chemical cues on hatching and larval traits in the common frog <Emphasis Type="Italic">(Rana temporaria)</Emphasis>

Summary. Recent studies indicate that amphibian eggs are capable of hatching plasticity in response to chemical cues released by predators feeding on conspecific eggs or larvae. However, information is scarce on the relative importance of predator and conspecific cues in such a process. In particular, no attempt has been made to compare the effects of embryonic exposures to chemical cues indicative of a predation risk for eggs and larvae, although both life stages can co-occur in natural habitats. In this context, common frog embryos (Rana temporaria) were raised until hatching in the presence of crushed conspecific extracts from eggs and tadpoles to assess their respective influences on some hatching and larval traits. While a significant delay in hatching time was observed in embryos exposed to chemical cues from tadpole extract, this life-history shift appeared unaffected by embryonic exposure to egg extract. Hatchlings derived from eggs incubated in the presence of both conspecific extracts showed a significantly greater weight than unexposed controls. However, such an effect was no longer apparent 15, 30 and 50 days after hatching, suggesting that embryonic exposure to chemical cues from damaged conspecific eggs and tadpoles has no influence on larval growth. Lastly, morphological measurements performed on hatchlings and older tadpoles (15, 30 and 50 days old) revealed no significant effect of embryonic treatments on the shape of body and tail.     

Effects of benzo(k)fluoranthene,a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon on DNA damage,lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in marine gastropod Morula granulata

Benzo(k)fluoranthene [B(k)F] is one of the widespread priority pollutants of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that has been scarcely studied for exposure assessment. With studies reporting a high amount B(k)F in sediments and water samples around the world, it has become vital to study its effects on aquatic organisms. In this connection, this study is conducted to study the effect of different concentrations of B(k)F (1, 10, 25 and 50?µg/L) in marine gastropod Morula granulata exposed in vivo for 96?h. A concentration-dependent increase in percentage tail DNA (TDNA) as measured by comet assay was observed in snails exposed to B(k)F. Exposure concentrations above 1?µg/L B(k)F showed significant increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and lipid peroxidation value in snails. After 96?h, SOD activity was found to be doubled for 50?µg/L B(k)F in comparison to control. A significant increase in catalase and glutathione S-transferase activity was observed at all exposure conditions at the end of the exposure time. Our study showed that B(k)F induces oxidative stress in snails which further lead to genotoxic damage. To our knowledge, this is the first study on oxidative stress and genotoxic damage in gastropods exposed to B(k)F.