Smokeless tobacco extract impairs iron homeostasis in rats and human hepatoma,HepG2 cells

Tobacco exposure may alter homeostasis of iron (Fe), one of the most abundant and essential transition metals in the body. In this study, the effect of aqueous extract of smokeless tobacco was evaluated on Fe homeostasis in rats and human hepatoma, HepG2 cells. Our findings suggested that tobacco consumption even at low doses impairs Fe homeostasis leading to Fe deficiency anemia. Significant alterations were noted with respect to hematological parameters and expression patterns of selected intestinal Fe-transporters, Fe-binding proteins, and Fe-regulatory hormone, hepcidin. Impairment in the hepatic and renal antioxidant defense system was also observed in the treated rats. Histopathological studies revealed cirrhosis of liver and goblet cell hyperplasia of small intestine. Further, analysis of hepcidin promoter and its expression along with ferritin (expression and ELISA) in HepG2 cells demonstrated an enhanced expression of both the genes resulting in sequestration of Fe in treated cells, thus indicating systemic Fe deficiency.     

Sub-lethal effect of chlorpyrifos on protein metabolism of the food fish Clarias batrachus and monitoring of recovery

The effect of sub-lethal concentrations of chlorpyrifos on protein metabolism in physiological important tissues, namely gills, kidney, liver, and muscle of the freshwater fish, Clarias batrachus, was studied. Fish were exposed to 1/20th and 1/10th of 96?h LC₅₀ concentrations for 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. After 28 days of exposure, fish were released into fresh water and kept in the same for 21 days in order to study the recovery. Fish were sacrificed at the stipulated periods and gills, kidney, liver, and muscle tissues were used for the estimation of total protein, amino acids, ammonia, urea, glutamine, protease, transaminases, and phosphatases. Total protein, amino acid, and ammonia contents were decreased in all tissues for 28 days and recovery was observed during the recovery period. Urea and glutamine levels were elevated, except in kidneys, and recovered at the end of the recovery period. The activities of protease, alanine, and aspartate aminotransferases, and acid and alkaline phosphatases were elevated in the tissues for 28 days exposure at both concentrations. Recovery of these enzymes activities was noticed during depuration.     

Effects of copper on lipid peroxidation,glutathione, metallothionein,and antioxidative enzymes in the freshwater mussel Anodonta anatina

Copper is an essential element to all animals. At elevated concentrations, it is toxic and can participate in the formation of reactive oxygen species, leading to cellular damage. In this study, the ecotoxicological relevance of copper was investigated with freshwater mussels, Anodonta anatina. When the mussels were exposed to copper at environmentally realistic concentrations, either via the water (0.3?µmol?L^?1 Cu) or fed with Cu-loaded algae (equivalent to 0.06?µmol?L^?1 Cu), the level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances rose and glutathione decreased. This was associated with the induction of metallothionein and, relative to total protein, of glutathione reductase and the antioxidative enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. But, since the overall protein-synthetic capacity was hampered by the copper insult, the activities of the enzymes relative to tissue weight and copper concentrations were depressed. During depuration, most parameters started to normalize although not returning to control values within 12 days.     

PCB disposition and different biological effects in rats following direct soil exposure vs. PCBs off-gassed from the soil

A comparison of PCB congener profiles and limited biological effects was made between direct exposure to PCB-contaminated soil and vapor phase PCBs from that soil to determine congener patterns useful for identifying exposure sources in humans and wildlife. Weanling female Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to either control or PCB-contaminated soil (from a landfill in Southern Illinois) for 1 and 2 weeks. The exposures were via direct contact with the soil or via airborne exposure with the rats isolated from the soil by a wire screen. Total PCB of 25% contaminated soil used in the study was 13?500?ppm. No PCBs were detectable in control rats. In direct-exposed rats, total PCB residues in fat pad, ear skin, serum, liver, and inguinal lymph nodes after the 1-week exposure were 6256, 185, 3.2, 149, and 41?ppm, respectively, but decreased to 465, 72, 1.7, 106, and 32.4?ppm after the 2-week exposure. In airborne-exposed rats, total PCB residues were 7.8, 1.6, 0.03, 0.2, and 0.6 in the same manner and slightly increased in fat pad and ear skin to 11.6 and 2.14, respectively. Decreases in both the concentrations and percentages of “episodic” PCBs (those congeners rapidly metabolized) in the fat pad were apparent following the 2-week exposure compared to the 1-week exposure by both routes. Both EROD and BROD activities were significantly increased in the direct-exposed rats, whereas only BROD activity increased in airborne-exposed rats. Serum T ₄ levels were depleted in the direct-exposed rats regardless of time of exposure but were increased insignificantly after 1-week and significantly after 2 weeks in the airborne-exposed rats. No significant changes in serum insulin levels were apparent in any of the treated groups. The results suggested that exposure of animals to PCBs via different routes could result in different PCB profiles, which could cause different biological effects.     

Oxidative stress and changes in locomotor behavior and gill morphology of Gambusia affinis exposed to chromium

Sublethal effects of chromium trioxide on mosquito fish, Gambusia affinis, were carried out for 28 days on day 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, and 28. The sublethal effects of chromium (LC₁₀, 77.62?mg?L^?1) on antioxidant enzymes, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), locomotor behavior, and gill morphology were studied. The antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were induced throughout the exposure span of 28 days. Percent induction was also increase with the days of exposure. Lipid peroxidation product, malondialdehyde was enhanced in the viscera tissue of chromium-exposed fish. Perturbation of locomotor behavior like decrease in distance travelled (m?min^?1) and in swimming speed (cm?s^?1) was observed in exposed fish. Chromium toxicity caused alterations in gill morphology like hypertrophy and hyperplasia in secondary lamellae followed by detached epithelium with severe necrosis. It can be concluded from the results that Cr intoxication in Gambusia fish, caused induction in antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation, plus changes in gill morphology and locomotor behavior.     

Acute effects of low-dose cypermethrin on male rat cells

Effects of synthetic pyrethroid insecticide α-cypermethrin were investigated following intradermal dose (5–50 mM) of cypermethrin to male albino Wistar rats. Glucose, protein, cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, uric acid, creatinine, hemoglobin, blood RBC, and WBC content were determined 6 h after pesticide administration. Biochemical parameters and blood cell count changed significantly in treated rats at all doses. Low-dose cypermethrin affected early biochemical changes in rats.     

矸石山不同造林模式对土壤养分及酶活性影响的研究

本文以抚顺矸石山立地条件下树龄为10年的刺槐Robinia pseudoacacia L.、火炬Rhus typhina Nutt、白榆Ulmus pumila L.、沙棘Hippophae rhamnoides L.林以及植被自然恢复裸地（CK）5种植被恢复模式为研究对象,按土壤发生学层次进行采样,对土壤有机质、碱解氮、有效磷、速效钾、pH、过氧化氢酶、蔗糖酶和脲酶等指标进行研究,结果表明：与CK相比,4种造林模式显著提高了Ah层的土壤有机质和养分含量,其中,有机质、有效磷改良效果最好的是白榆模式,分别增加了194.8%、442.9%;速效钾改良效果最好的是刺槐模式,增加了262.0%;碱解氮则是火炬模式改良效果最好,增加了509.2%。不同造林模式与CK相比增加了各层次的过氧化氢酶、脲酶、蔗糖酶活性,其中,蔗糖酶和过氧化氢酶活性Ah层最大的是火炬模式,增加了134.5%和880.9%;脲酶酶活性最大的是白榆模式,增加了119.1%。从垂直角度看,有机质、碱解氮、过氧化氢酶、脲酶随土层加深含量降低,在C层达到最小值,而速效钾、有效磷、蔗糖酶的最小值则出现在AC层;不同模式对土壤pH影响不一,垂直规律不明显。     

凤眼莲、大薸对铀胁迫的生理生化响应

为探讨凤眼莲和大薸在铀胁迫下的生理生化响应,通过Hoagland水培试验,研究了不同铀质量浓度处理对凤眼莲和大薸的光合色素质量比、抗氧化酶(SOD、CAT、POD)活性、丙二醛(MDA)含量、游离脯氨酸质量比的影响,以及凤眼莲和大薸对铀的富集能力。结果表明:随铀处理质量浓度增大,凤眼莲和大薸体内铀质量比增加,在50 mg/L铀胁迫下,两者体内铀的质量比达1 550.2 mg/kg和963.0mg/kg;在铀的质量浓度为0.1 mg/L时,凤眼莲和大薸的光合色素质量比无显著变化(p>0.05),随着铀质量浓度的增大,光合色素质量比持续降低;在铀的质量浓度为0.1~1 mg/L时,抗氧化酶系统在凤眼莲和大薸缓解较低质量浓度铀胁迫所引起的膜脂过氧化中发挥了重要作用;凤眼莲对铀的耐受能力要强于大薸;高质量浓度(20 mg/L和50 mg/L)铀处理下,凤眼莲和大薸抗氧化酶活性受到抑制;作为渗透调节物质,二者游离脯氨酸质量比均高于对照。     

木薯皮堆肥过程中酶活性的变化

以木薯皮为原料进行高温堆肥发酵,研究了堆肥化过程中理化性质和酶活性的变化情况.结果表明:在堆肥发酵过程中.温度变化呈先上升后下降趋势,到后期已趋近于初始温度;而含水率在堆肥处理过程中变化不大.各处理的pH值在发酵结束时为7.3～7.5.过氧化氢酶活性初期较高,随后迅速降低,并维持在较低水平.纤维素酶和脲酶活性在堆肥初期增加,之后逐渐降低.由于堆肥原料不同,不同处理的酶活性变化趋势表现出一定的差异.考虑到堆肥腐熟度受多方面因素的影响,判断堆肥腐熟度时应根据多种指标(包括生物学、化学、物理学指标)综合判断.     

二氧化硫胁迫对不同抗性玉米幼苗活性氧代谢的影响

采用60mg·m-3SO2气体处理玉米（Zea Mays.L）幼苗,通过组织化学染色和定量测定,分析了高抗自交系齐139和敏感自交系昌7-2在活性氧代谢上的差异。结果表明：SO2胁迫处理3h后,高抗系齐139幼苗叶片积累了较高的O2-和H2O2,12h后被迅速清除而趋于平衡;而高感系昌7-2叶片在胁迫早期产生的O2-和H2O2较少,后期有大量的O2-和H2O2积累,导致细胞损伤。抗氧化酶SOD和CAT在抗性系中显著升高,而敏感系中增幅不显著。这一研究表明不同抗性系中活性氧代谢的差异可能与其对SO2的抗性密切相关。