Electrosensory basis for individual recognition in a weakly electric, mormyrid fish, Pollimyrus adspersus (Günther, 1866)

Pollimyrus adspersus discriminates the individually variable waveforms of Electric Organ Discharges (EODs) of conspecifics of only 150–250 s duration. We examined: (1) the discrimination threshold for artificially generated EODs of similar waveform, (2) the mechanism of signal analysis (spectral vs temporal) present, by determining the discrimination between different waveforms of identical amplitude spectra, and (3) the threshold field intensity and reach of discrimination. The triphasic P. adspersus EOD waveform was artificially generated by superimposing two Gaussians, one wide, the second narrow, inverted, and of threefold amplitude. The natural variability among individual EOD waveforms was simulated by phase-shifting one Gaussian relative to the other. The symmetrical waveform where the peaks of the two Gaussians coincided was used as a reference (phase shift=0, rewarded stimulus S+). Results were: (1) in food-rewarded conditioning experiments, trained fish (N=7) detected a phase-shift in artificial EOD stimuli as low as 2 s (N=2 fish), 6 s (N=1) and 10 s (N=1). (2) All fish tested (N=3) discriminated between artificial EODs of identical amplitude spectra but different waveforms (hence, different phase spectra), demonstrating a temporal mechanism of signal analysis. (3) The maximum reach of waveform discrimination was 130 cm at 4.9 V_p-p/cm and 100 S/cm water conductivity (test signal generated at natural amplitude), that is, similar to the reach of EOD detection. Therefore, among the three kinds of electroreceptor organ present in mormyrids, we consider Knollenorgane the relevant sensory organs for EOD waveform discrimination.Communicated by J. Krause     

Histopathological effects of artemether on selected organs in rat

Dose and treatment-duration neurotoxic effects are reported for artemisinin drugs of mostly the liposoluble derivatives; and yet artemether, the only parenteral formulation of the artemisinin series available in Nigeria is fat-soluble and also has a treatment-duration of 5–7 days (in an attempt to delay recrudescence). Since parenteral drugs are usually resorted to in severe/complicated or multidrug-resistant malaria against the oral artemisinin co-formulated therapies (ACT), this study is aimed to investigate the pathological changes on selected tissues (if any), in rats, of the normal 7-days artemether-injections when used both in the normal and higher doses. Artemether was administered i.p., at three dose levels, equivalent to therapeutic dose (1.5 mg kg^?1) as well as 5 and 10 times higher (7.5 and 15 mg kg^?1). A three percentage v/v Tween 80 vehicle was used for the control experiment. The pathological changes in the kidney, heart, liver, and lungs evaluated using percentage mean organ:body-weight ratio showed no changes in the organs. No histopathological effect was observed in the organs of rats treated with 1.5 mg kg^?1. However, rats treated with 7.5 and 15 mg kg^?1 revealed necrositic lesions with mononuclear cellular-infiltration in the liver and brain. The liver had focal area necrosis, while the brain had liquefactive necrosis, neuronal degeneration, congested blood vessels, hemorrhage, and vacuolations. The interstitial spaces of the glomerulus and renal tubules of one kidney from rats that received 15 mg kg^?1 had focal area fibrositic-necrosis.     

The Toxicology of Silica Nanoparticles: A Review

Silica nanoparticles are increasingly used in industrial, cosmetics, and medical applications. Workers in nanosilica production industries, laboratory personnel in drug production industries, patients taking drugs with nanosilica in its formulations, and everyone in society who uses cosmetics are potentially at risk to health effects induced by silica nanoparticles. Like other nanomaterials, nanosilica has unique physical and chemical properties that modify its toxic effects compared to bulk silica or microparticles of silica. Nanosilica toxicology has been studied by various in vitro and in vivo protocols and on humans, studies which are collected and summarized in the present publication. The toxic effects are outlined based on the type of body compartment, viz. cardiovascular, dermal, respiratory, neural, hepatic, genetic, immune, reproductive, and renal system. Further information, especially the experimental protocols and toxicological endpoints, are summarized in tables.     

吡草醚原药对大鼠一般生长情况的影响及其慢性肾毒性研究

研究吡草醚原药对大鼠一般生长情况的影响,寻找慢性毒性靶器官以及确定最大无作用剂量(NOAEL)。将初重为40~50 g的SPF级SD大鼠随机分成对照、低、中和高剂量组,160只/组,雌雄各半。各组动物分别给予含有不同浓度吡草醚原药的饲料(0,80,400,2 000 mg·kg-1的饲料),染毒期间不限制摄食饮水,期限为104周。结果显示雌、雄鼠中、高剂量组1~104周的体重、增重、食物利用率与对照组比较,于不同阶段均有不同程度降低,差异有显著性(P0.05或P0.01或P0.001);中、高剂量受试物可导致大鼠血液中尿素氮(BUN)水平升高及胆碱酯酶(Ch E)水平下降,肾脏器系数升高,与对照组比较差异有显著性(P0.05或P0.01或P0.001);病理学检查显示中、高剂量组可引起肾小管上皮细胞变性、肾脏间质炎、慢性进行性肾病等。实验结果表明在本试验条件下,中、高剂量的吡草醚原药可明显影响大鼠的体重增长及食物利用率,对SD大鼠的慢性毒性靶器官是肾脏。     

关于生态毒理学与环境毒理学几个基本概念的见解

对生态毒理学和环境毒理学的几个基本概念进行了论述.首先,论述生态毒理学和环境毒理学的定义和各自的研究范畴,提出二者区分的条件和方法;其次,对“毒物”和“非毒物”的概念进行论述,否定了“物质即毒物”的论点;第三,论述“靶器官”概念的局限性及其对学科发展的不利影响,提出以“敏感器官”概念代替“靶器官”的见解.