The effects of bisphenol A on sex hormone levels of F0 female rats and F1 male rats during weaning period

The effects of bisphenol A (BPA) were examined on sex hormones of F1 generation male rats during weaning period. Female rats were exposed to BPA from day 0 after pregnancy to the weaning period at doses of 50, 100, or 200 mg kg^?1. The sex hormone levels of F1 generation male rats were determined. This study shows that F0 generation female rats fed with 200 mg kg^?1 BPA had a significantly higher serum prolactin (PRL) levels at the end of weaning. Significantly higher levels of serum estradiol (E₂) were also found in female rats fed 100 or 200 mg kg^?1 BPA. Serum levels of E₂ in F1 male generation rats were higher in treatment groups compared to control groups while serum testosterone (T) levels were lower. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in F1 generation rats fed 200 mg kg^?1 was markedly decreased. The relative testicular weights were significantly less in 100 and 200 mg kg^?1 BPA groups. BPA was found to alter the sex hormone levels in F1 male rats during weaning period and thus disrupted endocrine functions.     

Time-dependent effects of pentabrominated diphenyl ethers on gonadal hormone and genital system histology in male rats

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of pentabrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) on gonadal hormone levels and histology in male rats. Rats in treatment groups were orally gavaged with PBDE-99 at a dose of 120 mg?kg^?1 for 5, 15, 30, or 45 days, while controls received equal volume of corn oil. In the treated groups, changes were not found on day 5. On day 15, testicular weight increased, serum levels of estradiol (E₂) decreased, proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive expression was reduced, and sperms within the seminiferous tubules were damaged. On day 30, testicular weight was further increased, serum levels of testosterone (T) and E₂ decreased, PCNA positive expression was further reduced, some primary spermatocytes cells did not express, and seminiferous epithelium was degenerated. At 45 days, testicular weight decreased, levels of T, E₂ concentrations were lower, histopathologic examination revealed severe degeneration of seminiferous epithelium, and only a part of spermatogonial cells were expressed. The earliest alterations occurred at 15 days. PBDE-99 produced time-dependent reduction of gonadal hormone levels and degeneration of gonadal system histology.     

Seven Years of Change Following Liming of Sphagnum Communities in Sector Vii of the Loch Fleet Catchment

In 1986, application of lime within the upper wetland area of sector VII of the Loch Fleet catchment initiated numerous unscheduled small-scale experiments on the vegetation of this heterogeneous terrain. Vegetation changes and erosion were monitored in permanent or relocated plots established in 1987 and 1989 and re-surveyed in 1993, seven years after liming.

The most striking early effect, possibly occurring within a few weeks of lime application, was the death of Sphagnum papillosum carpet in soakways within the 2.5 ha area. Some patches of dead material were washed away, but bare surfaces were generally colonised by vascular plants, notably Juncus bulbosus. Effects in moorland and bog communities with dwarf shurbs were more subtle, involving reduction in Sphagnum cover and expansion of Erica teralix, Molinia caerulea, sedges and Narthecium ossifragum, but little change in the frequency of occurrence of Calluna vulgaris.     

A comparative evaluation of wet digestion and dry ashing methods for the determination of some major and minor nutrients in composted manure

The analytical results of 53 manure samples determined by wet digestion and dry ashing procedures were compared in order to evaluate their relative suitability for recovering different nutrient elements in manure and manure compost. Wet digestion recovered greater amounts of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) in more samples than dry ashing. Nutrient contents in the samples were highly variable, with coefficients of variation (CV) ranging from 38% for magnesium (Mg) to 161% for copper (Cu) analyzed by the wet digestion procedure, and from 47% to 138% for Mg and Cu analyzed by the dry ashing procedure. The mean values of P, K, Ca, Mn, and Zn averaged for the 53 samples were significantly higher using wet digestion than dry ashing procedure, but both procedures recovered comparable amounts of iorn (Fe), Mg, and Cu. Correlations analysis between both procedures for each element showed reasonable to fair agreements for Ca (R ²?=?0.93), K (R ²?=?0.93), P (R ²?=?0.90), Mg (R ²?=?0.84), Fe (R ²?=?0.87), Mn (R ²?=?0.73), and Cu (R ²?=?0.66), but poor agreement for Zn (R ²?=?0.44). The low agreement between procedures for Zn suggests that wet digestion, which gave a higher recovery, should be a preferred procedure for analyzing Zn in manures.     

Solid phase extraction of trace metals from environmental samples using Amberlite XAD-7 loaded with 2-hydroxy-propiophenone-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone and determination by inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometry

A method for the solid phase extraction of trace metals, namely Co, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn, from environmental and biological samples using column Amberlite XAD-7 loaded with 2-hydroxy-propiophenone-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (HPPPTSC) and determination by inductively coupled spectrometry (ICP–AES) has been developed. The reagent has the capacity to form chelate complexes with the metals because of three binding sites in the reagent molecule. The optimum experimental conditions for the quantitative sorption of five metals, pH, effect of flow rate, concentration of eluent, sorption capacity and the effect of diverse ions on the preconcentration of analytes have been investigated. The sorption capacity of the resin has 83, 127, 35, 88 and 85?µmol?g^?1 for Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺, respectively. The preconcentration factors for Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺ were 100, 110, 120, 140 and 150, respectively. The accuracy of the proposed procedure was evaluated by standard reference materials. The achieved results were in good agreement with certified values. The proposed method was applied for the determination of trace metals in river water and plant leaves.     

Effect of anti-juvenile hormone agent,KK-42 on the incorporation rate of radioactive glycine and biosynthesis of silk proteins of silkworm,Bombyx mori L.

The effects of anti-juvenile hormone agent, KK-42 on incorporation rate of radioactive glycine in cocoon crop production and biosynthesis of silk proteins of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. were studied in a popular bivoltine silkworm hybrid, Xinhang (Chinese) × Keming (Japanese). Administration of KK-42 on first day larvae of fourth instar induced 100% trimolters, and the total larval duration was shortened by four days, which has marked advantages in sericulture. The impact of KK-42 on enhanced incorporation rate of radioactive glycine, cocoon weight, RNA content, and fibroin content was significant compared to control, which leads to superior quality of silk. This has a significant economic importance in the reeling industry.     

Flavonoids of 17 species of Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) in Iran

Euphorbia is one of the largest genus in Euphorbiaceae with more than 2000 species in the world and about 100 species in Iran. Flavonoids characters of 17 collected Euphorbia species from different parts of Markazi Province, Iran area were studied. Aqueous-ethanolic extracts of leaves were examined to practice flavonoid detection, isolation, and identification by 2-Dimensional Paper Chromatography (2-DPC), Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), and available standard flavonoids. Voucher specimens of each sample were prepared for reference as herbarium vouchers. Studies of leaf flavonoids showed some phytochemical characters such as total number of flavonoids, kaempferol, quercetin, myricetin, flavone, and dihydroflavonol glycoside are valuable for chemotaxonomy and their usage.     

滆湖东岸生态修复试验区的水质净化效果

在滆湖东岸的小庙港湾,构建由沉水、浮叶和挺水植物组成的生态修复试验区,研究其水质净化效果.于2009年12月至2010年11月,跟踪监测敞水区(对照区)和试验区的水体理化指标.结果表明:(1)试验区水体悬浮物(SS)的去除效果较好,周年平均去除率达24.85％.(2)试验区水体透明度改善较明显,比敞水区提高11.24％. (3)试验区水体总磷(TP)和叶绿素a(Chl-a)的去除效果明显,两者浓度周年平均值分别比敞水区下降21.90％和22.83％.(4)试验区水体总氮(TN)、氨氮(NH3-N)和高锰酸钾盐指数(CODMn)的周年去除率较低.与敞水区相比,CODMn和NiH3-N浓度的周年平均值分别仅下降9.49％和3.52％,TN浓度周年平均值比敞水区增加6.69％.(5)试验区水体水质的净化效果受季节、水生植物生长状况等因素的影响.     

丛枝菌根对土壤-植物系统中重金属迁移转化的影响

丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, AMF)是一类在自然和农业生态系统中广泛存在并能与多数陆生植物形成共生关系的土壤真菌,在重金属污染土壤中对宿主植物的生长及吸收累积重金属具有重要影响,因而对污染土壤的生物修复具有潜在应用价值。以重金属从根际土壤进入植物并在植物体内再分配过程为主线,介绍丛枝菌根在这一过程中对重金属环境行为,特别是根际土壤中重金属赋存形态及植物吸收重金属的影响。最后,对丛枝菌根影响植物重金属耐性机制研究前沿和菌根修复技术的应用前景进行展望。     

EEDs对鱼类性激素合成途径干扰作用研究进展

环境内分泌干扰物(environmental endocrine disruptors,EEDs)是一类可以改变生物体内激素的合成、释放、运输、代谢、结合、作用或清除等一系列生物过程的外源物质。性激素的生物合成需要一系列酶的参与,体内和体外研究表明,性激素合成途径中的类固醇生成酶是EEDs通过非性激素受体介导途径发挥内分泌扰乱作用的重要靶点,性激素合成途径的扰乱可能导致生物体生殖系统受损。本文综述了EEDs对鱼类性激素合成底物和类固醇生成酶的影响、信号转导机制及其生殖危害;并对性激素合成途径中促性腺激素调控机理、多种转录因子间的相互作用、不同物种间类固醇生成酶的差异以及各内分泌轴线的相互作用研究进行了展望,以期为EEDs通过非性激素受体介导途径发挥内分泌干扰效应的机制研究提供思路。