Assays of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners and co-contaminated heavy metals in the transgenic Arabidopsis plants carrying the recombinant guinea pig aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated β-glucuronidase reporter gene expression system

The transgenic Arabidopsis plant XgD2V11-6 carrying the recombinant guinea pig (g) aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-mediated β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene expression system was examined for assay of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners and co-contaminated heavy metals. When the transgenic Arabidopsis plants were treated with PCB126 (toxic equivalency factor; TEF: 0.1) and PCB169 (TEF: 0.03), the GUS activity of the whole plants was increased significantly. After treatment with PCB80 (TEF: 0), the GUS activity was nearly the same level as that treated with 0.1% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as a vehicle control. After exposure to a 1:1 mixture of PCB126 and PCB169, the GUS activity was increased additively. However, after exposure to a mixture of PCB126 and PCB80, the GUS activity was lower than that of the treatment with PCB126 alone. Thus, PCB80 seemed to be an antagonist towards AhR. When the transgenic plants were treated with each of the heavy metals Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb together with PCB126, Cd and Pb increased the PCB126-induced GUS activity. On the other hand, Fe, Cu and Zn did not affect the PCB126-induced GUS activity. In the presence of the biosurfactant mannosylerythritol lipid-B (MEL-B) and the carrier protein bovine serum albumin (BSA), the PCB126-induced GUS activity was increased, but the Cd-assisted PCB126-induced GUS activity was not affected. Thus, MEL-B and BSA seemed to increase uptake and transport of PCB126, respectively.     

Endocrine modulation, inhibition of ovarian development and hepatic alterations in rainbow trout exposed to polluted river water

Under laboratory conditions, female rainbow trout were exposed to graded concentrations of water from the River Lambro, a polluted tributary of the River Po, and to the effluent of a large wastewater treatment plant which flows into the River Lambro. In field exposures, trout were held in cages in the River Po upstream and downstream from the confluence of the River Lambro. After 10-day (laboratory) and 30-day (laboratory and field) exposures, trout were examined for several chemical, biochemical and histological endpoints. The results indicated that exposure to complex mixtures of chemicals, including estrogen receptor agonists, aryl-hydrocarbon receptor agonists, and probably antiandrogens, had occurred. Exposure altered the plasma levels of 17β-estradiol and testosterone, and some treatments also enhanced the activity of hepatic ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase. Gonadal histology showed varying levels of degenerative processes characterised by oocyte atresia, haemorrhages, melano-macrophage centres (MMCs), and oogonia proliferation. Liver histology showed less severe effects.     

Tributyltin chloride results in dorsal curvature in embryo development of Sebastiscus marmoratus via apoptosis pathway

Tributyltin (TBT) is a ubiquitous marine environmental contaminant characterized primarily by its reproductive toxicity. However, the embryotoxicity of TBT has not been extensively described, especially in fishes. The aim of this study was to investigate the developmental toxicity of waterborne TBT at environmental levels (0, 0.1, 1, and 10 ng L⁻¹ as Sn) on Sebastiscus marmoratus embryos. Our study showed that TBT reduced the hatchability and caused apparent morphological abnormalities including dorsal curvature, severely twisted tails and pericardial edema. In addition, localized apoptosis was found in the tail regions of embryos after TBT exposure. The study provided a possible mechanistic link between apoptosis and TBT-induced twisted tails abnormality. TBT exposure induced retinoid X receptor α expression in S. marmoratus embryos at the 0.1 and 1 ng L⁻¹ group, which would be responsible for the increasing apoptotic cells induced by TBT. The results of the present study have widespread implications for environmental ecological assessment, management and the etiology of developmental defects.     

Insights into the structural and conformational requirements of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and metabolites as potential estrogens based on molecular docking

PBDEs and their metabolites are of concern due to their increasing concentrations in the environment and their toxic effects. Knowledge about the toxicological mechanisms of PBDEs and metabolites is urgently needed for further screening. The objective of the present study was to explore the structural and conformational requirements of PBDE compounds as human estrogen receptor alpha (hERα) agonists, and further screened out hERα agonists from PBDE compounds. Molecular docking and postdocking analysis were adopted to attain the aim. The obtained results revealed that PBDEs can be primarily screened for their estrogenicity using score values, hydrogen bonds interaction with amino acid residues Glu353 and/or Arg394 might be important for HO-PBDEs’ estrogenicity. For most MeO-PBDEs, hydrophobic interaction might be the key factor affecting their estrogenic activity. The current study suggested that molecular docking and postdocking analysis can serve as an efficient pre-screening technique for identifying potential estrogens.     

环境风险源及其分类方法研究

环境风险源的分类是进行环境风险源识别和监管的基础.已有的以人的安全为主要关注对象的重大危险源管理,对事故的潜在环境危害考虑欠缺,无法体现事故可能产生的环境风险影响.阐明环境风险源的基本概念,比较环境风险源与危险源的区别,针对环境风险源的特点,从环境受体、危害物质状态和风险传播方式3个方面提出了环境风险源的分类方法.实际应用中,环境风险源的分类需综合考虑当地环境管理需求、环境受体状况、主要危害物质类别等,选择合适的分类方法.     

A2/O除磷新工艺的研究及其微生物学原理

在除磷与脱氮的联合工艺中,由于两过程所涉及的微生物在性质及最佳代谢条件上有较大差别,在同一处理流程中很难达到协调而稳定地运行问题,在传统生物除磷工艺原理基础上,就新近发现的A2/O反硝化除磷技术新工艺及其微生物学原理特点,重点介绍A2/O反硝化除磷过程中的缺氧阶段中以NO-3作为最终电子受体时,厌氧条件下释磷规律,缺氧条件下磷的去除效果以及缺氧阶段氮的变化情况.     

Di (2-ethylhesyl)(DEHP)和Monoethylphthalate(MEHP)长期暴露对海洋青鳉(Oryzias melastigma)内分泌干扰效应的评价

为探讨邻苯二甲酸二(2-乙基己)酯(DEHP)和邻苯二甲酸单乙基己基酯(MEHP)长期暴露对海水生物的内分泌干扰效应及机制,将孵化后1周的海洋青鳉(Oryzias melastigma)分别暴露于DEHP(0.1 mg·L^-1和0.5 mg·L^-1)和MEHP(0.1 mg·L^-1和0.5 mg·L^-1)6个月。结果显示：DEHP显著增加了雌性和雄性海洋青鳉的肝指数,而MEHP只在高剂量时显著增加雄性青鳉的肝指数。对于雌性青鳉,DEHP暴露后肝脏雌激素相关基因ERα、ERβ、ERγ、VTG1、VTG2、ChgH和ChgL的表达水平显著上调,而对于雄性青鳉,DEHP暴露后,只有肝脏ERβ的表达水平显著上调。相比之下,MEHP暴露对雌性和雄性青鳉肝VTG和Chg基因表达无显著影响。DEHP激活了雌性和雄性青鳉的肝过氧化物增殖激活受体PPARα和PPARγ,而MEHP只在低剂量时上调了雄性青鳉PPARγ的表达。在雌性和雄性青鳉体内,VTG和Chg的表达与ERα和ERγ的表达显著相关,并且ER与PPAR也显著相关。研究表明,DEHP长期暴露可通过激活肝性激素受体调控肝雌激素响应基因(VTG和Chg)和过氧化物增殖激活受体(PPARα和PPARγ)的表达而对海洋青鳉产生内分泌干扰效应,并且显示出性别特异性。MEHP对海洋青鳉的内分泌干扰效应弱于DEHP。     

Synthesis and pharmacological properties of certain analogs of pilocarpine

The synthesis of 4‐(4'‐pyrimidinylmethyl)oxacyclohexan‐2‐one (2a) and 4‐(4'‐pyrimidinylmethyl)oxacycloheptan‐2‐one (3a) were achieved through the Michael addition of the anion derived from 4‐methylpyrimidine with oxacyclyo‐3‐hexen‐2‐one and oxacyclo‐3‐hepten‐2‐one respectively. These compounds 2a and 3a and their quaternary methiodide salts lack cholinomimetic activity.     

β-肾上腺受体阻滞剂的水生态毒理学研究进展

β-肾上腺受体阻滞剂是一类治疗心血管疾病的药物,其药理作用是和β-肾上腺受体结合但不使其活化。由于此类化合物在环境水体中的高检出率以及自身所具有的生物活性,近年来有关其对非靶生物的生态毒性效应日益受到关注。在概括了β-受体阻滞剂的使用现状及其在水体环境中的归趋后,重点介绍了此类化合物对鱼类以及其他水生生物的毒性效应。最后,针对目前的研究现状对今后的工作做出展望。     

全氟辛基磺酸及其替代产品的内分泌干扰效应评价

为研究全氟辛基磺酸(PFOS)及其替代品的内分泌干扰效应,将重组人雌激素/雄激素/孕激素/甲状腺激素/维甲酸受体基因的双杂交酵母暴露于不同浓度的PFOS及替代品中,并结合体外代谢活化技术检测直接和间接的类/抗激素活性。结果表明,被替代品PFOS表现为雄激素受体、甲状腺受体和维甲酸受体拮抗剂,且在代谢活化后新增了雌激素受体拮抗效应,其半数效应浓度(EC₅₀)在3.0×10^-4～4.8×10^-3 g·L^-1之间;同时,4种替代化学品没有任何效应检出,说明不会通过与核受体结合干扰天然激素的正常功能。研究结果说明,与原化学品相比,替代产品的应用在内分泌干扰效应方面可能具有更低的环境风险。