Oxidative stress and biochemical perturbations induced by insecticides mixture in rat testes

The joint action of pyrethroids, lambda-cyhalothrin (LC) in combination with organophosphates, fenitrothione (FNT) on antioxidant defense system and lipid peroxidation biomarkers in rat testes was studied. The results suggest that incubation of testes homogenate with different concentrations of insecticide mixture for different time intervals significantly decreased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, like glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and the level of reduced glutathione (GSH). In addition, a significant inhibition in transaminases (AST, ALT), phosphatases (AcP, AlP) activity and protein content were observed. On the other hand, FNT plus LC increased the cellular lipid peroxidation (LPO) level and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). In conclusion, the use of insecticides mixture might cause marked oxidative damage in a concentration and time-dependent manner.     

A correlation between the fate and non-extractable residue formation of 14C-metalaxyl and enzymatic activities in soil

Extracellular, oxidative soil enzymes like monophenol oxidases and peroxidases play an important role in transformation of xenobiotics and the formation of organic matter in soil. Additionally, these enzymes may be involved in the formation of non-extractable residues (NERs) of xenobiotics during humification processes. To examine this correlation, the fate of the fungicide ¹⁴C metalaxyl in soil samples from Ultuna (Sweden) was studied. Using different soil sterilization techniques, it was possible to differentiate between free, immobilized, and abiotic (“pseudoenzyme”-like) oxidative activities. A correlation between the formation of metalaxyl NER and soil organic matter content, biotic activities, as well as extracellular phenoloxidase and peroxidase activities in the bulk soil and its particle size fractions was determined. Extracellular soil-bound enzymes were involved in NER formation (up to 8% of applied radioactivity after 92 days) of the fungicide independently from the presence of living microbes and different distributions of the NER in the soil humic subfractions.     

零价纳米铁对大肠杆菌的毒性效应

以大肠杆菌为研究对象,通过检测尺寸为20 nm的零价纳米铁暴露下大肠杆菌形貌、生长曲线和细胞内酶活性的变化,研究了零价纳米铁对大肠杆菌的毒性效应,并探讨了其可能的毒性机制.用透射电镜(TEM)观察零价纳米铁与大肠杆菌(JM109)接触后细胞的形态变化;用0、112、560和1 120 mg·L-1的零价纳米铁染毒大肠杆...     

Toxicological impact of anilofos on some physiological processes of a rice field cyanobacterium Anabaena torulosa

This study deals with the toxicological impact of the herbicide anilofos on photosynthesis, respiration, nitrogen assimilation, and antioxidant system in a diazotrophic rice field cyanobacterium Anabaena torulosa. Treatment of anilofos (1.25, 2.5, and 5?mg?L^?1) affected growth, photosynthetic pigments, photosynthesis, and respiration of the cyanobacterium. Although all the photosynthetic pigments were affected, a maximum effect of the herbicide was observed on phycocyanin (51% reduction) followed by the carotenoids. The effect of the herbicide on photosynthetic pigments resulted in 57% decrease in photosynthetic O₂ evolution. Studies on the photochemical activity demonstrated that both photosystems (PS I and PS II) were affected by the herbicide. Decrease in the photosynthesis rate resulted in decreased nitrogen assimilation, as revealed by reduced nitrate (20%) and ammonium (26%) uptake and decreased activities of nitrogenase (63% decrease) and glutamine synthetase (22% decrease). This ultimately resulted in the reduced growth of the organism. Activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase in the presence of anilofos increased by 1.8–3.5 times over control cultures. Proline content increased by 1.6 times, while the content of ascorbate decreased slightly. These results indicate that the organism was able to tolerate the herbicide stress by activating oxidative stress defense mechanism.     

Physiological responses and detoxific mechanisms to Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd in young seedlings of Paulownia fortunei

Paulownia fortunei has been successfully used in the phytoremediation of many Pb/Zn mine tailings. However, seed germination and young seedlings of P. fortunei rarely occurred in these mine tailings. The physiological responses and detoxific mechanisms of P. fortunei young seedling to Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd stress were investigated. The germinated rate, shoot length, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents in leaves of young seedlings had a great reduction under Zn and Cu treatments, but had little decrease under Pb and Cd treatments. The production rate of O₂^•−, H₂O₂ and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents significantly increased in response to added Zn and Cu indicating great oxidative stress for young seedlings, but they had no significant change to added Pb and Cd. Young seedlings had effective detoxific mechanism to Pb and Cd, as antioxidant enzymes activities, phytochelatins (PCs-SH) and proline contents increased with increasing rates of added Pb and Cd. However, young seedlings had un-effective detoxific mechanisms to Zn and Cu stress. Results revealed the heavy metals (such as Cu) that present at low concentrations in mine tailings may be major constraint for the survival of young seedlings.     

外源水杨酸对梨叶片感染轮纹病菌后抗氧化酶活性及Ca2+浓度的影响

为了解水杨酸(Salicylic acid,SA)缓解轮纹病菌伤害植物的机理,用0.3 mmol L-1的SA预先处理梨叶片,3 d后接种轮纹病菌(Physalospora Piricola Nose),接种4 d后开始测定各种指标,随后每隔3 d测定1次,共5次.结果表明,经0.3 mmol L-1 SA处理后,梨叶片的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、愈创木酚过氧化物酶(GPX)和谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)的活性分别比对照组(CK1)提高了30.65%、25.36%、28.55%、21.11%、35.67%和26.45%.电镜观察表明,感染轮纹病菌的梨叶片,Ca2+较多分布在细胞膜内侧、细胞质及一些细胞器(叶绿体)上.经SA处理后感染轮纹病菌的梨病叶,Ca2+较多分布在细胞壁外侧及细胞间隙中,与正常梨叶片Ca2+的分布情况相似.表明较低浓度的SA可缓解轮纹病菌对梨叶片的伤害作用.     

The cytotoxicity of nici2 for mammalian cells in culture†

The effects of NiCl₂ were studied in two human cell lines, HeLa and diploid embryonic fibroblasts as well as in V79 Chinese hamster cells and in L‐A mouse fibroblasts. NiCl₂ produces a dose‐dependent depression of proliferation, mitotic rate, and viability, accompanied by an increasing release of lactic dehydrogenase and stimulation of lactic acid production. The plating efficiency is reduced, as are DNA and protein synthesis and, to a lesser degree, RNA synthesis.

The cytotoxicity of NiCl₂ is comparable in degree to those of PbCl₂ and MnCl₂, but is weaker than those of HgCl₂ and CdCl₂. However, the different sensitivities of different cell lines must also be considered.

NiCl₂ effects are more severe in serum‐free medium than in medium containing serum or serum albumin indicating that serum constituents, notably albumin, bind the metal effectively and inhibit cellular uptake; this confirms earlier reports on the serum binding and slow uptake of NiCl₂.

Synchronized cells are most sensitive in the Gl and early S phases of the cell cycle. In the Painter test the depression of DNA synthesis persists following cessation of exposure to NiCI₂. These findings contribute an explanation for the known genotoxic effects of nickel.     

生物质炭对Cd污染土壤团聚体酶活性的影响

为探究生物质炭对Cd污染土壤团聚体酶活性的影响,采用盆栽试验,向模拟Cd污染土壤中添加生物质炭并测定水稻根际土壤团聚体碳循环酶与氧化还原酶活性.结果表明:Cd污染土壤团聚体酶活性对添加量为2.5％的生物质炭响应明显,氧化还原酶活性指数值介于0.522～0.792之间.在2.5mg/kg的外源Cd条件下,2.5％的生物质...     

四环素类抗生素对不同蔬菜生长的影响及其富集转运特征

本研究探讨了四环素类抗生素(TCs)对两种蔬菜生长的影响及其在蔬菜体内的富集和转运特征,以期为四环素类抗生素的植物毒性和对人体健康的风险评价提供理论基础.采用土培试验研究了不同水平(0、50和150 mg·kg-1)的四环素类抗生素(四环素TC、土霉素OTC、金霉素CTC)对生菜和小白菜生长、抗生素含量及其富集转运特征的影响.结果表明,TCs总体上抑制了生菜的生长,地上部和地下部鲜重分别较CK降低了1.56%~26.84%和17.36%~51.04%,小白菜地上部和地下部鲜重反而较对照提高了3.7%~7.3%和3.1%~82.2%.TCs在一定程度上增加了生菜和小白菜的气孔导度(Gs)和蒸腾速率(Tr),抑制了生菜的净光合速率(Pn),Pn在TCs为150 mg·kg-1时较CK降低了32.43%~82.43%.TCs还抑制了生菜和小白菜的SOD活性,较CK降低了29.17%~223.12%,以OTC的抑制作用最强.生菜和小白菜的MDA含量在TCs为150mg·kg-1时达到最大值(生菜地上部除外).小白菜地上部和地下部TCs的含量均高于生菜,以CTC处理的小白菜和生菜TCs含量较高.种植生菜的土壤TCs残留量高于小白菜土壤,以OTC处理的土壤TCs残留量最高.小白菜对TCs的富集系数和转运系数分别是生菜的1.07~7.35倍和1.15~2.25倍.3种四环素类抗生素中以OTC和CTC的生态风险较大.     

A Quantitative Safety Assessment Model For Transgenic Protein Products Produced In Agricultural Crops

Transgenic plants are now being used to develop pharmaceutical and industrial products in addition to their use in crop improvement. Using confinement requirements, these transgenic plants are grown and processed under conditions that prevent intermixing with commodity crops. Regulatory agencies in the United States have provided guidance of zero tolerance of these new industrial crops with commodity crops. While this is a worthy goal, it is theoretically unattainable. In spite of the best containment practices, there is a potential risk using any system of production due to unforeseen incidences including natural disasters or exposure to workers. The precautionary principle has been used for numerous regulated articles in addressing the potential risks of new products and technology based on a risk assessment in similar situations. We present here a risk assessment model that could be used as a start to develop an accepted model for the industry. The model is based on current risk models used for other regulated articles, but adapted for these types of products. This could be used to determine action levels in the event of an unintended exposure or to ensure that detection or confinement methods are adequate to avoid risks. As an example, aprotinin, a therapeutic protein now being produced in maize, was evaluated for potential risk to humans using this model.