Lysosomal,genetic and chromosomal damage in haemocytes of the freshwater bivalve (Unio pictorum) exposed to polluted sediments from the River Cecina (Italy)

The response to chemical disturbance of an Italian river (Cecina River) characterised by high levels of trace metals was assessed in the sentinel species freshwater painter’s mussel (Unio pictorum). We exposed U. pictorum in the laboratory to metal, metalloid and other trace element polluted river sediments in order to evaluate genetic and cellular biomarkers. Bivalves exposed to sediments taken from all the impacted sites of the river basin exhibited a significant impairment at the DNA, chromosomal and lysosomal levels. The lysosomal membrane stability of circulating haemocytes, assessed by the Neutral Red Retention Time, was found to be higher in specimens from Lake Maggiore and Berignone, while exhibited a significant decrease in specimens exposed to Ponteginori sediments. An increase of DNA migration in specimens exposed to the two contaminated sites in comparison with controls was found. Moreover, higher micronucleated haemocytes frequencies were observed in bivalves exposed to sediments collected at Possera 1 site. This study suggested that biomarkers evaluating cellular impairment, genetic and chromosomal damages, are highly sensitive and suitably applied to laboratory experiments. The painter’s mussel was confirmed to be an appropriate sentinel species for quality assessment in metal-contaminated freshwater environments.     

Induction of apoptosis and cytokine markers in colon cancer cells by magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles

Magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgONP) are predominantly utilized in industrial products. This study was undertaken to elucidate the mechanisms underlying toxic effect of MgONP in human colon cancer (HT 29) cells over 48 hr period. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by using MTT and neutral red uptake assays. Data demonstrated that MgONP reduced cell viability in concentration- and time-dependent manner. MgONP induced oxidative stress by decreasing glutathione (GSH) concentrations and elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation levels. Increased caspase-3 enzyme activity and greater condensed, damaged chromosome was observed following MgONP exposure in HT 29 cells. The level of interleukin-4 (IL-4), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and DNA fragmentation were significantly higher in MgONP incubated cells. The results showed that MgONP-induced toxicity in HT 29 cells may be mediated through oxidative stress.     

DNA damage in workers exposed to formaldehyde at concentrations below occupational exposure limits

Formaldehyde has been classified in group 1 as a potential source of human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. In this study, we evaluated the DNA damage in workers who were occupationally exposed to formaldehyde during the manufacture of melamine dinnerware.

Age, sex, smoking habits, and socioeconomic status were matched by the controls (n = 34) of workers not occupationally exposed to formaldehyde. The median value of formaldehyde time weighted average exposure in three workshops was 0.086 mg/m³. No significant difference was observed between sex and smoking habit in the assessed workers. Alkaline comet assay of peripheral blood lymphocytes was used to determine the DNA damage in the subjects. Olive moment was significantly higher in the exposed group compared with the control group.

Overall, the results suggest that respiratory exposure to low concentrations of formaldehyde causes DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocyte. Therefore, exposure to formaldehyde should be reduced to the lowest possible level.     

间接竞争ELISA法测定稻田土壤中除草剂毒莠定的残留量

通过对反应体系中酶标二抗(辣根过氧化物酶标记羊抗兔IgG)和抗体的最佳稀释浓度等条件的筛选和确定,最终建立了一种快速灵敏地测定污染稻田土壤中毒莠定残留量的方法--间接竞争ELISA分析方法.结果表明,酶标二抗和抗体的最佳稀释度均为1:500(体积比),毒莠定的检出下限达到5 ng·mL-1,在0.07～0.7μg·mL-1浓度范围内有良好的线性;土壤浸出液加样的平均回收率为104.11%,变异系数在3.13%～11.13%之间,符合农药残留分析的要求;样品基质对检测结果没有干扰.     

慧星试验对水体安全性分析研究

利用彗星试验检测苏南某湖泊湖心区、长江某取水口及其给水处理厂出水水样的遗传毒性,并对结果进行分析研究.结果表明,各水样均能引起DNA损伤,在丰水期致DNA损伤作用的大小顺序为给水厂出水水样＞湖泊水样＞长江取水口水样;在枯水期致DNA损伤作用的大小顺序为湖泊水样＞长江取水口水样＞给水厂出水水样.随着染毒剂量的加大,细胞损伤率增加,细胞受损的程度也在加重,并向3、4级损伤集中,呈明显的剂量-效应关系.     

镉、汞、锌3种重金属的雌激素样作用（Estrogenic Activity of Cadmium, Mercury, and Zinc）

为探讨镉、汞、锌3种重金属的雌激素样作用,采用双杂交酵母法测定了醋酸镉、氯化汞、醋酸锌单独作用时对重组基因酵母β-半乳糖苷酶诱导活性的EC50值.实验结果表明,醋酸镉浓度为1.0×10-5mol·L-(1实验浓度范围10-7~10-2mol·L-1),氯化汞浓度为5.0×10-7mol·L-(1实验浓度范围10-9~10-5mol·L-1),醋酸锌浓度为1.0×10-4mol·L-(1实验浓度范围10-9~10-2mol·L-1)时对酵母β-半乳糖苷酶诱导活性最大,分别达到1.3、0.95和1.1U.不能求出镉、汞、锌单独作用时对β-半乳糖苷酶诱导活性的EC50值.一味计算EC50值不仅难以评价重金属的雌激素活性,而且限制重组受体基因酵母法的普遍运用.一些重金属通过MCF-7细胞法(E-screen)呈阳性,通过重组hERα酵母法YES检测呈阴性,有可能是重金属通过与ERβ作用而产生效应.若构建出含ERβ基因的双杂交酵母菌株,与现有的方法互补将能完善环境雌激素的体外测评系统.     

Detection of environmental clastogens and aneugens in human fibroblasts by cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus assay associated with immunofluorescent staining of CENP-A in micronuclei

The cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus (CBMN) assay, in combination with fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) of human pan-centromeric DNA probes, or with CREST antibodies that specifically stain kinetochore proteins, is widely used on several cell types. It distinguishes micronuclei containing one or several whole chromosomes, which are positively labeled (centromere positive micronucleus, C+MN, due to aneugenic effect), or acentric chromosome fragments, which are unlabeled due to the absence of centromere (centromere negative micronucleus, C−MN, due to clastogenic effect). However, the very slight level of the centromeric signals obtained with the FISH technique on primary human fibroblasts, a cell type commonly used in environmental genetic toxicology, leads to great difficulties in distinguishing C+MN and C−MN. Furthermore, the CREST technique may lead to inappropriate results particularly with regards to variations in antibody composition between patient sera. Our results show that the in vitro CBMN, in combination with immunofluorescence staining of CENP-A (centromere protein A), efficiently screens genotoxicants for their ability to induce clastogenic and/or aneugenic effects. We propose the in vitro CBMN assay in combination with immunofluorescence staining of CENP-A as a suitable tool in environmental genotoxicity testing of primary human fibroblasts.     

Internal distribution of uranium and associated genotoxic damages in the chronically exposed bivalve Corbicula fluminea

Uranium (U) internal distribution and involved effects in the bivalve Corbicula fluminea have been studied after direct chronic exposure (90 d, 10 μg.L-1). U distribution was assessed at the subcellular level (Metal Rich Granules -MRG-, pellets and cytosol fractions) in two main organs of the bivalve (gills and visceral mass). Micro-localisation was investigated by TEM-EDX analysis in the gills epithelium. DNA damage in gill and hemolymph samples was measured by the Comet assay. The 90-d exposure period led to a significant increase of U concentration in gills over time (×5) and a large U quantity in subcellular granules in gills. Finally, a significant increase (×2) in DNA damage was noted in exposed gills and haemocytes. This study shows that the accumulation levels and consequently the potential toxicity cannot be successfully predicted only on the basis of concentration in water or in tissues and subcellular fractions after chronic exposure.     

Assessing the genotoxic potentials of arsenic in tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) using alkaline comet assay and micronucleus test

This experiment was conducted to study the genotoxic potentials of sodium arsenite (NaAsO₂) in freshwater fish Oreochromis mossambicus by using alkaline comet assay and micronucleus (MN) test. Fish were exposed to three different concentrations (3 ppm, 28 ppm and 56 ppm) of arsenic and gill, liver and blood tissue samples were collected after 48 h, 96 h and 192 h of exposure. Arsenic exposure induced DNA damage in all tissues examined in a concentration dependent manner. A significant (p < 0.05) increase in the comet tail DNA (%) of the exposed fish liver, gill, and blood was observed after 48 h and 96 h of exposure, but a decline in DNA damage was recorded in all the tissues at all the three concentrations studied after 192 h of exposure. Liver tissue exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) higher DNA damage at all the concentrations examined, followed by gill and blood. Higher liver tail DNA (51.38 ± 0.21%) refers that it is more prone to injury to arsenic toxicity than the gill and blood. In blood samples arsenic induced micronucleus formation in a concentration dependent manner and highest (5.8 ± 0.46%) value was recorded in 56 ppm after 96 h of exposure, whereas, it was decreased after 192 h of exposure at all the three concentrations of NaAsO₂ examined which refers to the DNA repairing ability of fish to arsenic toxicity. The results of this study depict the genotoxic potentials of arsenic to fish which in turns provide insight on advanced study in aquatic toxicology.     

Evaluation of the fish short term reproduction assay for detecting endocrine disrupters

In a fish testing strategy, positive results of the fish short term reproduction assay (FSTR), often trigger a definitive test like the fish sexual development test (FSDT) or the fish full life cycle test (FFLC), entailing ethical and economic problems. This study analysed 137 studies encompassing 35 chemicals with different modes of actions (MOAs). Variability is quantified for MOA endpoints vitellogenin (VTG) and secondary sex characteristics (SSCs) as well as for apical endpoints. Two MOA endpoints could indicate estrogenic, anti-estrogenic, androgenic, anti-androgenic and steroidogenesis activities. Great variability, however, has been observed for chemicals with anti-androgenic and steroidogenesis activities, suggesting that TG229/230 may not be sensitive enough to detect these types of chemicals and may produce false negatives. Changes in apical endpoints like fecundity are not limited to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Non-EDCs could induce the similar effects on these apical endpoints. If elucidating MOA is needed, targeted in vitro MOA tests are suggested. Positive in vitro MOA results trigger a definitive test, which could be used for confirmation of the MOA in vivo and for deriving a no observed effect concentration (NOEC). Based on positive MOA results of TG229, a definitive test such as the FSDT or the FFLC is still needed, because the current TG229 has limitation on the derivation of a NOEC. An extended TG229 with more power to detect reproduction effects, as recently proposed in the OECD test guideline program, would improve the possibility to derive a NOEC and increase its usefulness in risk assessment.