DNA damage in mouse organs and in human sperm cells by bisphenol A

Abstract

The in vivo genotoxic potential of bisphenol A using the comet assay in mice and in human sperm cells in vitro without metabolizing enzymes was studied. Male mice were exposed by oral gavage to the following doses of bisphenol A (0 125, 250 and 500?mg/kg body weight). DNA damage was investigated in liver, kidney, testes, urinary bladder, colon and lungs cells. In testicular cells, a significant increase in DNA strand breaks was observed in the lowest, but not in the medium or highest dose groups. Histopathological investigation of the testicular samples did not show any treatment dose-related effects. No DNA strand breaks were observed in any of the other investigated tissues. In human sperm cells in vitro, bisphenol A did not induce DNA strand breaks.     

Alkylation of metals and the activity of metal‐alkyls†

The biochemical basis for resistance to metal ion toxicity is emerging though it is complicated by the different resistance mechanisms. Several strategies for resistance to toxic metal ions have been identified:

1. The development of energy driven efflux pumps which keep toxic element levels low in the interior of the cell. Such mechanisms have been described for Cd(II) and As(V).

2. Oxidation (e.g. AsO^2‐ to AsO₄ ^3‐) or reduction (e.g. Hg²⁺ to Hg⁰) can enzymatically and intracellularly convert a more toxic form of an element to a less toxic form.

3. The biosynthesis of intracellular polymers which serve as traps for the removal of metal ions from solution such as traps have been described for cadmium, calcium, nickel and copper.

4. The binding of metal ions to cell surfaces.

5. The precipitation of insoluble metal complexes (e.g. metal sulfides and metal oxides) at cell surfaces.

6. Biomethylation and transport through cell‐membranes by diffusion controlled processes.

In this short review I shall discuss the implications of biomethylation as a detoxification mechanism for microorganisms as well as for certain higher organisms.     

Sorption,cellular distribution,and cytotoxicity of imidazolium ionic liquids in mammalian cells – influence of lipophilicity

In order to assist an integrated development of ionic liquids (ILs), a study on the sorption, distribution, and cytotoxicity of a series of 1-alkyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborates with C6 rat glioma cells has been performed. Cellular sorption and distribution among three cellular fractions (cytosol, nuclei, and membranes) were analysed by reversed-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC). Compounds with longer 1-alkyl substituents were sorbed with higher enrichment factors and sorption coefficients per protein than those with shorter 1-alkyl chains. The 1-octyl-3-methyl imidazolium cation (C₈MIM) was enriched 17-folds whereas C₆MIM and C₄MIM were enriched by factors of 3.5 and 2.3, respectively. After fractionation of cells by centrifugation, about 8% of C₈MIM was found in the nuclear fractions. The cytotoxicity as estimated by the tetrazolium reductase assay was increasing with the lengths of the 1-alkyl chains from C₄MIM to C₁₀MIM. Consistently, cell proliferation rates were decreasing with increasing lengths of the 1-alkyl chains. The results reveal the correlations between lipophilicity, cellular sorption, and cytotoxicity.     

Determination of oxidative stress markers and serum cholinesterase among pesticide sprayers in southern Brazil

Small farmers generally spray pesticides manually and often do not use complete protective equipment. The standard test to detect pesticide exposure, which may be associated with toxicity, is the determination of serum cholinesterase, but in chronic exposure to low doses, this test is less sensitive. In this study, in a group sampled among pesticide sprayers without signs of intoxication, cholinesterase, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), catalase (Cat), and superoxide dismutase (Sod) activities were analyzed. Cholinesterase activity was only slightly lower in the farmer group in relation to the control group. However, TBARS and Cat activities were 3-fold increased in the farmers in comparison to the controls. Sod activity was similar in both groups. The group of pesticide sprayers that did not use the complete protective equipment presented a significantly higher level of TBARS than the group that used the complete protective equipment. Therefore, the determination of TBARS and catalase can be useful to identify individuals that are chronically exposed to low doses of pesticides.     

Cytotoxicity and cell membrane depolarization induced by aluminum oxide nanoparticles in human lung epithelial cells A549

The cytotoxicity of 13 and 22 nm aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) nanoparticles was investigated in cultured human bronchoalveolar carcinoma-derived cells (A549) and compared with 20 nm CeO₂ and 40 nm TiO₂ nanoparticles as positive and negative control, respectively. Exposure to both Al₂O₃ nanoparticles for 24 h at 10 and 25 µg mL^?1 doses significantly decreased cell viability compared with control. However, the cytotoxicity of 13 and 22 nm Al₂O₃ nanoparticles had no difference at 5–25 µg mL^?1 dose range. The cytotoxicity of both Al₂O₃ nanoparticles were higher than negative control TiO₂ nanoparticles but lower than positive control CeO₂ nanoparticles (TiO₂ < Al₂O₃ < CeO₂). A real-time single cell imaging system was employed to study the cell membrane potential change caused by Al₂O₃ and CeO₂ nanoparticles using a membrane potential sensitive fluorescent probe DiBAC₄(3). Exposure to the 13 nm Al₂O₃ nanoparticles resulted in more significant depolarization than the 30 nm Al₂O₃ particles. On the other hand, the 20 nm CeO₂ particles, the most toxic, caused less significant depolarization than both the 13 and 22 nm Al₂O₃. Factors such as exposure duration, surface chemistry, and other mechanisms may contribute differently between cytotoxicity and membrane depolarization.     

Tissue distribution of antimony (Sb) in piglets orally given graded levels of Sb (V)

The potential risks from oral intake of soil antimony (Sb) depends mainly on the amount of metal ingested and its bioavailability. Relative bioavailability may be determined by comparing Sb present in soil to a reference compound, taking into account accumulation in different target tissues or excretion. However, due to the lack of scientific knowledge concerning the fate of Sb in the organism, there is a need to study the absorption and distribution of Sb in order to select target tissues for assessment of bioavailability of Sb in soils. Thus, 45 piglets were exposed to a soluble pentavalent antimony salt (KSb(OH)₆), for 15 days at concentrations ranging from 0–1600 µg Sb/kg body weight (BW) per day. Following the exposure period, blood, plasma, liver, spleen, kidneys, hair, bone, bile and urine were obtained to measure Sb concentrations by ICP-MS. Results showed that tissue Sb levels were dose-related. Higher Sb concentrations were found in urine, kidneys, hair, bone and liver. Sb(V) was not detectable in blood and plasma. In the case of highly contaminated soil with soluble forms of Sb in concentrations ranging from 200–1600 µg Sb/kg BW, kidneys, liver and spleen are the most reliable compartments to determine Sb bioavailability from soil. However, for the soils with lower levels of contamination and a low Sb bioaccessibility, urine may serve as a relevant compartment.     

人类活动对上海市生物多样性空间格局的影响

为了揭示人类活动对城市化地区生物多样性空间格局的影响及其景观生态学机制,文章将上海市作为研究对象,选择3个人类活动指标、3个主要类型生态系统的4个景观特征指标与8个生物多样性指标,探讨人类活动强度、野生动植物生境景观特征及生物多样性三者之间的相互关系。结果显示,人口增长和城市扩张对上海市生物多样性的空间格局产生了显著影响。在上海地区,人口密度较高、交通较为发达的区域,湿地和农田的景观连续性较低,生物多样性也较低,外来入侵物种丰度较高。这表明在快速城市化过程中,人类活动通过改变野生动植物栖息地景观质量来对区域生物多样性产生影响。本研究还显示,经济发展并非一定对生物多样性具有负面影响。因此,在保持经济发展的同时,通过优化产业结构与加强生物多样性管理,可实现对生物多样性有效保护。     

初秋季节毛竹林小气候及其人体舒适度的日变化

以无锡市惠山森林公园毛竹林和青山公园毛竹林为研究对象,对其林内和林缘的小气候日变化情况进行了定量化研究。结果表明：1）惠山森林公园与青山公园的相对湿度日变化皆呈先减后增趋势,均在13：00达到极值。林内相对湿度分别为67．6％、65．6％,林缘相对湿度分别为61．8％、63．4％;温度和综合舒适指数日变化皆呈先增后减趋势,也均在13：00达到极值,林内温度分别为28．2℃、27．5℃,林缘分别为29．8℃、28．9℃;林内综合舒适指数分别3．5、3．2,林缘综合舒适指数分别4．8、4．1。2）08：00～17：00林内人体舒适度高于林缘,其他时刻人体舒适度低于林缘。3）与密度较大的惠山森林公园竹林相比,青山公园竹林综合舒适指数降低了0．1～0．7,平均值为0．3,即密度较小的青山公园竹林调节城市小气候的功能最佳,为秋初时节人们户外活动提供了一个良好的选择。     

镉对血管内皮细胞损伤及其致动脉硬化的毒理学机制

采用人脐静脉内皮细胞体外培养和大鼠镉染毒实验,检测镉对人脐静脉内皮细胞和大鼠血清NO和ICAM-1分泌量,及大鼠主动脉病理改变的影响。结果表明,镉染毒可造成血管内皮细胞NO分泌量明显降低和ICAM-1分泌量明显升高,与镉染毒浓度剂量相关,体外细胞培养与活体动物实验的结果表现出一致性(P<0.05)。镉暴露可明显促进血管内皮细胞凋亡,主动脉HE染色见动脉硬化改变,各层均见较多ICAM-1阳性表达,主要存在于粥样斑块区。因此,过量镉摄入通过影响大鼠血管内皮细胞功能和结构促进动脉粥样硬化的形成。     

全氟化合物同分异构体的环境行为及毒性效应研究进展

以全氟辛烷磺酸盐(PFOS)和全氟辛烷羧酸(PFOA)为代表的全氟化合物(PFASs)是一类新型持久性有机污染物,目前已经在全球自然环境、野生生物及人群中广泛检出,其环境与健康问题已引起人们的高度重视。传统的电氟化法生产工艺使PFASs产品存在碳链同分异构体。这些PFAS的同分异构体可能具有不同的环境行为和毒理效应。随着分析方法的逐渐成熟,目前,国外的学者已经在该研究领域进行了一些探索性的研究,并取得了一定的进展,而我国在该领域的研究相对较少。以PFOS和PFOA为例,在介绍了PFAS同分异构体的来源、命名和世界各地生产厂家的异构体组成等基本信息的基础上,还系统介绍了环境介质中PFAS同分异构体的分析方法、环境迁移转化差异及源分析研究;生物和人体的生物累积性及毒理学差异等;并对目前存在的问题进行了讨论,为今后PFAS同分异构体的环境问题研究提供相应的参考。