Primary neuronal-astrocytic co-culture platform for neurotoxicity assessment of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

Plastics such as polyvinyl chlorides （PVC） are widely used in many indoor constructed environments; however, their unbound chemicals, such as di-（2-ethylhexyl） phthalates （DEHP）, can leach into the surrounding environment. This study focused on DEHP＇s effect on the central nervous system by determining the precise DEHP content in mice brain tissue after exposure to the chemical, to evaluate the specific exposure range. Primary neuronal-astrocyte co-culture systems were used as in vitro models for chemical hazard identification of DEHP. Oxidative stress was hypothesized as a probable mechanism involved, and therefore the total reactive oxygen species （ROS） concentration was determined as a biomarker of oxidative stress. In addition, NeuriteTracer, a neurite tracing plugin with ImageJ, was used to develop an assay for neurotoxicity to provide quantitative measurements of neurological parameters, such as neuronal number, neuron count and neurite length, all of which could indicate neurotoxic effects. The results showed that with 1 nmol/L DEHP exposure, there was a significant increase in ROS concentrations, indicating that the neuronal-astrocyte cultures were injured due to exposure to DEHP. In response, astrocyte proliferation （gliosis） was initiated, serving as a mechanism to maintain a homeostatic environment for neurons and protect neurons from toxic chemicals. There is a need to assess the cumulative effects of DEHP in animals to evaluate the possible uotake and effects on the human neuronal system from exoosure to DEHP in the indoor environment.     

Mutagenic and cytotoxic potential of Endosulfan and Lambda-cyhalothrin - In vitro study describing individual and combined effects of pesticides

Excessive use of pesticides poses increased risks to non target species including humans. In the developing countries, lack of proper awareness about the toxic potential of pesticides makes the farmer more vulnerable to pesticide linked toxicities, which could lead to diverse pathological conditions. The toxic potential of a pesticide could be determined by their ability to induce genetic mutations and cytotoxicity. Hence, determination of genetic mutation and cytotoxicity of each pesticide is unavoidable to legislate health and safety appraisal about pesticides. The objective of current investigation was to determine the genotoxic and cytotoxic potential of Endosulfan（EN） and Lambda-cyhalothrin（LC）; individually and in combination. 3-（4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide（MTT） assay was utilized to determine cytotoxicity, while two mutant histidine dependent Salmonella strains（TA98, TA100） were used to determine the mutagenicity of EN and LC.Moreover, mutagenicity assay was conducted with and without S9 to evaluate the effects of metabolic activation on mutagenicity. Even though a dose dependent increase in the number of revertant colonies was detected with EN against both bacterial strains, a highly significant（p 〈 0.05） increase in the mutagenicity was detected in TA98 with S9. In comparison, data obtained from LC revealed less mutagenic potential than EN. Surprisingly,the non-mutagenic individual-concentrations of EN and LC showed dose dependent mutagenicity when combined. Combination of EN and LC synergistically induced mutagenicity both in TA98 and TA100. MTT assay spotlighted comparable dose dependent cytotoxicity effects of both pesticides. Interestingly, the combination of EN and LC produced increased reversion and cytotoxicity at lower doses as compared to each pesticide, concluding that pesticide exposure even at sub-lethal doses can produce cytotoxicity and genetic mutations, which could lead to carcinogenicity.     

Characterization of extracellular polymeric substances in the biofilms of typical bacteria by the sulfur K-edge XANES spectroscopy

A combined approach of physicochemical extraction and sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure（XANES） spectroscopy was applied to characterize the extracellular polymeric substances（EPS） of typical bacterial biofilms in this study. Physicochemical analysis showed variation of the contents of DNA,polysaccharide and protein in different fractions of EPS in different mediums. The sulfur K-edge XANES analysis yielded a variety of spectra.Spectral fitting of the XANES spectra utilizing a large set of model compounds showed that there was more reduced sulfur in both LB-EPS（loosely bound EPS） and TB-EPS（tightly bound EPS） of all the biofilms in LB medium than in R2 A medium. More oxidized sulfur was identified in LB-EPS than that in TB-EPS,suggesting different niches and physiological heterogeneity in the biofilms. Our results suggested that the sulfur K-edge XANES can be a useful tool to analyze the sulfur speciation in EPS of biofilms.     

未来10大高风险高回报的新技术

世界经济论坛全球事务理事会发布了一份关于信息技术的新报告,其中提到了10项有可能对全社会造成重大影响的新技术。这10项新技术涵盖了科学、医学、能源、制造、交通和电子等众多领域,理事会的报告简要说明了那些新技术将如何影响和改变我们的生活。     

欢迎订阅2014年《环境科学》

《环境科学》创刊于1976年,由中国科学院主管,中国科学院生态环境研究中心主办,是我国环境科学学科中最早创刊的学术性期刊.《环境科学》自创刊以来,始终坚持"防治污染,改善生态,促进发展,造福人民"的宗旨,报道我国环境科     

采用电芬顿-磁固定化菌株耦合体系治理苯酚废水的研究

为实现对苯酚废水治理工艺的优化,针对传统包埋法制备固定化细胞的工艺方法进行改进,选用磁性纳米颗粒制备磁固定化细胞,将其与电芬顿法结合构建耦合体系,利用耦合协同作用实现催化剂的重复利用,并依托微生物的良好降解性能与稳定性提高苯酚降解率,进一步实现对苯酚废水治理工艺的系统优化。     

典型羟基化多溴联苯醚(OH-PBDEs)小鼠肝微粒体的体外代谢及关键代谢CYP450酶系的研究

羟基化多溴联苯醚(OH-PBDEs)是一类具有内分泌干扰效应的酚类化合物,本研究以小鼠肝脏微粒体作为研究对象,考察了4种典型OH-PBDEs(3-OH-BDE-47、5-OH-BDE-47、6-OH-BDE-47和2′-OH-BDE-68)的体外代谢.研究结果表明,4种OH-PBDEs在小鼠肝脏微粒体中均能被代谢;OH-PBDE结构上的醚键(O)、羟基(OH)和溴原子(Br)的相对位置会影响其代谢效率,OH位于苯环上醚键邻位更有利于其代谢,即6-OH-BDE-47表现出相对较高的代谢率;抑制剂实验发现CYP1A2和CYP3A4是4种典型OH-PBDEs主要的CYP450代谢亚型.     

纳米二氧化铈的潜在生态风险及毒性作用机制研究进展

作为重要的纳米稀土化合物,纳米二氧化铈(CeO2 )被广泛应用于工、农、医学等领域,随之而来的是大量的纳米CeO2 在其生产使用和处理处置等过程中被释放进入到环境中,进而导致其生物安全性受到越来越多的关注.本文从纳米CeO2 对细胞、组织器官、植物、水生生物和土壤生物产生的毒性效应入手,系统综述了纳米CeO2 的潜在环...     

基于高内涵分析技术表征磷酸三苯酯的肺细胞毒性

磷酸三苯酯(triphenyl phosphate, TPhP)是环境中最常见的有机磷酸酯阻燃剂之一,具有较强的挥发性,每天持续摄入TPhP,可能对人体肺部组织产生不利影响。本研究以人源的非小细胞肺癌细胞系(A549)为研究对象,采用高内涵分析系统检测50、100和200μmol·L^-1 TPhP对细胞核形态、核膜通透性、线粒体纹理结构、线粒体膜电位、细胞内氧自由基水平、磷酸化组蛋白H2AX(phosphorylated histones H2AX, pH2AX)、细胞色素C和细胞凋亡等参数的影响。结果显示,与对照组相比,随着TPhP暴露浓度的增加,A549细胞活性显著下降,细胞核面积增加、核亮度降低和核碎片化程度加剧,核膜通透性增高,细胞核的各参数在200μmol·L^-1 TPhP组变化最显著;细胞内氧自由基水平的显著升高,进一步导致线粒体损伤和细胞色素C释放,当TPhP为100μmol·L^-1时,线粒体损伤程度最严重;当TPhP为100μmol·L^-1和200μmol·L^-1     

4种典型纳米材料对小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞毒性的初步研究

为探讨不同种类纳米材料对原代培养小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞(Mouse embryo fibroblasts,MEF)的毒性效应及作用机制,选择4种典型的纳米材料(纳米碳、单壁碳纳米管、纳米氧化锌、纳米二氧化硅)制备颗粒悬液,设立5个剂量组(5、10、20、50、100μg·mL-1)对BALB/c小鼠MEF细胞进行24、48、72h染毒培养,利用细胞形态学观察和噻唑蓝实验(MTT比色法)检测上述4种纳米材料对MEF细胞活性的影响,同时,测定染毒24h后细胞培养液上清中乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)活性以探讨纳米颗粒对细胞膜完整性的影响.结果显示:1)4种纳米材料均能明显影响MEF细胞的生长形态.染毒24h后,MEF细胞发生不同程度的回缩变形,细胞间隙增大,排列稀疏,胞内颗粒物增多,细胞透明度下降.2)纳米碳、纳米氧化锌、纳米二氧化硅对MEF细胞增殖的抑制作用和对细胞膜完整性的损伤作用均随染毒剂量的升高而增强,具有明显的剂量-效应关系,其半数致死浓度(24h-IC50)分别为21.85、21.94、461.10μg·mL-1;碳纳米管组的剂量-效应之间不呈对数线性关系,未能得出其24h-IC50.3)在不同染毒剂量水平上,4种纳米材料的毒性对比差异显著:低剂量水平上纳米碳与碳纳米管的毒性强于纳米氧化锌和纳米二氧化硅,随着剂量的升高纳米氧化锌的细胞毒性升高最为显著.结果提示,纳米材料能够对MEF细胞造成毒性损伤,破坏细胞膜的完整性可能只是作用途径之一;纳米材料的毒性可能受粒径、形状、化学组成等许多因素的影响.