Acrylamide and its metabolite glycidamide can affect antioxidant defenses and steroidogenesis in Leydig and Sertoli cells

Acrylamide, which is commonly used in various industries, may also form in food products cooked in high temperatures. Glycidamide, the ultimate genotoxic metabolite of acrylamide, is generated within cells through CYP4502E1-mediated epoxidation. Recent studies have shown that acrylamide and/or glycidamide may cause infertility by disrupting spermatogenesis, decreasing germ cell production and sperm fertilization ability due to their toxic effects on the male reproductive system. This study aimed to determine some direct effects of acrylamide and glycidamide on antioxidant defenses and on steroidogenic enzymes of Leydig and Sertoli cells. For this purpose, mouse Leydig and Sertoli cells were exposed to acrylamide (0.01 or 1?mmol/L) or to glycidamide (0.001 or 0.5?mmol/L) for 24?h. Following the exposure, antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase), cellular antioxidant levels (glutathione) and steroidogenic enzyme activities (3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) were calculated. It was shown that acrylamide and glycidamide may cause inhibition of antioxidant and steroidogenic enzymes in Leydig and Sertoli cells. In conclusion, acrylamide and glycidamide may alter testicular function, thereby disrupting male reproduction.     

ZnO纳米粒子通过线粒体通路抑制小鼠光感受器细胞Na~+/K~+-ATP酶表达和活性的作用研究

氧化锌(ZnO)纳米粒子已被发现具有生物毒性,氧化应激被认为是最重要的因素之一。前期实验证实,ZnO纳米粒子能显著减少锰超氧化物歧化酶(Mn SOD)蛋白的表达,降低Mn SOD活性。本文通过检测乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)释放、线粒体活性氧(ROS)水平和膜电位(Δφm)、延迟整流钾电流变化和Na~+/K~+-ATP酶的表达及活性等变化,检测ZnO纳米粒子对小鼠光感受器细胞的细胞毒作用。结果表明,ZnO纳米粒子可显著增强小鼠光感受器细胞中LDH的释放、增加线粒体内ROS水平并下调Δφm、阻断延迟整流钾电流,同时降低Na~+/K~+-ATP酶的表达及活性,从而对小鼠视网膜光感受器细胞产生细胞毒作用,提示ZnO纳米粒子可通过线粒体通路引起氧化应激,从而抑制小鼠光感受器细胞Na~+/K~+-ATP酶表达和活性,产生细胞毒性,导致细胞死亡。本文的研究结果有助于理解ZnO纳米粒子引起细胞毒性的作用机理。     

Response of indigenous Cd-tolerant electrochemically active bacteria in MECs toward exotic Cr(VI) based on the sensing of fluorescence probes

Electrochemically active bacteria (EAB) on the cathodes of microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) can remove metals from the catholyte, but the response of these indigenous EAB toward exotic metals has not been examined, particularly from the perspective of the co-presence of Cd(II) and Cr(VI) in a wastewater. Four known indigenous Cd-tolerant EAB of Ochrobactrum sp X1, Pseudomonas sp X3, Pseudomonas delhiensis X5, and Ochrobactrum anthropi X7 removed more Cd(II) and less Cr(VI) in the simultaneous presence of Cd(II) and Cr(VI), compared to the controls with individual Cd(II) or single Cr(VI). Response of these EAB toward exotic Cr(VI) was related to the associated subcellular metal distribution based on the sensing of fluorescence probes. EAB cell membrane harbored more cadmium than chromium and cytoplasm located more chromium than cadmium, among which the imaging of intracelluler Cr(III) ions increased over time, contrary to the decreased trend for Cd(II) ions. Compared to the controls with single Cd(II), exotic Cr(VI) decreased the imaging of Cd(II) ions in the EAB at an initial 2 h and negligibly affected thereafter. However, Cd(II) diminished the imaging of Cr (III) ions in the EAB over time, compared to the controls with individual Cr(VI). Current accelerated the harboring of cadmium at an initial 2 h and directed the accumulation of chromium in EAB over time. This study provides a viable approach for simultaneously quantitatively imaging Cd(II) and Cr (III) ions in EAB and thus gives valuable insights into the response of indigenous Cd-tolerant EAB toward exotic Cr(VI) in MECs.

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60kA自焙电解槽清洁生产工艺改造及排污能耗对比

提出了利用现有的 6 0kA自焙电解槽改建成 75kA预焙电解槽清洁生产工艺方案 ,并将改建前后产品产量、排污、能耗进行对比。结果表明 ,改建方案可操作性强 ,原铝产量提高 2 9.4 % ,主要污染物削减 78.6 % ,厂界环境空气氟化物浓度由改建前的 36 .4 μg/m3 降至 2 .8μg/m3 ,年节电 18 7GW·h。     

湿法腈纶废水的生化处理

采用水解酸化—固定化微生物流化床—氧化混凝联合工艺处理湿法腈纶废水.该工艺采用的高效菌微生物固定化技术及新型氧化混凝技术均对湿法腈纶废水有较好的处理效果.实验结果表明:在水解酸化温度为42℃、水解酸化运行周期为20 h的条件下,接种活性污泥和高效菌的SBR的COD去除率为26.0％;在新型氯铁型氧化混凝剂加入量为15 mL/L的条件下,混凝出水COD可降至66 mg/L.水解酸化—固定化微生物流化床—氧化混凝联合工艺的总COD去除率可达89.4％.     

Changes of Surface Properties of Yeast Cell Wall Under Exposure of Electromagnetic Field (40.68 MHz) and Action of Nystatin

Summary Changes of the surface properties were studied in the cell wall of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Y-517 under influence of the electromagnetic field (EMF) (40.68 MHz) and lethal doses of the fungicidal antibiotic nystatin (10 μg/10⁶ cells). Atomic force microscopy was used to study surface topography and visco-elastic properties of the cell walls. Surface carbohydrates were detected by lectins marked with gold with the help of the scanning electron microscope. Additional polysaccharide layer appeared over cell surface after EMF exposure. We suggest that electromagnetic fields resulted in the change of the cell surface, and, accordingly, the sensitivity of organisms to the antifungal antibiotics.     

Toxicity screening of biodegradable polymers. I. Selection and evaluation of cell culture test methods

A screening test method for potential toxicity of biodegradable plastics on humans and the environment was selected and evaluated with samples of cellulose acetate, Bionolle, polyhydroxybutyrate-co-valerate (Biopol), and polycaprolactone (Tone polymer). Among the standardin vitro tests using animal cell cultures for the evaluation of biomedical materials, the test by direct contact and the test with extract were examined. Qualitative and quantitative determinations of the cell viability and morphology indicate that the test with extracts can be easily performed, providing reproducible and comparable results for all materials. Using the cell culture test with the extract of sterile samples, an estimation of the toxicity of a new polymeric material can be obtained within a few weeks.     

Cell-recycle fed-batch production of a highly unsaturated polyhydroxyalkanoate from 1,3-butanediol byPseudomonas sp. A33

The recently isolatedPseudomonas sp. A33 was investigated for the production of a highly unsaturated polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) containing various alkyl and alkenyl pendent groups from 1,3-butanediol in a cell-recycle fed-batch production mode. The monomer composition and degree of unsaturation in PHA were dependent on the environmental conditions. The production temperature markedly influenced the content, composition, and degree of unsaturation of PHA. As the production temperature decreased from 30 to 10°C, the degree of unsaturation and content of PHA were increased, while the mole percentage of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) was decreased. These temperature effects on the composition of PHA imply that the production can be used as a control variable for the biosynthesis of a highly unsaturated PHA and for the specific regulation of the composition of PHA. The biosynthetic pathway for a highly unsaturated PHA which is based on de novo fatty acid biosynthetic pathway is proposed. For the enhanced production of this functional PHA, a high cell density was achieved by cell-recycle continuous culture at 30°C, and then a large amount of PHA was accumulated at 15°C by fed-batch addition of the feeding solution containing excess 1,3-butanediol. The structures of monomer constituents of polymer were confirmed by gas chromatography—mass spectrometric analysis of trimethylsiyl derivatives of 3-hydroxyalkanoic acids methyl esters.     

Influence of DC electric and magnetic fields on silicon solar cells/modules

ABSTRACT

In this study, the impact of DC electric and magnetic fields on the output power, open-circuit voltage, and photocurrent density of a silicon photovoltaic (PV) cell/module is assessed. In this regard, the influence of DC electric and magnetic fields is first evaluated in theory by formulating and discussing related basis and concepts. Then, experimental measurements and data obtained from two different sets of experiments are given that verify theoretical results. In theory and practice, it is shown that depending on the direction of a DC electric field applied to a silicon PV cell/module, it causes an increase or reduction in the output power and open-circuit voltage of the PV cell/module. In detail, when the DC electric field points in the direction of the junction electric field of the PV cell(s), the output power and open-circuit voltage of the silicon PV cell/module increase, otherwise the output power and open-circuit voltage decrease. Regarding the magnetic field, it is proved that depending on the direction of a DC magnetic field applied to a silicon PV cell/module, different effects are observed. In detail, when the DC magnetic field points along the junction electric field of the PV cell(s), it has no effect on the output power and open-circuit voltage of the silicon PV cell/module. But, the output power and open-circuit voltage of the silicon PV cell/module decrease when the DC magnetic field points in the other directions. Moreover, the reduction in the output power and open-circuit voltage reaches its peak when the DC magnetic field is applied in the direction perpendicular to the junction electric field.     

偶氮染料废水的电解处理

用复极性固定床电解槽处理偶氮染料废水,在正交试验确定的原水ＣＯＤ２００ｍｇ／Ｌ、槽电压３０Ｖ、停留时间２ｈ、导电颗粒与绝缘颗粒体积比１：４的条件下,色度和ＣＯＤ去除率分别达到９９％以上和７８．４－９８．２％。