Role of GSH in the amelioration of chromium-induced membrane damage

Membrane damage is one of the important consequences of chromium (Cr), an environmental toxicant, induced cytotoxicity. Reduced glutathione (GSH), a membrane protectant may be used to reduce the Cr-induced membrane damage. In the present study, the impact of Cr in presence and absence of GSH was studied on plasma membrane of the liver and kidneys in male Wistar rats. Significant increases in membrane cholesterol levels as well as significant decreases in membrane phospholipid levels in Cr exposed (0.8 mg per 100 g body weight, i.p., for 28 days) animals suggest structural alterations in both the liver and kidney plasma membranes. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total ATPase, and Na⁺–K⁺–ATPase activities of plasma membrane were significantly decreased in both the liver and kidneys after Cr treatment. This treatment also produced significant weight loss and increased Cr content in the liver and kidneys. However, GSH (8 mg per 100g body weight, i.p., daily at an interval of 6 h after injection of Cr for a period of 28 days) supplementation restored alterations induced by Cr in plasma membrane of both the liver and kidneys but was not able to eliminate the deposited Cr from the liver and kidney tissues.     

Comparative studies of liver and brain glycogen content of male and female Clarias batrachus (L.) after exposure of different doses of arsenic

Different doses of arsenic (As) were used to investigate comparative toxicity on the liver and brain glycogen content on male and female Indian catfish Clarias batrachus (L.). As-induced effects were associated with gender, dose (5, 10, or 15?mg?L^?1), and varying time periods (48, 96, or 144?h). It was noted that As produced dose- and time-dependent liver glycogenolysis and late brain glycogenolysis. Liver glycogenolysis was significantly increased after 48?h at all three As doses. At the highest dose 15?mg?L^?1, liver glycogen were markedly diminished at in both male and female fish, but in females more reduction was observed than in males. However, with brain glycogen, the significant decrease was noted at 144?h with all three dose levels in both genders, with male being more susceptible. Thus, this study indicates that As produces glycogenolysis. The reduction in the liver glycogen content was more pronounced in female than in the male fish, whereas brain glycogen content decrease was more prominent in males.     

Liver and renal lesions in mercury-contaminated narwhals (Monodon monoceros) from North West Greenland

Narwhals (Monodon monoceros) from North West Greenland are known to bioaccumulate mercury (Hg) in tissues and internal organs. This is postulated to be a health concern and therefore studies were undertaken to conduct a screening study of Hg concentrations and histopathology of liver and renal tissues in a total of 12 specimens. The sample consisted of two sub-adults (one male, one female) and 10 adult (six males, four females) collected in Qaanaaq (Thule) 2010. In liver, Hg mean ± SD was 11.88 ± 10.47 μg/g ww (range: 0.39?31.8 μg/g ww) while the concentrations in kidneys were 1.85 ± 1.20 μg/g ww (range: 0.41?4.03 μg/g ww). There was no marked difference in Hg concentrations between males and females while sub-adults had significantly lower concentrations. The histological examinations of renal tissue showed glomerular capillary dilatation and basement membrane thickening, dilatation, and hyalinization of Bowman's space/capsule and tubular lesions with hyaline casts accompanied by interstitial fibrosis in the kidneys. In liver tissue, portal cell infiltrates and fibrosis, bile duct proliferation, lipid-filled Ito cells, and steatosis were found. There was no marked difference in histological prevalence between males and females and in Hg concentrations in individuals with or without lesions. Four of seven renal lesions and one liver lesion were found in the two sub-adult whales. Based upon these findings, as well as the nature of the lesions, evidence suggests that histopathological alterations were a result of age but that Hg might be an aggravating co-factor in development of renal lesions in particular.     

Carbofuran-induced effects on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in erythrocytes and liver of Cyprinus carpio

A study was conducted to determine the effects of long-term exposure to carbofuran on erythrocyte and liver acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in Cyprinus carpio, and assess which tissue was more sensitive to pesticide exposure examining this enzyme. Fish were allowed to accilimatize in toxicant-free water for 24 days after 60-day exposure. AChE activity was determined with a spectrophotometer using acetylthiocholine iodide as a substrate in erythrocytes and liver. Enzymic activity of erythrocytes and liver decreased over time. A higher degree of enzyme inhibition was observed in erythrocyte compared to liver. The degree of enzyme inhibition was positively correlated with exposure time. When exposed fish were transferred to clean water, recovery was greater in erythrocytes than liver. Erythrocyte AChE activity recovered after 18 days, while it required 21 days in liver. The findings of this study indicate that erythrocyte AChE is more sensitive to carbofuran than liver. The greater sensitivity of erythrocyte AChE suggests that it may be more useful as a biomarker for monitoring status of pollution in freshwater bodies.     

Roe and red deer as bioindicators of heavy metals contamination in north-western Poland

The present paper examines the degree of environmental contamination in areas covered by the Natura 2000 programme, located in north-western Poland, with selected heavy metals based on their concentration in target organs of roe and red deer. Lead, cadmium, copper, iron, and zinc concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometry. Residues of lead and cadmium were found in most of the analysed samples of roe and red deer organs The concentration of cadmium in the organs of the animals studied was much higher than that of lead. The median for Pb in liver and kidneys was 0.055 and 0.092 μg/g dry weight (d.w.) in roe deer, and 0.067 and 0.081 μg/g d.w. in red deer, respectively. The median for liver and kidney cadmium was 0.770 and 6.139 μg/g d.w. in roe deer, and 0.422 and 6.365 μg/g d.w. in red deer, respectively. Our study has demonstrated that this area is laden with lead and cadmium. This is evidenced by the fact that maximum permissible levels of these elements in the organs of red and roe deer, which were used as bioindicators of environmental contamination, were exceeded.     

Protein Metabolic Response to Carbon Tetrachloride in A Freshwater Fish,Sarotherodon Mossambicus

Exposure of a freshwater teleost, Sarotherodon mossambicus, to a sublethal concentration (26 ppm) of carbon tetrachloride for periods up to 30 days led to significant changes in the soluble protein fractions (albumin and globulins) and free amino acid content. the decrease in total protein content was greater in liver than in muscle. the protein loss was expected due to the impairement of protein synthetic activity during stress conditions.     

镧、铈、钕对小鼠肝细胞线粒体的氧化损伤作用

轻稀土元素进入生物体后主要累积于肝脏,进入肝细胞,除蓄积在细胞核中,还存在于线粒体中。为探讨轻稀土元素对小鼠肝细胞线粒体的氧化损伤作用,选用5周龄雄性ICR小鼠分别以10、20和40mg·kg~(-1)的镧(La)、铈(Ce)和钕(Nd)灌胃,6周后测定小鼠肝细胞线粒体中超氧化物岐化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPx)的活性,以及谷胱甘肽(GSH)和丙二醛(MDA)的含量。结果显示,与对照组相比,La中剂量组和Ce低剂量组SOD活性显著升高,La高剂量组和Nd中、高剂量组中SOD活性显著降低(P<0.05,P<0.01);除个别剂量组外,各染毒组CAT和GPx活性与GSH含量显著降低(P<0.05,P<0.01);Nd各剂量组、La高剂量组和Ce高剂量组的MDA含量显著升高(P<0.05,P<0.01)。研究表明,La、Ce和Nd所导致的CAT和GPx活性以及GSH含量降低可能是造成肝细胞线粒体氧化损伤的主要原因。     

腈菌唑手性单体对雄性丽斑麻蜥肝脏代谢功能的影响

腈菌唑(MT)是一种应用广泛的手性杀菌剂,其手性对映体为(+)-腈菌唑(MT1)和(-)-腈菌唑(MT2)。为评估腈菌唑单体暴露对丽斑麻蜥(Eremias argus)肝脏代谢功能的毒性影响,研究了MT1(5 mg·kg~(-1))和MT2(5 mg·kg~(-1))暴露28 d下蜥蜴体重、肝组织病理学和代谢相关基因表达的变化。结果显示,MT1暴露组的蜥蜴体重在28 d时出现显著下降。在MT1和MT2暴露后,蜥蜴的肝组织均出现了不同程度的病理学变化。在MT1暴露下,基因CYP1A1、CYP2D6、CYP3A4、CYP3A7和CYP2D3的表达水平未发生显著变化,而基因CYP2C8A的表达显著上调。在MT2暴露下,基因CYP3A4、CYP3A7和CYP2D3的表达未发生明显变化;基因CYP1A1和CYP2C8的表达显著下调;基因CYP2D6的表达显著上调。不同腈菌唑单体对蜥蜴体重、肝组织病理学以及代谢相关基因的表达影响不同,具有一定的对映选择性。     

复合动力灾害条件下孤岛工作面区段煤柱宽度留设研究

孤岛工作面覆岩空间结构复杂多变,受开采和地质等因素的影响在开采过程中面临冲击地压、煤与瓦斯突出、自燃发火以及采空区突水等复合动力灾害。留设合理宽度的区段煤柱是确保工作面安全开采的关键,以陕西某矿特厚煤层孤岛工作面开采为工程案例,通过分析工作面覆岩空间结构,理论计算了工作面应力分布;采用应力动态监测等方法确定了该工作采空区侧向覆岩运动,并综合考虑冲击地压灾害防治、次生灾害控制以及巷道支护等因素,确定了该工作面区段煤柱的合理宽度为5~7 m。     

Intelligent power supply management of an autonomous hybrid energy generator

ABSTRACT

This work deals with the optimization of an hybrid energy system used to supply an isolated site. The proposed system combines a wind turbine, a photovoltaic panel, a diesel generator and a battery bank to electrify atypical home. An energy cost-effectiveness approach is adopted in accordance with meteorological data, time profile of energy consumption, and the cost of different alternative systems. A variety of performances is obtained through simulations within the Homer Pro environment. The selection of an optimal combination is based on the maximum integration of renewable energy in the suggested system with a minimum of gas emission. According to the obtained results, the overall cost of the selected installation is about 72,900 €, with 0.415€ the unit cost of a kWh electric energy provided with a contribution of renewable energy of around 86%. Simulations show a technical and financial benefits of the different configurations obtained to supply the target site. To control the proposed hybrid energy system, a supervision algorithm is developed and implemented on TMS320F28027 DSP platform. The proposed energy system aims to take advantages of renewable energy sources and shift to conventional sources only when necessary in order to ensure source autonomy and service continuity.