Heavy Metals in Liver and Muscle of Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) Caught in the Straits of Messina (Sicily, Italy)

The present investigation was carried out on the bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) collected during the month of April 2003 from the Straits of Messina. The aim of this study is to determine heavy metal levels (Cd, Cu, Hg, Mn, Pb and Zn) in liver and muscle tissues of 14 Thunnus thynnus of different age and sex and to investigate the relationships between fish sex and size (length and weight and metal concentrations in the tissues. The concentrations of the various metals were determined by a Varian atomic absorption spectroscopy instrument. The results showsignificant variations (p < 0.01) for Hg and Zn concentrations in muscle than in liver samples. Concentrations of Cd and Pb are below the instrumental detection limits in almost all muscle samples. Levels of Hg (3.03 + 0.55 μg/g) are above the MRLs only in muscle (1μg/g) establishing toxicological risks for the consumer. Regression analysis shows a negative correlation between mercury level and weight and length in samples from both female and male. No significant difference between mean heavy metals concentrations and male or female tuna is seen. For greater food safety, it would be advisable to reduce the mercury intake by selecting safer fish, species and size and by the avoidance of tuna fish consumption by pregnant women, young children and old people, who are more sensitive to mercury exposure.     

Preparation of bovine liver candidate reference material

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Immunocytochemical localization of peroxisomal β-oxidation enzymes in human fetal liver

In the majority of congenital peroxisomal disorders, β-oxidation of very long chain fatty acids is deficient. We have investigated the appearance and localization of the three peroxisomal β-oxidation enzymes in normal fetal liver (fertilization age between 5 and 18 weeks) with protein A- gold immunocytochemistry and silver enhancement for light microscopic visualization. With specificity-tested polyclonal antibodies, acyl-CoA-oxidase, bifunctiooal enzyme, and 3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase were localized in the peroxisomes of the parenchymal cells, which appear as brown or black granules. In the youngest specimen, no immunopositive reaction was obtained. A weak reaction with anti-thiolase was obtained at the age of 6–7 weeks. At a fertilization age of 8 weeks, peroxisomes could be distinctly visualized after immunostaining for all three enzymes. From a staining series with anti-thiolase on simultaneously treated slides, it appears that the amount of antigen per peroxisome and the organelle size increase between the seventh and eighteenth weeks. These data should enable a more specific diagnosis in fetal liver biopsies from pregnancies at risk and after termination of pregnancy.     

2, 4-二硝基甲苯在鲤鱼体内的代谢研究

应用水生生物体内实验方法，研究了２，４－二硝基甲苯在鲤鱼肝肠提取物中的生物浓缩及代谢转化过程。半静态条件下，采用３种不同的暴露浓度，测定肝，肠组织的生物浓缩曲线，并同步对肝提取物进行了ＨＰＬＣ检测。     

邻苯二甲酸二乙基己酯(DEHP)对小白鼠肝脏毒性及脂质过氧化损伤

为研究邻苯二甲酸二乙基己酯(DEHP)对小鼠肝脏的毒性及脂质过氧化损伤作用机制,选择昆明4周龄小鼠80只,雌雄各半,随机分为4组。经食饵连续自然给食染毒,于染毒第4周末处死。测量小鼠肝脏和体重的变化,测定不同DEHP染毒剂量组小鼠的血液、肝脏中谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPX)、过氧化氢(H2O2)和丙二醛(MDA),超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)的变化。将实验数据进行ANO-VA分析处理。结果表明,随着染毒剂量的增加,小鼠体重逐渐减少(p<0.01),高剂量组肝脏器系数明显上升(p<0.01)。苏木精-伊红染色法(简称HE染色)可见高剂量组肝脏组织有明显损伤。与对照组相比,DEHP3个剂量染毒组小鼠血液(75mg·kg-1组除外)及肝脏中GPX活性降低(p<0.05,p<0.01),H2O2含量增加(p<0.05,p<0.01);肝组织中(75mg·kg-1组除外)SOD活性降低(p<0.05,p<0.01),MDA含量增加(p<0.01)。以上结果说明DEHP对小鼠肝脏的毒性作用机制可能为脂质过氧化反应。     

镉对中华蟾蜍蝌蚪生长、变态和Dios、TRs表达以及肝脏的影响

镉(cadmium,Cd)是一种典型的工业毒素和环境污染物,对两栖类生物具有强烈的毒性作用。为了探讨镉对两栖类生物的毒害作用,选择中华蟾蜍蝌蚪作为受试生物,研究了不同浓度Cd对中华蟾蜍蝌蚪生长、变态和Dios、TRs表达以及肝脏的的影响,结果表明,500μg·L~(~(-1))Cd可以极显著降低蝌蚪的变态率、全长、尾长和体重(P0.01);Real-time PCR结果显示,在变态高峰期,500μg·L~(~(-1))Cd可以显著下调Dio2、TRα和TRβ mRNA的相对表达量(P0.05),显著上调Dio3 mRNA的相对表达量(P0.05);透射电镜试验结果显示Cd可以破坏中华蟾蜍蝌蚪肝脏细胞胞浆中的细胞器和胆管中的微绒毛。综合以上结果,可知,高浓度的Cd可以紊乱甲状腺的内分泌和导致肝脏的病变,进而影响中华蟾蜍蝌蚪的生长和变态。     

羟基化多溴联苯醚(OH-PBDEs)在小鼠肝脏微粒体的体外代谢及对CYP450酶活性的影响

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,生物毒性要高于母体多溴联苯醚(PBDEs),研究OH-PBDEs的体外代谢行为对于理解其在生物体内的富集转化具有重要意义。以小鼠肝脏微粒体作为研究对象,考察了3-OH-BDE-47、5-OH-BDE-47、6-OH-BDE-47和2’-OH-BDE-68在小鼠肝脏中的体外代谢,并分别研究了浓度为0.1、0.2、0.4、0.6、1.0μmol·L-1条件下4种OH-PBDEs对细胞色素P450酶系中7-乙氧基香豆素-O-脱乙基酶(ECOD)、7-乙氧基异吩唑酮-O-脱乙基酶(EROD)和苯胺4-羟基化酶(ANH)活性的影响。结果表明,4种OH-PBDEs在小鼠肝脏微粒体中均能够快速代谢,代谢率分别为80%(3-OH-BDE-47)、42%(5-OH-BDE-47)、86%(6-OH-BDE-47)和63%(2’-OH-BDE-68)。实验所设OH-PBDEs各浓度对微粒体的ECOD活性无显著性抑制作用,但对EROD的活性均表现出相同的显著抑制作用;4种OH-PBDEs表现出不同的ANH活性影响,即3-OH-BDE-47对ANH活性具有抑制作用,5-OH-BDE-47具有诱导作用,而6-OH-BDE-47和2’-OH-BDE-68对ANH活性无显著性影响。     

Effect of a popular Middle Eastern food (Falafel) on rat liver

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of short-term consumption of oil and frying oil extracted from falafel patties, and then to study the long-term effect of consumption of falafel patties on rat liver gross morphology and serum liver enzymes. The frying oil quality was assessed using thiobarbituric acid reaction on rat liver homogenate. Frying oil and oil extracted from falafel patties were administered to male Wistar albino rats via gavage for 5 days. Blood samples were collected and the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and bilirubin levels were determined. Livers were weighed and gross morphology was assessed. For the long-term effect of falafel consumption, rats were fed falafel patties for 30 days, and then blood samples were collected and assayed for the above-mentioned parameters. Short-term consumption of falafel extracts and frying oil did not cause any significant difference in the liver function tests and liver gross morphology. Whereas, long-term consumption of falafel patties caused a significant increase in ALP, ALT, bilirubin level and increased liver weight/body weight ratio denoting hepatotoxicity. This indicates that consumption of large amounts of falafel on daily basis might lead to hepatotoxicity.     

Study of trace elements in urine of some Nigerian medical patients

In this study, trace element concentrations were determined in urine samples of patients with kidney and liver conditions from the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife Nigeria. Urine samples from 80 patients whose ages ranged from 15 to 79 were used for the trace metals analysis. Variation of the trace metals including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) in urine samples were correlated with respect to gender, age, professions, personal habits and patients’ conditions. The levels of Pb in the urine samples of both male and female patients were found to be generally higher than those of Cd, Hg, Zn, Cu, and Mn. Highest levels of Pb and Cd were found in patients who smoked and drank and those with various kidney and liver conditions. Most of the trace metals except Mn occurred at levels that are deleterious to human health as they are above the standard threshold values expected in normal human urine, and raised cause for concern.     

Liver and renal histopathology of North Atlantic long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) contaminated with heavy metals and organochlorine compounds

Long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) from the Faroe Islands are known to be heavily polluted with contaminants, such as mercury (Hg) and organochlorine compounds (OC). This is postulated to exert adverse health effects on whales as well as the human population who rely on its meat and blubber as food sources. It was therefore decided to conduct a screening pilot study to determine contaminant concentrations and histopathology of liver and renal tissues in a total of 14 specimens from this subpopulation. In blubber, the mean ∑OC concentration was 31,887 ng g^?1 lw (range: 18,170–47,425 ng g^?1 lw) of which ∑PCB concentration was 23,416 ng g^?1 lw (range: 13,947–34,543 ng g^?1 lw; n = 3). In liver, mean Hg concentration was 138 µg^?1 ww (range: 54–351 µg g^?1 ww; n = 7) and mean cadmium (Cd) concentration 15 µg g^?1 ww (range: 7–31 µg g^?1 ww; n = 7). In the kidney, the mean Cd concentration was 36 µg g^?1 ww (range: 23–47 µg g^?1 ww; n = 7). Of the liver Hg concentrations, two were at the suggested toxic threshold levels of 60 µg g^?1 ww and five were 2–6-fold above. Liver selenium (Se) : Hg was on average 1.11 (range: 0.97–1.41; n = 7) indicating that Se was in excess, which decreased the risk of acute Hg poisoning. Histopathological examinations showed high prevalence (>35%) of renal glomerular arteriosclerosis, glomerular capillary dilatation, dilatation and hyalinization of Bowman's space/capsule and tubular hyaline casts. In liver tissue, high prevalence was found for portal cell infiltrates, lipid granulomas, hepatocytic lipid accumulation, bile duct proliferation, lipid-filled Ito cells, and focal necrosis. In a single juvenile male, 4 of 8 renal and 3 of 7 liver lesions were present. Cadmium concentrations increased significantly in the presence of glomerular arteriosclerosis and a similar trend was found for tubular hyaline casts. Based on these findings, as well as the nature of the lesions, data indicate that the histopathological changes were a result of age and that contaminants are likely to be the co-factors in the development in at least three renal and four liver lesions.