Thyroid disruptor 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) prevents internalization of TSH receptor

The thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor (TSHr) was made specifically fluorescent by insertion of a tetracysteine motif (TSHr-FlAsH) into the C-terminal end and transiently transfected into COS-7 and HeLa cells. The observation that TSH administration caused the intracellular level of cAMP to increase in both TSHr-FlAsH-transfected cell types indicated that the FlAsH binding motif did not alter normal TSHr functioning. When transfected into HeLa cells and stimulated with TSH, the TSHr-FlAsH receptor exhibited a pronounced perinuclear labelling pattern, whereas labelling remained on the cell surface following pre-incubation with 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT). Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-TSHr cells probed with anti-TSHr antibodies were fluorescent mainly in the proximity of the plasma membrane, with fluorescence being primarily restricted to a juxta-nuclear position when exposed to 10 mU/ml TSH for 1 or 5 min. However, in the presence of DDT, the anti-TSHr fluorescence maintained a peripheral location along the cell plasma membrane, even if CHO-TSHr cells were stimulated with TSH for 1 and 5 min. To verify that DDT acted specifically on the TSHr, CHO cells transfected with the A₂a receptor were used as controls. Following a 1-min stimulation with 5’-(N-ethyl-carboxamido)-adenosine, A₂a receptors were gradually internalized regardless of the presence of DDT in the culture medium. Finally, immunoelectron microscopy of CHO-TSHr cells showed that a 1-min exposure to TSH sufficed to displace anti-TSHr antibodies tagged with 10-nm gold particles into coated pits and vesicles but that their superficial location was retained along the plasma membrane in the presence of DDT.     

Enhancement of hepatic microsomal drug oxidation and glucuronidation in rat by 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT)

A single dose of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) (160 mg/kg i.p.) enhanced the monooxygenase step of drug biotransformation in rat liver. The O-demethylation of p-nitroanisole was especially increased, a peak in activity approximately 5-fold compared with controls being attained in 7 days. On the other hand, there was only a 2-fold increase in aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity.DDT increased the cytochrome P-450 content of the liver, this increase coincided well with that in p-nitroanisole O-demethylation activity.The UDPglucuronosyltransferase activity of liver microsomes was not enhanced by DDT administration, unless the microsomes were pretreated to reveal latent activity prior to assay. After trypsin digestion of microsomes a maximum increase in activity of approximately 3-fold was observed as a result of DDT dosage. The canonic surfactant cetylpyridinium chloride was less active in revealing the latent UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity, and two other membrane perturbants, the detergent digitonin and phospholipase A, were unable to show enhancement in UDPglucuronosyltransferase as a result of DDT dosage.     

Thyroid hormone-dependent gene expression as a biomarker of short-term 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE) exposure in European common frog (Rana temporaria) tadpoles

The effects on thyroid hormone-dependent gene biomarker responses of the persistent organochlorine pesticide metabolite 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE) were investigated after exposure of 4-week-old European common frog (Rana temporaria) (stage 36) tadpoles to two (0.001 and 0.01 ppm) DDE concentrations. Total body weight, total length, and tail length and width increased after 3-day exposure to DDE. Expression patterns of genes encoding for growth hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSHβ) and thyroid hormone receptor (TRα and TRβ) isoforms were evaluated in the head, body and tail regions using a validated real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The mRNA expression of growth hormone in the body, and TSHβ in the head showed significant DDE concentration-dependent decreases. While DDE caused variable effects on TRα mRNA steady-state, the expression of TRβ was significantly decreased in the tail by DDE in a concentration-specific manner. The effect of DDE exposure on TRβ mRNA expression showed a negative correlation with tail length and width during the exposure period. The unique pattern of a DDE-induced decrease of tail TRβ expression probably reflects the significant role of this thyroid hormone receptor isoform in tail re-absorption and overall metamorphosis in anuran species. Therefore, the present study shows that the evaluation of thyroid hormone-dependent genes may represent quantitative biomarkers of acute exposure to organochlorine pesticides in anuran species during critical developmental periods such as metamorphosis. Given the widespread environmental levels of DDT and its metabolites, these pollutants will remain a subject of concern and their effects on anuran species should be studied in more detail.     

The organochlorine insecticide 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane) but not 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) augments the nocturnal increase in pineal N-acetyltransferase activity and pineal and serum melatonin levels

The effect of organochlorine insecticides lindane (1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane) and DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)ethane) were studied in terms of their effects on the rat pineal N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity, hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT) activity and pineal and serum melatonin levels during the day (2000h) and at night (2300 and 0100h). Additionally, pineal levels of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), serotonin (5-HT), and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) were estimated. Nocturnal NAT activity was increased after lindane administration; likewise, lindane augmented pineal and serum melatonin levels at 2300h. Conversely, DDT was without a statistically significant effect on either NAT activity or on pineal or serum melatonin levels. Neither lindane nor DDT significantly influenced pineal HIOMT values either during the day or at night. Likewise, neither insecticide consistently influenced pineal levels of either 5-HTP, 5-HT or 5-HIAA. The results indicate that the organochlorine insecticide, lindane, modifies pineal melatonin synthesis in vivo.     

Effects of dietary myo-inositol, D-chiro-inositol and L-chiro-inositol on hepatic lipids with reference to the hepatic myo-inositol status in rats fed on 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethane

The effects of dietary 0.2% inositol stereoisomers on the hepatic lipids and myo-inositol (MI) status in rats fed with 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethane (DDT) were investigated. Dietary MI reduced the hepatic lipids in the rats fed with DDT. Dietary D-chiro-inositol (DCI) and L-chiro-inositol (LCI) both had a promoting effect on the increase in hepatic lipids due to DDT feeding. Dietary MI enhanced the hepatic free MI level and the phosphatidylinositol/phosphatidylcholine ratio, but dietary DCI reduced the level and ratio.     

Compartmentation of the plant metabolic enzymes for the persistent plasticizer chemical,bis-2(-ethylhexyl)-phthalate

The environmentally persistent plasticizer chemical, bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP), was not translocated or metabolized over 17 days after application to intact wheat leaves. The chemical was specifically associated with the cuticle fraction. In contrast, metabolism was observed in injured leaves and in leaf homogenates.DEHP esterase was 10-fold purified from the wheat leaf homogenate, and an apparent molecular weight of 38 000 was determined by gel permeation chromatography.Cleavage of DEHP by the partially purified esterase was strongly inhibited by a wheat cell wall and by a triglyceride preparation. Cleavage of the water-soluble substrate, 4-nitrophenylacetate, was not inhibited under the same conditions.Compartmentation of metabolic enzymes is proposed as an explanation for the persistence of DEHP and certain other environmental chemicals in plants.     

Impact of environmental DDT concentrations on gill adaptation to increased salinity in the tilapia Sarotherodon melanotheron

Estuaries of tropical developing countries suffering from severe droughts induced by climate change are habitats to fish, which face drastic salinity variations and the contact with pollutants. The Western Africa tilapia Sarotherodon melanotheron is highly resistant to hypersalinity, but the effect of human-released xenobiotics on its adaptation is barely known. Controlled experiments were conducted to observe S. melanotheron gill adaptation to abrupt salinity variations in the presence of waterborne DDT, at concentrations detected in their natural habitat. The gills appeared as an important site of DDT conversion to DDD and/or depuration. A 12-days DDT exposure resulted in decreased gill epithelium thickness at all salinities (from fresh- to hypersaline-water), and the structure of gills from freshwater fish was particularly altered, relative to controls. No unbalance in tilapia blood osmolality was observed following DDT exposure, which however caused a decrease in branchial Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase (NKA) activity. Gill cellular NKA expression was reduced in salt-water, together with the expression of the CFTR chloride channel in hypersaline water. Although S. melanotheron seems very resistant (especially in seawater) to short-term waterborne DDT contamination, the resulting alterations of the gill tissue, cells and enzymes might affect longer term respiration, toxicant depuration and/or osmoregulation in highly fluctuating salinities.     

Pesticide-induced changes in hepatic microsomal enzyme systems. Some effects of 1,1-di(p-chlorophenyl)-2,2-dichloroethylene (DDE) and 1,1-di(p-chlorophenyl)-2-chloroethylene (DDMU) in the rat and Japanese quail

Hepatic microsomal protein, cytochrome P₄₅₀, aniline hydroxylase and N-ethylmorphine demethylase as well as tissue residues were measured following the feeding of low levels of 1,1-di(p-chlorophenyl)-2,2-dichloroethylene (DDE) or 1,1-di(p-chlorophenyl)-2-chloroethylene (DDMU) to rats and Japanese quail. DDMU caused considerable elevation of the levels of most of the parameters measured in the quail even by comparison to the potent inducer, DDE, which gave greater tissue residues. In the rat where tissue residues of both DDE and DDMU were lower than those in quail, DDE caused greater changes in the measured enzyme levels than DDMU. Most of the changes caused by DDMU in the quail were larger than those observed following the ingestion of comparable levels of any other 1,1-di(p-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethane (DDT) metabolite in the rat or the quail. In the light of these and other published results it is suggested that the metabolic pathway for DDT in birds differs from that in mammals and probably gives rise through a pathway involving DDMU to a highly active liver inducer.     

Effects of ecological flooding on the temporal and spatial dynamics of carabid beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) and springtails (Collembola) in a polder habitat

Within the scope of the Integrated Rhine Program an ecological flood gate and channel was inserted into the polder "Ingelheim" to enhance animal and plant diversity. In 2008, carabid beetles and springtails were collected, using pitfall traps, to measure the effects of ecological flooding and a strong precipitation event at a flood-disturbed and a dry location in this area. At both localities, xerophilic and mesophilic carabid beetle species were dominant throughout the study period. The total number of individuals of hygrophilic species was comparatively constant, while species number increased, partly due to the changed moisture conditions caused by ecological flooding and strong precipitation. Carabid beetle diversity and evenness decreased marginally when ecological flooding was absent. Springtails represent a less mobile arthropod order, and as such the impact of ecological flooding was stronger. An increase in both numbers of species and individuals of hygrophilic and hygrotolerant species occurred in the flood-disturbed location after ecological flooding. After the sites at both locations had dried, the number of individuals belonging to these species declined rapidly. In contrast to carabid species, the strong precipitation event showed no influence on hygrophilic springtail species. Thus, collembolan diversity and evenness decreased markedly in the absence of flooding. We showed that ecological flooding has an influence on the spatial and temporal dynamics of different arthropod groups that inhabit the polder "Ingelheim". These findings demonstrate the importance of using different arthropod groups as bioindicators in determining the ecological value of a particular polder design.     

Effects of overexpression of NAPRTase,NAMNAT, and NAD synthetase in the NAD(H) biosynthetic pathways on the NAD(H) pool,NADH/NAD+ ratio,and succinic acid production with different carbon sources by metabolically engineered Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli BA002, the ldhA and pflB deletion strain, cannot utilize glucose anaerobically due to the inability to regenerate NAD⁺. To regulate NAD(H) pool size and NADH/NAD⁺ ratio, overexpression of the enzymes in the NAD(H) biosynthetic pathways in BA002 was investigated. The results clearly demonstrate that the increased NAD(H) pool size and the decreased NADH/NAD⁺ ratio improved the glucose consumption and cell growth, which improved succinic acid production. When the pncB and the nadD genes were co-overexpressed in CA102, the ratio of NADH/NAD⁺ was decreased from 0.60 to 0.12, and the concentration of NAD(H) was the highest among that of all the strains. Moreover, the dry cell weight (DCW), glucose consumption, and the concentration of succinic acid in CA102 were also the highest. Based on the sufficient NAD⁺ supply after gene modification in the NAD(H) biosynthetic pathways, reductive carbon sources with different amounts of NADH can further change the distribution of metabolites. When sorbitol was used as a carbon source in CA102, the byproducts were lower than those of glucose fermentation, and the yield of succinic acid was increased.     

Effects of the comutagens, harman and norharman, on the interaction of a tryptophan pyrolysis product, 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido (4,3-b) indole with DNA.

Harman and norharman, known as comutagens of many chemicals, were tested for their effect on the binding to DNA of 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido(4,3-b)indole, (Trp-P-2), a potent mutagen found with harman and norharman in the pyrolysate of tryptophan (1). We demonstrated that the alteration of the DNA helix by intercalation of these comutagens to DNA does not affect the affinity of this potent mutagen for DNA. Covalent binding, however, was inhibited by the comutagens.     

Effects of quantitative trait loci and the myostatin locus on trace and macro elements (minerals) in bovine liver,muscle and kidney

A quantitative trait locus (QTL) study of the concentrations of 14 trace and macro elements (minerals) in tissues of beef cattle was conducted in New Zealand. Back‐cross calves with Jersey and Limousin ancestry (202 heifers and 211 steers) were generated using first‐cross sires. This paper reports on testing for effects of QTL on the concentrations of minerals in liver, kidney and muscle in cattle at slaughter, following a growth phase during which rearing and finishing stages were on pasture. Fifteen QTL were identified (P < 0.05) on a genome‐wide basis in combined‐sire and within‐sire analyses. In addition, the possible effect of the Limousin myostatin F94L allele was tested by fitting each calf's myostatin genotype, and 16 QTL were identified. Twelve were in common with those QTL identified previously, comprising six affecting the liver (copper and zinc, on two chromosomes each; plus iron and molybdenum), three affecting the kidney (calcium, copper and iron), and three affecting muscle (iron, strontium and zinc).     

强心益气方联合瑞舒伐他汀治疗急性心肌梗死的疗效及对患者血清相关指标的影响

目的:探讨强心益气方联合瑞舒伐他汀治疗急性心肌梗死的临床疗效及对患者白细胞计数(WBC)、中性粒细胞比值(NEU)、肌红蛋白及C反应蛋白(CRP)水平的影响。方法:选自2014年6月~2015年12月我院收治的急性心肌梗死患者96例,随机分为观察组与对照组,每组48例。对照组采用瑞舒伐他汀治疗,观察组在对照组基础上给予强心益气方治疗。观察并比较两组患者的治疗疗效以及治疗前后心功能指标、WBC、NEU、肌红蛋白、CRP水平变化,及用药期间不良反应情况。结果:观察组治疗总有效率(89.58%)高于对照组(70.83%)(P0.05);与治疗前比较,两组LVEF、SV治疗后明显升高,而LVEDV明显降低(P0.05);观察组LVEF、SV治疗后高于对照组,而LVEDV低于对照组(P0.05);与治疗前比较,两组WBC、NEU、肌红蛋白、CRP水平治疗后明显降低(P0.05);观察组WBC、NEU、肌红蛋白、CRP水平治疗后低于对照组(P0.05);两组均未见严重不良反应。结论:强心益气方联合瑞舒伐他汀治疗急性心肌梗死患者疗效显著,可降低WBC、NEU、肌红蛋白、CRP含量,安全可靠,值得研究。     

Inhibitory Effects of Melanin Monomers,Dihydroxyindole-2-Carboxylic Acid (DHICA) and Dihydroxyindole (DHI) on Mammalian Tyrosinase,With a Special Reference to the Role of DHICA/DHI Ratio in Melanogenesis

DOPAchrome tautomerase (DCT) is known to control the ratio of DHICA/DHI formed within the melanocyte, but physiologic significance of this activity is not yet fully elucidated. In this study the two melanin monomers are shown to inhibit with different efficacy the initial, tyrosinase-controlled, melanogenic reaction, namely conversion of L-tyrosine to DOPAchrome (2-carboxy-2,3-dihydroindole-5,6-quinone). This is demonstrated in the test tube assay system whereby formation of DOPAchrome is catalyzed by i) isolated premelanosomes (PMS), ii) tyrosinase-rich PMS glycoproteins, or iii) tyrosinase purified from fibroblasts transfected with human tyrosinase gene. Both DHI and DHICA suppress the conversion of L-tyrosine to DOPAchrome when added to reaction mixture but the inhibitory effect is far more strongly pronounced by DHI. DHI inhibits both activities of tyrosinase—tyrosine-hydroxylation and DOPA-oxidation—more strongly than DHICA. The different extent of inhibition is shown to reflect i) the ability of the two monomers to compete with tyrosinase substrates for the enzyme's active center and ii) the rate of interaction between melanin monomers and DOPAquinone. Consequently, we demonstrate that the tyrosinase-catalyzed DOPAchrome formation can be modulated by the ratio of DHICA/DHI among melanin monomers with the increased proportion of DHICA resulting in more efficient DOPAchrome formation. These results raise the possibility that DOPAchrome tautomerase plays a role in positive control of the tyrosinase-catalyzed early phase of melanogenesis.     

Determination of Normetanephrine, 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylethyleneglycol (Free and Total), and 3-Methoxy-4-Hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol (Free and Total) in Rat Brain by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Electrochemical Detection and Effects of Drugs on Regional Concentrations

A new, fast and sensitive assay for normetanephrine (NM), free and total 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethyleneglycol (DOPEG), and free and total 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol (MOPEG) in brain tissue is described. The method is based on high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Small Sephadex G 10 columns were used for prepurification. This permitted the additional isolation and quantification of tyrosine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, noradrenaline, dopamine, 3-methoxytyramine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovanillic acid, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. The compounds were determined in six brain areas (striatum, cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, brainstem, and cerebellum). Most DOPEG and MOPEG in rat brain was present in the conjugated form, except for the cerebellum, where about 80% of MOPEG was nonconjugated. No postmortem effects on MOPEG levels were observed; a slight increase in DOPEG in certain brain areas was found in microwave-killed rats. The effects of clonidine, yohimbine, N,N-dipropyl-5,6-ADTN, and chlorpromazine on the concentrations of the five noradrenaline (NA) metabolites were determined. Free and total DOPEG and MOPEG provide similar information on NA metabolism, whereas NM (after monoamine oxidase inhibition) reflects a different type of interaction of drugs with NA metabolism. The similarity in the pattern of drug-induced changes in NA metabolism in the various brain areas suggests that adrenoreceptors mediating NA metabolism are homogeneously distributed throughout the brain.     

Effects of thiazolidine-4(R)-carboxylates and other low-molecular-weight sulfur compounds on the activity of mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase, rhodanese and cystathionase in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells and tumor-bearing mouse liver

Summary Changes of the specific activity of 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MPST), rhodanese and cystathionase in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EATC) and tumor-bearing mouse liver after intraperitoneal administration of thiazolidine derivatives, L-cysteine, D,L-methionine, thiocystine or thiosulfate were estimated. Thiazolidine derivatives used were: thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (CF), 2-methyl-thiazolidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid (CP) and 2-methyl-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (CA). In the liver, the activity of MPST was significantly increased by all the studied compounds, whereas the activity of rhodanese was by CF and thiocystine and that of cystathionase was by the administration of cysteine and CP. Un the other hand, cysteine lowered the rhodanese activity and the activity of cystathionase was decreased by the administration of methionine and thiocystine. Activities of MPST and rhodanese were even lower in EATC than those in the liver of tumor-bearing mouse and the activity of cystathionase in EATC was not be detected. The thiazolidine derivatives significantly increased the level of MPST activity in EATC, but decreased the rhodanese activity. Thiosulfate also increased the activity of MPST to a lesser degree, but cysteine, methionine and thiocystine gave little change in the activity. The rhodanese activity in EATC was slightly increased only by thiocystine. These findings suggest that the sulfur metabolism in the tumor-bearing mouse liver is different from that in the normal mouse liver, and that sulfur compounds are minimally metabolized to sulfane sulfur, a labile sulfur, in EATC.     

茚虫威亚致死浓度对茚虫威敏感性降低的棉铃虫生物学参数及解毒酶活性的影响

【目的】本研究旨在明确茚虫威亚致死浓度对茚虫威敏感性降低的棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera生物学参数及解毒酶活性的影响,以科学有效防治这一害虫,避免其对茚虫威的抗性快速发展。【方法】采用浸叶法测定了茚虫威对棉铃虫茚虫威抗性汰选种群(TP)及其同源对照种群(CP)3龄幼虫的毒力;用两性生命表分析LC₂₀浓度茚虫威对TP种群当代(F₀)生命表参数的影响,并测定了LC₂₀浓度茚虫威处理48 h后CP和TP种群棉铃虫3龄幼虫体内解毒酶［多功能氧化酶(MFO)、羧酸酯酶(CarE)和谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶(GST)］及乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)的活性。【结果】茚虫威对棉铃虫CP种群和TP种群3龄幼虫的LC₂₀分别为2.27和9.91 mg/L。LC₂₀茚虫威处理TP种群后,48 h的生长量、化蛹率、羽化率和成虫畸形率均显著低于未用药对照,而特定年龄生命期望值e_xj高于未用药对照;TP种群棉铃虫3龄幼虫体内GST和MFO活性与CP种群相比显著升高,CarE活性显著降低。【结论】本研究结果表明棉铃虫TP种群在LC₂₀浓度茚虫威胁迫下存在明显的生长与繁殖不利性,同时对其也产生了适应能力。LC₂₀浓度茚虫威处理后,棉铃虫TP种群的GST和MFO活性被显著诱导,说明这两种酶可能与棉铃虫对茚虫威产生抗药性密切相关;而CarE活性被显著抑制,说明该酶可能参与了茚虫威转化成N-脱甲氧羰基代谢物(DCJW)的活化过程。