Effect of chronic cadmium treatment on rat adrenal catecholamines.

Daily intraperitoneal injection of cadmium chloride (1 mg/kg) for 45 days significantly increased adrenal weights and augmented the levels of adrenal norepinephrine and epinephrine as well as the activity of adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase. Discontinuation of the heavy metal treatment for 28 days, in rats previously injected with cadmium for 45 days, restored the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase as well as the amount of norepinephrine and epinephrine. In contrast, adrenal weights were restored only partially following the withdrawal of cadmium treatment. Evidence indicates that the changes in adrenal catecholamine metabolism may be the result of stress induced by chronic exposure to this heavy metal. In addition, some of the untoward effects such as hyperglycemia and arterial hypertension seen during cadmium toxicity might be related to increased synthesis of epinephrine in adrenal glands.     

铜尾矿污染区土壤酶活性研究

对浙江省哩浦铜尾矿污染区土壤酶活性进行了研究,结果表明,尾矿区及其周边土壤环境受到不同程度的Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd污染,从尾矿库中心到外围重金属污染程度逐渐减轻,而土壤酶活性则不断提高,其中以脱氢酶和脲酶活性增加最明显,回归分析表明,单一脱氢酶、脲酶、酸性磷酸酶以及蛋白酶活性与重金属复合元素含量之间存在显著线性关系,主成分分析结果显示,尾矿区土壤酶信息系统的第一、二主成分方差贡献率之和达98．24％,以第一、二主成分建立了两个土壤总体酶活性指标,并用此指标对各供试样本进行空间分类,其结果与以重金属含量为依据的划分结果基本吻合,可见,采用酶活性构筑的土壤信息系统的总体酶活性来表征矿区土壤的重金属污染状况是可行的。     

锌、镉及其复合胁迫下白花泡桐幼苗的生理及富集特征

采用水培培养的试验方法,研究白花泡桐幼苗在锌 (Zn)、镉 (Cd) 单一及复合胁迫下的生理生化响应及对重金属的富集、转移特征变化。结果表明,单一及复合重金属胁迫下,白花泡桐的生物量、株高及过氧化物酶 (Peroxidase,POD) 活性均随处理浓度的增加而降低。在复合污染下,Zn、Cd在植株的株高及生物量上表现出拮抗作用。与对照比,单一胁迫下,随着Zn浓度的增加,白花泡桐叶绿素含量和过氧化氢酶 (Catalase,CAT) 活性先增加后减小,超氧化物歧化酶 (Superoxide dismutase,SOD) 活性升高,地上部丙二醛 (Malondialdehyde,MDA) 含量先减小后增加;随着Cd浓度的增加,叶绿素含量和过氧化氢酶 (CAT) 活性升高,超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD) 活性及地上部丙二醛 (MDA) 含量先增加后减小,复合胁迫下,则表现出更加复杂的生理响应。白花泡桐幼苗对Cd的富集部位集中在根部;对Zn的富集部位集中在地上部,且转移系数大于1.00;Zn的加入会促进重金属向地上部分的转移;白花泡桐具有对复合重金属污染地进行有效的生态恢复的潜力。     

Effects of Cd or/and Pb on soil enzyme activities and microbial community structure

Heavy metals could have long-term hazardous impacts on the health of soil ecosystems and adverse influences on soil biological processes. A study of Cd or/and Pb effects on soil enzyme activities and microbial community structure was undertaken with brown soil in a greenhouse for a period of 10 weeks. The experiment results showed that urease, acid phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in Cd or/and Pb treatments than in control. Three enzyme activities decreased with the increasing metal concentrations. The effects of Cd and Pb combined on enzyme activities were higher than Cd or Pb alone. The soil microbial populations were far lower in heavy metal treatments than in control, and soil microbial populations under different heavy metals levels showed a significant difference (p < 0.05). The PCR-DGGE banding patterns confirmed that the addition of metals had a significant impact on microbial community structure.     

Characterization of Plant-Growth-Promoting Effects and Concurrent Promotion of Heavy Metal Accumulation in the Tissues of the Plants Grown in The Polluted Soil by Burkholderia Strain LD-11

Plant-growth-promoting (PGP) bacteria especially with the resistance to multiple heavy metals are helpful to phytoremediation. Further development of PGP bacteria is very necessary because of the extreme diversity of plants, soils, and heavy metal pollution. A Burkholderia sp. strain, numbered LD-11, was isolated, which showed resistances to multiple heavy metals and antibiotics. It can produce indole-3-acetic acid, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase and siderophores. Inoculation with the LD-11 improved germination of seeds of the investigated vegetable plants in the presence of Cu, promoted elongation of roots and hypocotyledonary axes, enhanced the dry weights of the plants grown in the soils polluted with Cu and/or Pb, and increased activity of the soil urease and the rhizobacteria diversity. Inoculation with the LD-11 significantly enhanced Cu and/or Pb accumulation especially in the roots of the plants grown in the polluted soils. Notably, LD-11 could produce siderophores in the presence of Cu. Conclusively, the PGP effects and concurrent heavy metal accumulation in the plant tissues results from combined effects of the above-mentioned multiple factors. Cu is an important element that represses production of the siderophore by the bacteria. Phytoremediation by synergistic use of the investigated plants and the bacterial strain LD-11 is a phytoextraction process.     

Early embryogenesis study on a dimethoate containing formulation and Cd-sulphate in chicken embryos

The toxic effects of a widely used organophosphate insecticide (BI 58 EC containing 38% dimethoate as active ingredient) applied alone or in combination with cadmium sulphate modelling the heavy metal load of the environment were studied on chicken embryos in the early phase of development. Solutions and emulsions of different concentrations were made from the test materials and injected in 0.1 ml volume into the air space of eggs on the first day (day 0) of incubation. Subsequently, on days 2 and 3 of incubation permanent preparations were made from the embryos in order to study the early developmental stage. Embryos fixed on slides and stained with osmium tetroxide solution were studied under light microscope. Summarising the findings, it can be established that the embryotoxicity increased after the simultaneous administration of Cd-sulphate and 38% dimethoate containing insecticide formulation compared to the control or the individually treated groups.     

Effects of cadmium and mercury on Na(+)-K+, ATPase and uptake of 3H-dopamine in rat brain synaptosomes.

Effects in vivo of cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (CH3Hg) on Na(+)-K+ ATPase and uptake of 3H-dopamine (DA) in rat brain synaptosomes were studied. These heavy metals significantly inhibited the Na(+)-K+ ATPase activity in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, inhibition of DA uptake by synaptosomes was also observed in rats treated with these metals. Intraperitoneal route of metal administration was found to be more effective than per os treatment. Mercuric compounds compared to Cd elicited a higher inhibition of Na(+)-K+ ATPase and DA uptake in rat brain synaptosomes.     

节节草生长对铜尾矿砂重金属形态转化和土壤酶活性的影响

通过盆栽模拟栽培试验,研究了节节草生长对铜尾矿砂重金属形态转化和土壤酶活性的影响。结果表明,节节草生长显著提高了尾矿砂中有机物结合态重金属比例(P0.01),降低了交换态和残渣态重金属比例(P0.05)。土壤过氧化氢酶、脲酶、多酚氧化酶和蔗糖酶活性均随着节节草的生长而不同程度的升高,其中过氧化氢酶和脲酶活性均与植物生长时间呈显著正相关(r过氧化氢酶=0.911,P0.05;r脲酶=0.957,P0.01),多酚氧化酶和蔗糖酶活性在植物生长旺盛期达到峰值,分别是对照组的2.40和2.02倍,随后迅速下降;而磷酸酶活性却显著下降(r磷酸酶=-0.923,P0.05)。土壤酶活性与节节草地下部分干重的相关性大于地上部分;且与土壤有机物结合态重金属的含量呈显著正相关,与交换态和残渣态重金属含量呈显著负相关。节节草生长不仅促进了铜尾矿砂重金属朝螯合态方面转化,有效降低重金属的生物有效性,同时还显著地改善了铜尾矿砂的基质环境和土壤肥力。因此,节节草在铜尾矿废弃地恢复实践中具有较大的应用潜力。     

Effect of Voluntary Ethanol Consumption Combined with Testosterone Treatment on Cardiovascular Function in Rats: Influence of Exercise Training

This study evaluated the effects of voluntary ethanol consumption combined with testosterone treatment on cardiovascular function in rats. Moreover, we investigated the influence of exercise training on these effects. To this end, male rats were submitted to low-intensity training on a treadmill or kept sedentary while concurrently being treated with ethanol for 6 weeks. For voluntary ethanol intake, rats were given access to two bottles, one containing ethanol and other containing water, three 24-hour sessions per week. In the last two weeks (weeks 5 and 6), animals underwent testosterone treatment concurrently with exercise training and exposure to ethanol. Ethanol consumption was not affected by either testosterone treatment or exercise training. Also, drug treatments did not influence the treadmill performance improvement evoked by training. However, testosterone alone, but not in combination with ethanol, reduced resting heart rate. Moreover, combined treatment with testosterone and ethanol reduced the pressor response to the selective α₁-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine. Treatment with either testosterone or ethanol alone also affected baroreflex activity and enhanced depressor response to acetylcholine, but these effects were inhibited when drugs were coadministrated. Exercise training restored most cardiovascular effects evoked by drug treatments. Furthermore, both drugs administrated alone increased pressor response to phenylephrine in trained animals. Also, drug treatments inhibited the beneficial effects of training on baroreflex function. In conclusion, the present results suggest a potential interaction between toxic effects of testosterone and ethanol on cardiovascular function. Data also indicate that exercise training is an important factor influencing the effects of these substances.     

Metal Toxicity Affects Fungal and Bacterial Activities in Soil Differently

Although the toxic effect of heavy metals on soil microorganism activity is well known, little is known about the effects on different organism groups. The influence of heavy metal addition on total, bacterial, and fungal activities was therefore studied for up to 60 days in a laboratory experiment using forest soil contaminated with different concentrations of Zn or Cu. The effects of the metals differed between the different activity measurements. During the first week after metal addition, the total activity (respiration rate) decreased by 30% at the highest level of contamination and then remained stable during the 60 days of incubation. The bacterial activity (thymidine incorporation rate) decreased during the first days with the level of metal contamination, resulting in a 90% decrease at the highest level of contamination. Bacterial activity then slowly recovered to values similar to those of the control soil. The recovery was faster when soil pH, which had decreased due to metal addition, was restored to control values by liming. Fungal activity (acetate-in-ergosterol incorporation rate) initially increased with the level of metal contamination, being up to 3 and 7 times higher than that in the control samples during the first week at the highest levels of Zn and Cu addition, respectively. The positive effect of metal addition on fungal activity then decreased, but fungal activity was still higher in contaminated than in control soil after 35 days. This is the first direct evidence that fungal and bacterial activities in soil are differently affected by heavy metals. The different responses of bacteria and fungi to heavy metals were reflected in an increase in the relative fungal/bacterial ratio (estimated using phospholipid fatty acid analysis) with increased metal load.     

Effect of low level exposure of lead and cadmium on hepatic estradiol metabolism in female rats

Toxic effect of metal cations on female reproduction and gonadal functions was studied. Adult synchronized female rats were treated intraperitoneally with lead acetate and cadmium acetate separately and in combination (0.025, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg body wt) for 15 days. The metabolizing enzymes (17beta-hydroxy steroid oxidoreductase and UDP glucoronyl transferase) activities decreased with increasing dose showing significant change compared to control. Also, significant decrease in cytochrome P450 (CYP450) content was found after the treatment. Displacement of zinc bound to metallothionein was more in cadmium treated rats compared to other groups. In all these parameters, treatment in combination of lead and cadmium showed intermediate results indicating some kind of competition between the two metals. But the histological studies showed that combined treatment caused more cytotoxic effect than cadmium and lead alone. These results indicated that metal cations tested did have a direct inhibitory effect on metabolizing enzyme activities.     

重金属复合污染对眼优角蚱代谢组的影响

【目的】对金属矿区和非金属矿区环境中生活的眼优角蚱Eucriotettix oculatus体内重金属含量及其代谢组进行分析,探究重金属复合污染对眼优角蚱体内重金属累积和代谢组的影响。【方法】使用ICP-MS法对眼优角蚱成虫体内重金属含量进行测定,同时采用基于 UPLC-MS/MS检测平台、自建数据库以及多元统计分析相结合的手段,对金属矿区和非金属矿区眼优角蚱成虫肠道中的代谢物进行差异分析,并利用 KEGG 数据库对差异代谢物进行注释以及通路富集分析。【结果】金属矿区眼优角蚱成虫体内9种重金属含量是非金属矿区的0.4~212.4倍。多元统计分析结果表明,金属矿区眼优角蚱成虫肠道中共有112种代谢物的含量发生了显著变化,主要为氨基酸类、脂肪酰类、有机酸类、核苷酸类、苯类等物质。KEGG注释及通路富集分析显示,可被注释到的显著差异代谢物共有49种,与代谢通路相关的显著差异代谢物有40种,富集最显著的通路是甲状腺激素合成通路、催产素信号通路、胆汁分泌通路、酪氨酸代谢通路。【结论】重金属复合污染环境中生存的眼优角蚱成虫体内有多类重金属累积,重金属可改变眼优角蚱肠道中的代谢物的组成,其中一些代谢物的改变可能是眼优角蚱适应重金属复合污染生境的策略。     

Heavy metal ions are potent inhibitors of protein folding

Environmental and occupational exposure to heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury and lead results in severe health hazards including prenatal and developmental defects. The deleterious effects of heavy metal ions have hitherto been attributed to their interactions with specific, particularly susceptible native proteins. Here, we report an as yet undescribed mode of heavy metal toxicity. Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺ proved to inhibit very efficiently the spontaneous refolding of chemically denatured proteins by forming high-affinity multidentate complexes with thiol and other functional groups (IC₅₀ in the nanomolar range). With similar efficacy, the heavy metal ions inhibited the chaperone-assisted refolding of chemically denatured and heat-denatured proteins. Thus, the toxic effects of heavy metal ions may result as well from their interaction with the more readily accessible functional groups of proteins in nascent and other non-native form. The toxic scope of heavy metals seems to be substantially larger than assumed so far.     

Effects of silicon on morphology,ultrastructure and exudates of rice root under heavy metal stress

Soil contamination with toxic heavy metals (such as Cd or Zn) is becoming a serious problem worldwide because of the rapid development of social economy. Silicon plays a substantial role in alleviating heavy metal toxicity in crop plants. In this study, two rice varieties, Feng-Hua-Zhan and Hua-Hang-Si-Miao, were chosen to determine the effects of Si application on root morphological traits, cell structure and exudates of rice roots under Cd and/or Zn stress. Single or combined applications of Cd and Zn resulted in significant reduction of total root length, root surface area, root volume, average root diameter and root activity. However, 1.5 mM Si addition reversed these negative effects. Transmission electron microscopy observations showed that rice root cortex cells were heavily damaged under Cd and/or Zn stress for both two varieties, whereas Si addition resulted in improved cell structure integrity. In addition, lower levels of oxalic, acetic, tartaric, maleic and fumaric acids in root exudates were observed for Feng-Hua-Zhan under Cd and/or Zn stress, but addition of Si increased the acid levels. For Hua-Hang-Si-Miao, heavy metal treatments significantly reduced oxalic and fumaric acid levels and increased acetic, tartaric and maleic acid levels, whereas Si treatment showed opposite results. The above results indicated that Si could ameliorate the toxicity of heavy metals (Cd and Zn) for rice which resulted in improving root traits, cell structure and influencing root exudates.     

Effects of CdCl2 on the secretory functions of sex accessory glands of rats

The effects of cadmium chloride (Cd) alone (1 mg given as a single injection) or in combination with ascorbic acid (AA; 100 mg/day for 10 days) on the secretory functions of sex accessory glands of rats were studied in healthy male albino rats. Animals were sacrificed after 10 days treatment and the seminal vesicles (SVs), dorsolateral prostate (DLP), ventral prostate (VP), bulbourethral glands (BU), and coagulating glands (CO) were excised and weighed. Weight of all accessory glands were decreased by 10 days treatment with Cd. Cd + AA gave similar results. AA concentration increased in all glands and was significantly increases in CO (p less than .01). Levels of ascorbogin increased in all glands except CO and BU and in the latter a significant (p less than .001) increase was found. The rate of AA utilization increased significantly (p less that .001) in the accessories. A significant (p less than .001) reduction in the activity of succinate dehydrogenase was observed in Cd-treated rats with a further reduction with combined treatment. Alkaline phosphatase decreased (p less than .001) after Cd treatment but AA in combination restored it to control levels. Cd increased acid phosphatase (p less than .001) and was further activated by Cd + AA. Phosphorylase activity was elevated with Cd (p less than .001) but recovery occurred in SV and BU with Cd + AA. Glycogen increased (p less than .001; .01) with both treatments as did citric acid. Protein results were inconsistent with Cd but activation was found in most glands under combined treatment. The results reveal that most androgen-dependent biochemical constituents and organ weights were affected significantly by a single injection of Cd. AA had a protective and beneficial influence on the restoration of structural integrity and metabolism in sex accessory glands.     

Stimulus frequency dependence of the central and peripheral somatosensory evoked activity in rats treated with various pesticides

Rats were treated with a combination of insecticide agents in different timing schemes. In acute administration, 1/5 LD50 of the three insecticides: dimethoate, propoxur and cypermethrin, or their combination, was given once by gavage. In the developmental model, female rats received oral doses of 1/25 LD50 of the above insecticides in combination in three timing schemes including pregnancy and lactation. Responses in the somatosensory cortex and in the tail nerve, evoked by peripheral electric stimulation, were recorded in acute preparation under urethane anesthesia. It was tested whether the parameters of the cortical and peripheral evoked response are dependent on the frequency and whether this dependence is different in control and treated animals. The latency increase of the cortical responses with increasing stimulation frequency was significantly stronger in rats treated acutely with cypermethrin and the combination, and in rats receiving the combination during both intra- and extrauterine development. On the duration, the effects were less clear. Frequency dependent increase of the tail nerve action potential latency was significantly intensified by cypermethrin, and the amplitude decrease, by cypermethrin and dimethoate. Fatigue of this response during a stimulation series was also altered by the insecticides. Frequency dependence and fatigue possibly reflect the actual state of the nervous system and may have the potency to be developed to functional biomarkers.     

Evaluation of the DNA damaging effects of amitraz on human lymphocytes in the Comet assay

Amitraz is formamidine pesticide widely used as insecticide and acaricide. In veterinary medicine, amitraz has important uses against ticks, mites and lice on animals. Also, amitraz is used in apiculture to control Varroa destructor. It this study, the alkaline Comet assay was used to evaluate DNA damaging effects of amitraz in human lymphocytes. Isolated human lymphocytes were incubated with varying concentrations of amitraz (0.035, 0.35, 3.5, 35 and 350 μg/mL). The Comet assay demonstrated that all concentrations of amitraz caused statistically significant increase in the level of DNA damage, thus indicating that amitraz possesses genotoxic potential. The concentration of amitraz that produced the highest DNA damage (3.5 μg/mL) was chosen for further analysis with the antioxidant catalase. The obtained results showed that co-treatment with antioxidant catalase (100 IU/mL or 500 IU/mL) significantly reduced the level of DNA damage, indicating the possible involvement of reactive oxygen species in DNA damaging effects of amitraz. Flow cytometric analysis revealed increase of the apoptotic index following treatment with amitraz. However, co-treatment with catalase reduced the apoptotic index, while treatment with catalase alone reduced the percentage of apoptotoc cells even in comparison with the negative control. Therefore, catalase had protective effects against ROS-mediated DNA damage and apoptosis.     

Study of the toxic effects of an insecticide and copper sulphate on chicken embryos

The toxic effects of the BI 58 EC insecticide (38% dimethoate) applied alone or in combination with copper sulphate were studied on chicken embryo in the early phase of development. The test materials were injected in 0.1-0.1 ml volume into the air chamber of eggs on the first day of incubation. Subsequently, on days 2 and 3 of incubation permanent preparations were made from the embryo in order to study the early developmental stage. Embryos fixed on slides and stained with osmium tetroxide solution were studied under light microscope. According to the result of the statistical evaluation, to sum up, we can say that the simultaneous administration of the test materials did not result in a significant increase in the embryo mortality, but after the combined administration the rate of embryonic mortality markedly increased. As a result of combined administrations the developmental anomalies included the apperance of a blood ring, poor development or absence of somites, the retarted development of the vascular system, the head and the body, irregular differentiation of the brain vesicles. Summarising the findings, it can be established that the insecticide treatment combined with heavy metal resulted in enhanced embryotoxicity in the case of both combinations, which was primarily manifested in an increased embryonic mortality rate.