CADMIUM AND MANGANESE ACCUMULATION IN PHYTOLACCA AMERICANA L. AND THE ROLES OF NON-PROTEIN THIOLS AND ORGANIC ACIDS

Phytolacca americana L. can accumulate large amounts of heavy metals in its aerial tissues, especially cadmium (Cd) and manganese (Mn). It has great potential for use in phytoextraction of metals from multi-metal-contaminated soils. This study was conducted to further investigate the Cd- and Mn-tolerance strategies of this plant. Concentrations of non-protein thiols (NPTs) and phytochelatins (PCs) in leaves and roots increased significantly as the concentration of Cd in solution increased. The molar ratios of PCs:soluble Cd ranged from 1.8 to 3.6 in roots and 8.1 to 31.6 in leaves, suggesting that the cellular response involving PC synthesis was sufficient to complex Cd ions in the cytosol, especially that of leaves. In contrast, excess Mn treatments did not result in a significant increase in NPT or PC concentrations in leaves or roots. Oxalic acid concentrations in leaves of plants exposed to 2 or 20 mM Mn reached 69.4 to 89.3 mg (0.771 to 0.992 mmol) g^–1 dry weight, respectively, which was approximately 3.7- to 8.6-fold higher than the Mn level in the 0.6 M HCl extract. Thus, oxalic acid may play an important role in the detoxification of Mn.     

Spectrofluorimetric determination of certain biologically active phenothiazines in commercial dosage forms and human plasma

A validated simple and sensitive spectrofluorimetric method was developed for the determination of chlorpromazine hydrochloride, promethazine hydrochloride, trifluperazine hydrochloride, thioridazine hydrochloride, perazine maleate and oxomemazine. The method was based on condensation of malonic acid/acetic anhydride (MAA) under the catalytic effect of the tertiary amine moiety of the studied phenothiazines to provide a deep yellow to brown colour with green florescence. Relative fluorescence intensity of the products was measured at λ_exc 398 nm and λ_em 432 nm. Different variables affecting the reaction were studied and optimized. The method was successfully applied for the determination of the studied drugs in commercial dosage forms. The lower detection limits allowed the application of this method for the determination of the compounds in plasma as an example of a biological fluid. In addition, the method was considered specific for the determination of tertiary amines in the presence of primary and secondary amines; as a result, it was deemed suitable for the determination of the cited drugs in the presence of their degradation products resulting from N‐dealkylation or oxidation of the corresponding sulphoxides or sulphones. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gastro-intestinal transport of calcium and cadmium in fresh water and seawater acclimated trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Transport of calcium (Ca) and cadmium (Cd) was examined along the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) of freshwater and seawater Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus (FWT and SWTies respectively) using in vitro and in vivo experiments. Based on known physiological differences between FWT and SWT which aid in regulating ion levels and osmolarity, we hypothesized that SWT would have lower rates of Ca uptake. Also, we predicted that Cd rates would also be lower because Cd is known to share a common transport mechanism with Ca. Kinetics of Ca and Cd transport were determined using mucosal salines of varying concentrations [1, 10, 30, 60, and 100 (mmol L^− 1 for Ca, μmol L^− 1 for Cd)]. Linear and saturating relationships were found for Ca for FWT and SWT, but overall SWT had lower rates. Linear and/or saturating relationships were also found for Cd uptake, but rates varied little between fish types. Elevated Ca had no inhibitory effect on Cd transport, and Ca channel blockers nifedipine and verapamil had little effect on Ca or Cd uptake. However, lanthanum reduced Ca transport into some compartments. A 21 day in vivo feeding experiment was also performed where FWT and SWT were exposed to control diets or Cd-spiked diets (552 μg Cd g^− 1 food). Whole body Cd uptake between fish types was similar, but the majority of Cd in SWT remained in the posterior intestine tissue, while FWT transported more Cd through their gut wall. Overall it appears that large differences in Ca and Cd uptake between FWT and SWT exist, with SWT generally having lower rates.     

Histopathology and cytotoxicity as biomarkers in treated rats with cadmium and some therapeutic agents

The present study aimed to investigate the protective role of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and zinc (Zn) against cadmium (Cd) induced histopathological changes in tissues of liver, kidney, lung and testis of rats as well as chromosomal aberrations. For this purpose, 60 male albino rats were divided into six groups; each group contained 10 animals. The first group served as control and was given only distilled water. The second and third groups received distilled water supplemented with 2 g ascorbic acid/l and 500 mg Zn/l, respectively. The fourth group received a daily oral dose containing 3 mg Cd/kg b.w. (1/30 LD₅₀). The fifth group received Cd + ascorbic acid (3 mg Cd/kg b.w. + 2 g ascorbic acid/l), while the sixth group received Cd + Zn (3 mg Cd/kg b.w. +500 mg Zn/l). The treatment in all groups lasted for 90 consecutive days. Rats exposed to cadmium showed severe histopathological changes in the liver, kidney, lung and testicular tissues as well as chromosomal aberrations such as: break, ring, centromeric separation and polyploidy. Co-treatment with zinc partially improved the histopathological changes and chromosomal aberrations while co-treatment with vitamin C exhibited a more protective role and markedly reduced tissues damage induced by Cd.     

Association between urinary indicators of renal dysfunction and metal concentrations in workers chronically co-exposed to cadmium,zinc and lead

The study was carried out in 31 workers co-exposed to cadmium, lead and zinc fumes and dusts in a zinc ore refinery. Urinary cadmium, lead, zinc, β₂-M levels and NAG activities were determined to evaluate the possible dose-effect relationship between these parameters. A correlation was found between urinary cadmium, lead and zinc concentrations, and urinary β₂-M levels and NAG activities of the exposed group. A statistically significant increase was also observed for urinary NAG activity in exposed workers who had urinary cadmium concentrations > 2 μg g^?1 creatinine. However, in the same exposed group, the increment of β₂-M was not statistically significant. In conclusion, the present study thus confirms the earlier observations and may suggest the notion that the urinary NAG seems to be a more sensitive indicator than urinary β₂-M level in early stages of renal injury of moderately cadmium co-exposure with lead and zinc even at urinary cadmium concentration as low as 2 μg g^?1 creatinine. When the earlier studies on the irreversibility of cadmium-induced tubular dysfunction and the present results were taken into consideration, the present health-based biological limit proposed by the WHO (5 μg g^?1 creatinine) seems to be high for the occupational exposure to cadmium.     

西藏及其东南地区被子植物与其不同生活型的果实类型分析

统计了分布在西藏自治区的被子植物及各生活型果实的类型及比例,并与藏东南地区做了比较。结果如下,西藏自治区果实以蒴果为主(占37.74%),其次为瘦果、坚果、浆果等;干果的比例远远大于肉果;不同生活型的果实类型谱差异较大,乔木中核果的比例最高,藤本中浆果比例最高,灌木中瘦果比例最高,草本中蒴果占优势;4个生活型中,肉果的比例乔木为最高,其次为藤本、灌木、草本。藏东南地区植物的果实类型也以蒴果为主,其次为瘦果、浆果、核果等;藏东南乔木中核果比例最高,藤本中浆果比例最高,灌木和草本植物以蒴果占优势;乔木肉果的比例最高,其次为藤本、灌木、草本。藏东南肉果比例大于全藏区,而干果比例则相反。果实类型的这些性状特征与各自的环境相适应,是植物长期适应自然环境的进化结果,该研究对于理解植物果实对生态环境的长期适应进化具有一定的意义。     

Cadmium decontamination and reversal potential of teratological forms of the diatom Planothidium frequentissimum (Bacillariophyceae) after experimental contamination

While the induction of teratology by cadmium (Cd) on diatoms is already known, reversal kinetics are not well documented. This study aims to understand the viability of diatoms exhibiting teratological frustules and their reproduction capacities within a Cd‐impacted population to predict their return to normal diatom forms. We worked on a frequently encountered species in French hydrosystems: Planothidium frequentissimum (Lange‐Bertalot) Round & L. Bukhtiyarova. First, a 21‐d contamination phase highlighted increasing inductionof different teratological types in response to two levels of Cd contamination: 20 and 100 μg · L^?1. The deformity counting indicated that Cd firstly generated striae and mixed teratologies, then affected the central area and the valves. Second, a 28‐d decontamination phase demonstrated the Cd depuration capacity of Planothidium frequentissimum. Cd half‐lives appeared relatively low, ~6 d for the 100 μg · L^?1 condition. Moreover, the decontamination phase showed a decrease in teratology abundances, but a still incomplete recovery after 28 d. Deformations of the striae appeared to be the most sustainable phenotype since they were still significantly higher than in reference cultures at the end of the decontamination phase for both Cd cultures.