Check out our New Publishers' Select for Free Articles

Archives of Toxicology (v.78, #9)

Mercury accumulation and its distribution to metallothionein in mouse brain after sub-chronic pulse exposure to mercury vapor by A. Yasutake; M. Sawada; A. Shimada; M. Satoh; C. Tohyama (pp. 489-495).

Previously we found that exposure to mercury vapor effectively induced metallothionein (MT) biosynthesis in rat brain. Although the induction of not only MT-I/II but also MT-III was evident, the induction rate of the latter was much lower than that of the former. The brain of an MT-null mouse lacks MT-I/II, but has MT-III. Here we examined the effects of sub-chronic pulse exposure to mercury vapor on the brain MT in MT-null mice and their wild type controls. MT-null and wild type mice were preliminarily exposed to mercury vapor for 2 weeks at 0.1 mg Hg/m³ for 1 h/day for 3 days a week, and then exposed for 11 weeks at 4.1 mg Hg/m³ for 30 min/day for 3 days a week. This exposure caused no toxic signs such as abnormal behavior or loss of body weight gain in the mice of either strain throughout the experimental period. Twenty-four hours after the termination of the exposure, mice were sacrificed and brain samples were subjected to mercury analysis, MT assay, and pathological examination. The MT-null mice showed lower accumulation of mercury in the brain than the wild type mice. Mercury exposure resulted in a 70% increase of brain MT in the wild type mice, which was mostly accounted for by the increase in MT-I/II. On the other hand, the brain MT in the MT-null mice increased by 19%, suggesting less reactivity of the MT-III gene to mercury vapor. Although histochemical examination revealed silver-mercury grains in the cytoplasm of nerve cells and glial cells throughout the brains of both strains, no significant difference was observed between the two strains.

Keywords: Brain; Gel chromatography; Mercury vapor; Metallothionein; Mice

PPARα-dependent modulation of hepatic CYP1A by clofibric acid in rats by Zein Shaban; Samir El-Shazly; Mayumi Ishizuka; Kazuhiro Kimura; Akio Kazusaka; Shoichi Fujita (pp. 496-507).

Fibrates, hypolipidemic drugs, have been reported to suppress the metabolic activities of cytochrome P450 1A1 and 1A2 in rats but the mechanism has not been elucidated. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that the inhibitory effect of fibrates on arylhydrocarbon receptor (AhR) function may be due to their stimulatory effects on PPARα. Sudan III (S.III) treatment induced CYP 1A1 and CYP 1A2 protein expression, mRNA and their metabolic activities, methoxyresorufin-O-demethylase (MROD) and ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), in Wistar rats higher than those in the control. Co-treatment of rats with S.III and clofibric acid (CA) caused a 40–50% decrease in the induced levels of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 protein, mRNA expression and their metabolic activities and reduced AhR protein expression. When we treated HepG2 cells with S.III and/or CA, no suppressive effect on S.III-induced CYP1A1 protein expression due to CA was found. HepG2 cells were transiently transfected with increasing concentrations of PPARα mammalian expression vector and exposed to the same treatment. CA co-treatment with S.III decreased AhR protein and S.III-induced CYP1A1 protein expression with increasing dose of PPARα transfected into HepG2 cells. Our results demonstrate that the suppressive effect of fibrates on CYP1A is PPARα-dependent and suggest that PPARαhas an inhibitory effect on AhR function.

Keywords: AhR; CYP1A; HepG2; PPARα; Rat

Retrospective detection of exposure to nerve agents: analysis of phosphofluoridates originating from fluoride-induced reactivation of phosphylated BuChE by Marcel J. van der Schans; Martine Polhuijs; Corry van Dijk; Carla E. A. M. Degenhardt; Kees Pleijsier; Jan P. Langenberg; Hendrik P. Benschop (pp. 508-524).

The utility was explored of a new approach to detect retrospectively exposure to nerve agents by means of conversion of the inhibitor moiety bound to the active site of the enzyme BuChE in plasma with fluoride ions into a phosphofluoridate which is subsequently analyzed by means of gas chromatography (GC). This quantifies ≥0.01% inhibition of BuChE and identifies the structure of the inhibitor except for the original leaving group. A three-tiered approach was followed involving the five classical nerve agents GA, GB, GF, GD, and VX, as well as the active metabolite of parathion, i.e., paraoxon: in vivo experiments in rhesus monkeys after iv administration of a sign-free dose of agent and concomitant in vitro experiments in plasma of rhesus monkeys and humans should allow an assessment of in vivo retrospectivity in humans. A systematic investigation was performed in order to find a single set of reaction conditions which yields a maximum amount of phosphofluoridate for all nerve agents. Fluoride-induced reactivation at 25°C at a final concentration of 250 mM KF during 15 min in a pH-range between 4 and 6 appears to be effective. The in vitro decrease with time in reactivatibility of inhibited BuChE in plasma from humans and rhesus monkeys was largely due to aging of the phosphyl moiety, except for VX where spontaneous reactivation was a major cause. The decrease followed first-order except for a biphasic course in the case of GF in human and rhesus monkey plasma as well as of GD in rhesus plasma. In vitro half-lifes in human plasma ranged between ca. 14 h for GB and ca. 63 h for GA. A comparison of the in vivo data from rhesus monkeys and the in vitro data is complicated by the observation that the in vivo decrease with time of fluoride-reactivated phosphofluoridate is biphasic for all nerve agents. The terminal in vivo phase pertains to a small fraction of the amount of initially regenerated phosphofluoridate but is responsible for a considerable degree of retrospectivity, ranging between 14 and 56 days for GF and GB, respectively. The new procedure can be used in a variety of practical applications, e.g., (i) biomonitoring in health surveillance at exposure levels that are several orders of magnitude lower than presently possible; (ii) diagnosis in case of alleged exposure to nerve agents in time of war or after terrorist attacks; (iii) in forensic cases against suspected terrorists that have handled organophosphate anticholinesterases; and (iv) in research applications such as investigations on lowest observable effect levels of exposure to nerve agents.

Keywords: Biomarker; Biomonitoring; Butyryl cholinesterase; Fluoride ions; Low-level exposure; Nerve agents; Organophosphates; Reactivation; Retrospective detection

Protective effect of resveratrol against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced impairment of renal p-aminohippurate transport by C. Cojocel; M. S. Thomson (pp. 525-532).

In the present study, the effects of resveratrol on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced p-aminohippurate (PAH) transport impairment were investigated in vitro using rat renal cortical slices. Cisplatin and cephaloridine (CPH), known nephrotoxins, were used as positive controls. In one series of experiments, renal cortical slices were incubated in a cisplatin-containing medium or a cisplatin-free medium. In another series of experiments, renal cortical slices were incubated in a CPH-containing medium, in a CPH- and probenecid-containing medium, or in a CPH-free medium. Subsequently, for each series of experiments kidney slices were incubated in a media containing PAH or tetraethylammonium. In a further series of experiments, renal cortical slices were incubated in a 6-OHDA-containing medium and in a 6-OHDA-free medium. In another series of experiments, renal cortical slices were incubated in a medium containing 50 µM 6-OHDA, in a 6-OHDA- and resveratrol-containing medium or in a 6-OHDA- and resveratrol-free medium. Subsequently, for each series of experiments kidney slices were incubated in media containing PAH. The results of this study in which slices were incubated in 6-OHDA-containing media indicate that 6-OHDA induced a time- and concentration-dependent decrease in PAH accumulation by renal cortical slices. Resveratrol inhibited the 6-OHDA-induced time-dependent decrease of PAH accumulation in a concentration-dependent manner. Therefore, 6-OHDA causes functional injuries of renal proximal tubule cell membrane, thus leading to impairment of transport processes across the cell membrane and to nephrotoxicity. Resveratrol has a nephroprotective effect.

Keywords: 6-Hydroxydopamine; Resveratrol; p-Aminohippurate transport; Nephrotoxicity

Glutathione-conjugated toluene diisocyanate causes airway inflammation in sensitised mice by D. L. Valstar; M. A. Schijf; F. P. Nijkamp; N. Bloksma; P. A. J. Henricks (pp. 533-539).

Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is a highly volatile compound that reacts readily with nucleophilic compounds, sulfhydryl groups in particular. Since the epithelial lining fluid of the airways contains high levels of the sulfhydryl, glutathione (GSH), inhalation of TDI is likely to result in the formation of GS-TDI conjugates. We therefore investigated whether GS-TDI is capable of provoking irritant and/or allergic reactions. Irritant effects of GS-TDI were studied after intratracheal administration of a range of doses of GS-TDI in saline to naive BALB/c mice. GS-TDI caused a dose-dependent increase in neutrophils in the lungs 24 h after instillation. A dose equivalent to 150 μg of TDI or lower had no effect. For provocation of allergic reactions, mice were sensitised by application of 1% TDI onto the skin on days 0 and 1, and challenged intratracheally with a sub-irritant dose of GS-TDI on day 8. GS-TDI did not induce non-specific tracheal hyperreactivity to carbachol 24 and 48 h after challenge in TDI-sensitised mice. However, it increased the numbers of neutrophils in the lungs as compared with the control mice. These findings suggest that GSH conjugation does not diminish the capacity of TDI to elicit irritant-induced inflammation in the lungs of mice at doses above 150 μg of TDI in the conjugate. Moreover, the capacity to induce allergic-specific inflammation was retained at concentrations of GS-TDI being devoid of irritant activity. However, the GS-TDI conjugate failed to induce non-specific tracheal hyperreactivity. This may be the consequence of the deposition of excess of GSH upon local dissociation of the conjugate.

Keywords: Airway reactivity; BALB/c mice; Glutathione; Inflammation; Occupational asthma; Toluene diisocyanate

Induction of preneoplastic rat liver lesions with an attenuated p53 response by low doses of diethylnitrosamine by Ilona Silins; Ulla Stenius; Johan Högberg (pp. 540-548).

Previous reports have documented an attenuated p53 response to DNA-damage in preneoplastic enzyme-altered foci (EAF). Data suggest that this alteration is an adaptation to genotoxic stress induced by carcinogens. Here, we have studied whether the altered p53 response in EAF can be related to acutely apoptotic or cytotoxic doses of the carcinogen diethylnitrosamine (DEN). Eight groups of rats received cumulative doses of 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mmol DEN/kg, administered weekly for either 10 or 20 weeks. A ninth group received 3.0 mmol/kg for 10 weeks, which gave a supralinear EAF response. Twenty-four hours before sacrifice, all rats were given a challenge dose of DEN in order to induce a p53 response in hepatocytes. The numbers of p53-positive hepatocytes in EAF and in surrounding tissue were analyzed. Unexpectedly, all cumulative doses gave rise to p53-negative EAF and 20-week treatment gave larger EAF with fewer p53-positive hepatocytes than 10-week treatment. It was also observed that at the lowest doses, most EAF developed in midzonal areas. Similar results were obtained with aflatoxin B1. Single high doses of DEN induced p53 accumulation and apoptosis within 24 h, whereas lower doses did not. It is concluded that EAF with an attenuated p53 response can be induced by low doses of genotoxic compounds, not giving rise to acute apoptosis or necrosis. Instead, it is suggested that time is an important determinant for its development at low doses and that a delayed type of apoptosis might be important.

Keywords: Carcinogenesis; Diethylnitrosamine; Dose response; Preneoplastic enzyme-altered foci; p53

Sections

Personal tools

Archives of Toxicology (v.78, #9)

Sections

Personal tools

Local resources

Archives of Toxicology (v.78, #9)