Induction of lipid peroxidation in mice by hexavalent chromium and its relation to the toxicity

Comparative effects of hexavalent (K2Cr2O7:Cr(VI)) and trivalent chromium (Cr(NO3)3:Cr(III)) on the development of lipid peroxidation, and the relationship between the lipid peroxidation and damage to tissues were studied using male ddY strain mice. The animals were administered with either of two chemicals at a dose of 20 mg Cr/kg by a single intraperitoneal injection. The results obtained were as follows: (1) Lipid peroxidation in the liver, as measured by the synthesis of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), showed a significant increase at 24 and 48 hr after Cr(VI) injection, while in the kidney it was observed only at 48 hr. In the mice administered with Cr(III), TBARS formation in the liver went down below the control levels, while no change was observed in the kidney. (2) Chromium contents in the liver and kidney showed a maximum level at 6 hr after injection of Cr(VI) and then those declined to the half of the maximum level at 48 hr, respectively. Chromium contents in the liver and kidney of the mice injected with Cr(III) were lower than those injected with Cr(VI) during the experimental period. (3) Increases of TBARS formation in the liver, chromium content in the liver and kidney, and ornithine carbamyl transferase (OCT) activity indicative of the liver cell damage, and urea nitrogen content in the serum, indicative of the kidney damage, observed at 24 hr after injection of Cr(VI) were inhibited by simultaneous injection of 100 mg/kg of L-ascorbic acid, as antichrome agent, respectively. These observations might suggest a possible causative role of lipid peroxidation in Cr(VI) toxicity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Population size estimation of the pond smelt Hypomesus nipponensis in Lake Kasumigaura and Lake Kitaura,Japan

We estimated the population size of the pond smelt Hypomesus nipponensis at the beginning of the fishing season in Lake Kasumigaura and Lake Kitaura, Japan using two DeLury methods and cohort analysis. A growth curve was estimated on the basis of monthly standard length. The relationship between standard length and weight was utilized for calculating the mean weight on the survey day in a particular month. Total monthly catches in Lake Kasumigaura and Lake Kitaura were calculated using partial monthly pond smelt catch obtained from processing plants located near the lakes between July and December. The total monthly catch was calculated from the total monthly catch weight and the monthly mean weight. The number of boats operating each month, compiled by the Kasumigaura-Kitaura Fisheries Office of Ibaraki Prefecture, was also employed. The estimated initial population sizes were compared with the population level index (PLI) estimated from survey data before the start of the fishing season. No significant differences were detected among the initial population sizes estimated by DeLury method, cohort analysis and PLI. The estimates ranged from 7.4 million to 410 million in Lake Kasumigaura, and from 7.7 million to 44 million in Lake Kitaura.     

Growth performance and physiological responses in striped knifejaw, Oplegnathus fasciatus, held under different photoperiods

The growth performance and stress response in striped knifejaw, Oplegnathus fasciatus (body weight 100–300 g) reared under four photoperiods (6L:6D, 12L:12D, 16L:8D and 24L:0D) were investigated. Fish were fed a commercial diet to apparent satiation, two times a day for 8 weeks. A trial of acute handling and confinement stress was also carried out to investigate the stress-induced levels of different stress indicators in O. fasciatus. Blood was also collected from undisturbed fish which was considered as control. Although there were no significant differences in weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) in fish exposed to 6L:6D, 16L:8D and 24L:0D photoperiods, all parameters in these photoperiods were significantly higher than those of 12L:12D photoperiod (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in protein retention efficiency (PRE) between fish exposed to 16L:8D and 24L:0D photoperiods, but PRE in both photoperiods was significantly higher than that of 12L:12D photoperiod.Acute stress significantly increased the plasma levels of cortisol (110.3 ng ml^− 1) and glucose (195.4 mg dl^− 1), and decreased plasma levels of total protein (0.8 g dl^− 1); however, all parameters were returned back to the levels indistinguishable from those of control, undisturbed fish within 24 h. The levels of cortisol, glucose and total protein in fish exposed to different photoperiods during the study were far from the stress-induced levels (P < 0.05). The results demonstrated that the growth performance of O. fasciatus reared from 100 to 300 g can be stimulated significantly by using the manipulated photoperiods where feeding time may be playing an important role to increase food intake and feed conversion efficiency. It also revealed that the artificial photoperiods did not cause significant stress response in fish.     

Receptor-binding affinity and larvicidal activity of tetrahydroquinoline-type ecdysone agonists against Aedes albopictus

Tetrahydroquinolines (THQs), a class of nonsteroidal ecdysone agonists, are good candidates for novel mosquito control agents because they specifically bind to mosquito ecdysone receptors (EcRs). We have recently performed quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) analyses of THQs to elucidate the physicochemical properties important for the ligand–receptor interaction. Based on previous QSAR results, here, we newly synthesized 15 THQ analogs with a heteroaryl group at the acyl moiety and evaluated their binding affinity against Aedes albopictus EcRs. We also measured the larvicidal activity of the combined set of previously and newly synthesized compounds against A. albopictus to examine the contribution of receptor-binding to larvicidal activity. Multiple regression analyses showed that the binding affinity and the molecular hydrophobicity of THQs are the key determinants of their larvicidal activity.     

Pneumocystis Pneumonia in a Thoroughbred Racehorse

Pneumocystis pneumonia is an opportunistic respiratory infection that occurs in immunocompromised animals. In horses, pneumocystic pneumonia is observed mostly in foals and often progresses rapidly. Here, we report pneumocystic pneumonia in a Thoroughbred racehorse. A 3-year-old Thoroughbred racehorse colt had marked respiratory symptoms for 3 weeks and was unresponsive to antibiotic treatment. At necropsy, firm, tan, patchy lesions were scattered diffusely in the lungs. Microscopically, alveolar septa thickened by proliferation of collagen fibers and infiltration of inflammatory cells were observed. In the alveolar spaces, many brown-black yeast-like organisms similar to cystic forms of Pneumocystis carinii were recognized by staining with Gomori's methenamine silver. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) obtained before necropsy included macrophages engulfing the fungus bodies. Amplified products were obtained from BALF and lung tissue samples by Pneumocystis-specific nested PCR. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 18S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the P. carinii organism from BALF was related to the Pneumocystis spp. detected in other animals and was especially close to P. carinii derived from ferrets. This is a rare case of pneumocystic pneumonia in a colt with chronic pulmonary lesions.     

Food components inhibiting recombinant human histidine decarboxylase activity

Histidine decarboxylase (HDC) catalyzes histamine formation from histidine. Histamine is a bioactive amine acting as a neurotransmitter as well as a chemical mediator. Phenolic food components have been tested for their ability to inhibit recombinant human HDC. Epicatechin gallate (ECG) was found to be a potent inhibitor as it inhibited HDC activity in a competitive manner with Ki = 10 muM against l-histidine. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) showed time-dependent inhibition which disappeared under anaerobic conditions. It is probable that time-dependent inhibition could be due to the result of autoxidation of EGCG. The initial burst observed for EGCG suggests that EGCG itself is involved in HDC inhibition as observed for ECG. Our present results have shown that the tested food components can inhibit HDC activity. This inhibition likely affects histamine biosynthesis and possibly leads to controlling the biological action induced by histamine. Therefore, those food components exhibiting HDC inhibitory activity might be potentially useful in controlling histamine-induced biological actions.     

Prevalence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Toxoplasma gondii</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neospora caninum</Emphasis> infections in sheep from Federal District,central region of Brazil

Serum samples from 1028 sheep were collected from 32 herds within Federal District, in the central region of Brazil. The samples were examined by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) using sera diluted 1:64 and 1:50 as cut-off values for the detection of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum, respectively. The observed prevalence for T. gondii infection was 38.22% (26.81%<CI 0.95<49.62%), and the titers ranged from 64 to 65536. The observed prevalence for N. caninum infection was 8.81% (7.08%<CI 0.95<10.53%). The titers ranged from 50 to 51200. The reactant sera to both pathogens corresponded to 4.67% of the samples. The risk factors were not determined because of the absence of negative herds for T. gondii and the high proportion of positive herds for N. caninum (87.50%). The prevalence for T. gondii infection was significantly higher among males than in females. The present work is the first report on seroprevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum in sheep from Federal District and shows that infection by both parasites is widespread in the ovine population from this region.     

Varietal variation and physiological basis for inhibition of wheat seed germination after excessive water treatment

Soaking the seeds of most upland plants in water before sowing results in poor germination. Varietal differences in flooding tolerance of seeds have been reported in maize, soybean, barley and so on. This study was conducted to evaluate the varietal difference in wheat (2n = 42) seeds to soaking injury and to examine the importance of ethanol accumulation and seed coat as determinants of flooding tolerance. Of 342 varieties tested, many from Asia appeared more tolerant of flooding than the varieties from the Middle East. Soak-induced inhibition of germination and amounts of ethanol excreted were increased with soaking duration. Seeds of 26 wheat varieties were soaked 8 days at 20 °. Subsequent germination was correlated with amounts of ethanol excreted. Seeds with a red-colored coat exhibited higher tolerance to flooding than white ones, however, a varietal difference existed even in the case where the seed coat was peeled. These data suggest that soak-induced inhibition of wheat seed germination relates to accumulation of ethanol rather than seed coat color. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.