Time-course comparison of pulmonary inflammation induced by intratracheal instillation of four different nickel oxide nanoparticles in male Fischer rats

Occupational exposure to nickel oxide (NiO) is an important cause of respiratory tract cancer. Toxicity is known to be associated with the dissociated component, i.e. nickel (II) ions. To address the relationship between physicochemical properties, including solubility in artificial lysosomal fluid, of NiO and time-course changes in the pulmonary response, we conducted an intratracheal instillation study in male Fischer rats using four different well-characterized NiO products, US3352 (NiO A), NovaWireNi01 (NiO B), I small particle (NiO C), and 637130 (NiO D). The NiOs were suspended in purified water and instilled once intratracheally into male F344 rats (12 weeks old) at 0 (vehicle control), 0.67, 2, and 6 mg/kg body weight. The animals were euthanized on days 3, 28, or 91 after instillation, and blood analysis, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) testing, and histopathological examination were performed. The most soluble product, NiO B, caused the most severe systemic toxicity, leading to a high mortality rate, but the response was transient and surviving animals recovered. The second-most-soluble material, NiO D, and the third, NiO A, caused evident pulmonary inflammation, and the responses persisted for at least 91 days with collagen proliferation. In contrast, NiO C induced barely detectable inflammation in the BALF examination, and no marked changes were noted on histopathology. These results indicate that the early phase toxic potential of NiO products, but not the persistence of pulmonary inflammation, is associated with their solubility.     

Lipid distribution in branching coral Montipora digitata

>ABSTRACT: The lipid profile was studied along the branch length, from the top, middle to base portion, of coral Montipora digitata to gain more insight into the physiological significance of lipids in the coral energy budget. The lipids of M. digitata consisted of seven major lipid classes: polar lipid, sterol, free fatty acid, unknown lipids 1 and 2, triacylglycerol (TG), and wax ester. The concentration of storage lipids, TG, and wax ester showed a top–base gradient along the length, whereas the levels of free fatty acid and unknown lipids showed a base–top gradient. The proportions of polar lipid and sterol in the top portion of the branch were slightly higher than those in the base portion. This observation appeared to be compatible with the view that the increased energy expenditure for proliferation enhanced the mobilization of the storage fuel lipids of wax ester and TG rather than the structure lipids of polar lipids and sterols at the top portion of the branch. Compositions of fatty acid also showed a length-wise diversity. The top portion had a lower proportion of palmitic acid (16   :   0) in all lipid classes of fatty acid ester, suggesting that this fatty acid was preferentially mobilized at the top portion, probably for the growth of coral cells.     

Measurements of auditory sensitivity in common carp <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyprinus carpio</Emphasis> by the auditory brainstem response technique and cardiac conditioning method

ABSTRACT:   Recently, the non-invasive auditory brainstem response (ABR) technique has been applied to the determination of hearing sensitivity in fish. The technique has some advantages over, and methodological differences from, the classical techniques. The auditory thresholds of common carp were measured by the ABR technique. The classical method was applied to measure cardiac response by electrocardiogram (ECG) after conditioning with electric shock. The most sensitive frequency obtained by ABR was 505 Hz, and by ECG, 1000 Hz. The shapes of the audiogram obtained by ABR and ECG were similar, though threshold levels in both audiograms differed from each other. Furthermore, audiograms obtained by using behavioral techniques were compared with those taken by the ABR and ECG techniques to assess the validity of the ABR technique for testing fish hearing sensitivity. The measured threshold levels increased in the order of behavioral, ABR, and ECG techniques, in the range below 1000 Hz.     

Effect of bleaching on lipid content and composition of Okinawan corals

Lipid contents and compositions of the bleached Okinawan corals were analyzed for the first time. Bleached corals collected at Sesoko Okinawa, Japan (26°38′N, 127°52′E), after the 1998 bleaching event showed decreased lipid content with a concomitant decline of wax in the lipid composition. The reductionin the lipid content of corals showed diversity depending on their colony morphology. On the whole, corals of massive morphology were relatively rich in lipid even after the bleaching event, and hence lesser reduction in the lipid content compared with the cases for those of branching morphology. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between lipid content and zooxanthellae density in the bleached corals, suggesting again the importance of symbiont for the supply of lipid to the host cells, and hence for the survival of the bleaching event.     

Lipid biosynthesis from [14C]-glucose in the coral Montipora digitata

ABSTRACT:     Glucose has been implicated in functioning as a form of carbon translocated from symbiont zooxanthellae to the host coral cell. The present paper describes the lipid biosynthesis from [¹⁴C]-glucose in the coral tissue. To study the incorporation of [¹⁴C]-glucose into lipids, the branch tips of the coral Montipora digitata were incubated with [¹⁴C]-glucose or another radiolabeled substrates. The lipid biosynthesis from [¹⁴C]-glucose was dependent on light, and was decreased by dark conditions or by photosystem II inhibitor, 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea. Of the lipid classes, the light dependency was more pronounced with the biosynthesis of triacylglycerols (TG) and wax compared with phospholipids. Examination of [¹⁴C]-label distribution in the glycerolipids suggested that [¹⁴C]-glucose supplied mainly the fatty acid moiety of newly synthesized TG, while [¹⁴C]-glucose provided evenly the fatty acid moiety and the glycerol skeleton of phospholipids. The comparison of [¹⁴C]-labeling of lipid from host coral tissue and symbiont zooxanthellae suggested that [¹⁴C]-glucose entered the coral cell and was processed in parallel in the zooxanthellae and host cells. Furthermore, the coral cells used various [¹⁴C]-labeled sugars for lipid synthesis with similar lipid labeling profile as was the case for glucose. The current study thus supports the view that the low-molecular-weight compound, sugars and amino acids, once translocated from zooxanthellae to host cell were metabolized toward lipogenesis as well as glycerol.     

Production of an interspecific hybrid in Gypsophila by ovule-embryo culture

Summary We have succeeded in producing useful interspecific hybrid using ovule-embryo culture between Gypsophila paniculata L. Red Sea and G. manginii, an incompatible combination by ordinary cross breeding methods. The hybrid plant had double flowers with a color of pale purplish pink. Hybrid characteristics of the plant were firmed by observation of plant form, flower type, chromosome number and peroxidase isozyme patterns.     

Anaemia, iron deficiency and vitamin A status among school-aged children in rural Kazakhstan

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of anaemia and iron deficiency and vitamin A status among school-aged children in rural Kazakhstan and identify factors associated with anaemia in this population. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design. SETTING: School-aged children in rural Kazakhstan. SUBJECTS: Socio-economic and anthropometric information was collected from 159 school-aged children living in the Kzyl-Orda region of Kazakhstan. Blood samples were collected and the concentrations of haemoglobin (Hb), serum iron, serum ferritin (SF), erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP), serum retinol and beta-carotene, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation (TS) and other haematological indices were measured. RESULTS: Among the 159 children, the prevalence of anaemia and iron deficiency defined by the multiple criteria model (SF, TS and EP) was 27% and 13%, respectively. Nine per cent had iron-deficiency anaemia and 21% had serum retinol value < 1.05 micromol l(-1). Mean SF and serum iron concentrations and TS were significantly lower in anaemic children than in their non-anaemic peers, while TIBC and EP were significantly higher in children with anaemia. Hb was significantly correlated with serum iron and retinol concentrations. Serum retinol and SF concentrations and mean corpuscular volume were significantly correlated with Hb by multiple regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Anaemia among school-aged children in rural Kazakhstan appears to be related to iron indices and vitamin A status.     

Suppression of Ralstonia solanacearum bacterial wilt disease by an organic hydroponic system

An organic hydroponic system that we developed has potential to control root diseases including bacterial wilt of hydroponically grown tomato. In inoculation tests with Ralstonia solanacearum during tomato plant cultivation in conventional inorganic hydroponics and in our organic system, many of the tomato seedlings in the conventional system wilted and died, but none of the seedlings in the organic hydroponics wilted or developed any symptoms, suggesting that the organic system can suppress this bacterial wilt disease. Interestingly, a rhizosphere biofilm, formed only on roots in the organic hydroponic system, may be responsible for the suppression of the bacterial wilt.     

Application of GCOM-C SGLI for agricultural water management via field evapotranspiration

Paddy and Water Environment - Evapotranspiration is a key parameter in agricultural water planning and management strategies because it determines the crop and irrigation water requirements. With...