DDT and inflammatory responses: 2. Bacterial endotoxin-induced pulmonary oedema in mice and rats

Escherichia coli endotoxin instilled intranasally into mice and rats caused a severe pulmonary oedema associated with progressive increases in lung weights of up to 30% within 2 days. When mice were injected with DDT (20 mg/kg) 20 and 2 hr prior to the administration of endotoxin the animals were found to be tolerant to the endotoxin. The inflammatory oedema induced by endotoxin is caused by release of lung histamine, and as DDT injections also lowered histamine content in the lungs, the protective effect of DDT against the oedema induced by endotoxin appears to be due to its prior depletion of the lung histamine stores. An opposite effect, increased and accelerated inflammation, was observed by chronic exposure of rats to dietary DDT (150 ppm) fed for 36 days. The long-term feeding of DDT is known to cause adaptations in many physiological systems. One of these may be increased histamine synthesis and subsequently increased severity of histamine mediated reactions.     

DDT and inflammatory responses: 3. Release of histamine from mast cells exposed to DDT

Release of histamine from mast cells by DDT was demonstrated by incubating guinea pig mesentery explants with 20 μg DDT/ml in vitro for various periods up to 2 hr. The histamine content of mesentery explants showed progressive decreases concomitant with increasing histamine values in the incubation medium. In the mesentery explants the histamine content decreased to 31% of the original content within 45 min and then increased to 113% at the 120-min interval. As the total amount of histamine released into the medium during the 2 hr of incubation with DDT was twice the original amount of histamine in the tissues, it is evident that the initial release of histamine by DDT stimulates its resynthesis in the mast cells.     

Differential inhibition responses caused by DDT on oligomycin-sensitive Mg2+-ATPase activity: Nature of the requirements for DDT sensitivity

Earlier communications from this laboratory have shown that DDT inhibited oligomycin-sensitive Mg²⁺-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) but that its active component, F₁, was not affected. In the present investigation evidence has been obtained to determine the nature of the requirements for DDT sensitivity. The results showed that DDT sensitivity was conferred to F₁ from pig heart mitochondrial preparations when it was bound to F₀ from the same preparation. The F₁ from house fly (Musca domestica L) thorax was able to bind to F₀ from pig heart. This combination showed similar sensitivity to that of the original F₁-F₀ combination from pig heart mitochondria. However, when F₁ from pig heart mitochondria was incorporated into F₀ depleted in oligomycin sensitivity-conferring protein (OSCP) from the same source, the resulting ATPase activity was insensitive to DDT. Addition of crude (50–200 μg) or purified (5–20 μg) OSCP in the above preparation restored DDT sensitivity. Presence of dioleyl or dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline or Triton X-100 in the reaction medium antagonized the DDT inhibitions. Depletion of phospholipids from submitochondrial membrane preparations (SMP) decreased ATPase activity. Addition of dioleyl or soybean phosphatidyl choline to this lipid-depleted preparation restored DDT sensitivity. Evidence presented suggests that DDT acted on F₁ in association with one or more membrane components and that OSCP and phospholipid were essential for DDT sensitivity.     

Residues of DDT in cottonseed after spraying with DDT and torbidan

DDT at 1.12 and 2.24 kg/ha a.i. and Torbidan at 5 and 10 litre formulation/ha (1 and 2 kg DDT/ha) were sprayed five times on cotton over a period of 15 weeks. Seeds from the first pick of the crop were found to contain as residues pp′-DDT and pp′-DDE [1,1-dichloro-2,2-di- (4-chlorophenyl)ethylene]. The highest residue level (0.783 parts/10⁶) was found in seeds from Torbidan 10 litre/ha treatment.     

Leptin and leptin receptors during malaria infection in mice

Leptin, which is involved in a range of physiological processes, could be an important factor in the pathogenesis of malaria. We found that levels of leptin in serum and urine in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice increased progressively after infection, reaching a maximum value on day 6 post-infection. Serum values were approximately five-fold higher in infected mice than in non-infected controls. A similar relation was found for values of leptin in urine. Soluble leptin receptor levels also increased significantly in serum, more or less in line with the leptin increase. Our work represents the first report of visibly augmented leptin and soluble leptin receptor secretion in malarial infection.     

Residues of polychlorinated biphenyls, DDT, and DDT metabolites in Pennsylvania streams, community water supplies, and reservoirs, 1974--76.

Pennsylvania streams, community water supplies, and open water reservoirs were analyzed for PCB mixtures, DDT, and DDT metabolites. Streams were sampled in 1974 and again in 1975. Only 4 of 19 stream locations were contaminated. Maximum concentrations in community supplies of Aroclor 1242 (2 locations), Aroclor 1254 (3 locations), and sigmaDDT (2 locations) were 350, 260, and 620 ng/kg, respectively. Of the 110 community water supplies sampled in 1975 and 1976, only 7 contained residues. Maximum concentrations in community supplies of Aroclor 1242 (4 locations) and sigmaDDT (2 locations) were 460 ng/kg and 75 ng/kg, respectively. The seventh contained 0.7 ng/kg of dieldrin. None of the three open water reservoirs contained detectable residues of the compounds of interest. Essentially no correlation was found between PCB and DDT analogs in streams and those in fish from streams which had been samples at similar locations in a related study in 1976.     

DDT residues in rainwater in New Brunswick and estimate of aerial transport of DDT into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 1967-68

Residues of DDT were detected in 76 of 101 samples of rainwater collected during spring and summer at several sites in the Province of New Brunswick in 1967 and 1968, and at one site in the Magdalen Islands, Quebec, in 1968. The dominant residue was p,p'-DDT. Levels of DDT and metabolites combined ranged from less than 0.01 to 1.33 microgram/kg. Levels of DDT and metabolites in the pollen of four species of forest trees in New Brunswick ranged from 0.544 to 1.01 mg/kg; such contaminated pollen possibly contributed to residues in rainwater. Residue data for rainwater from two sites were used to estimate the amount of DDT aerially transported into the Gulf of St. Lawrence during July to October 1968.     

Distribution and breakdown of DDT in orchard soil

Amounts of DDT and its breakdown products were determined in soil in an apple orchard in Herefordshire. Samples were taken for a number of years (1972–79) after use of the insecticide in the orchard had ceased in 1969. The results were compared with those obtained in an investigation of the same orchard in 1968. From 1968 to 1979, soil residues of pp′-DDT, p′--DDT and pp′--TDE decreased gradually whereas those of pp′--DDE increased, and there were linear relationships between log (concentration) and time. The calculated time for 50% decrease in concentration (Dt₅₀) was 11.7 years for pp′--DDT, 3.3 years for pp′--TDE and 7.1 years for op′--DDT; the time for doubling the concentration for pp′--DDE was 9.1 years. Regression analysis on the two major components (pp′--DDT+pp′--DDE) indicated that the total amount (2.7 mg kg^?1) was not decreasing with time. It was concluded that during a post-spray era, the breakdown of pp′--DDT to pp′--DDE was a significant feature of the persistence of DDT, and that, in contrast to the findings of other workers who sampled when DDT was being used, there were no losses by volatilisation. There was an exponential decrease in the amount of DDT residues with increasing soil depth and approximately 90% was found in the top 10 cm of the undisturbed soil profile.     

DDT and sodium transport in the eel electroplaque

DDT inhibits the ATPase activity of the intact eel electroplaque. At a concentration of 10^?5M, DDT inhibited 46% of the total ATPase activity, and 10^?4M DDT inhibited 62% of the total ATPase activity and 62% of the ouabain-sensitive ATPase activity. The latter concentration of DDT reduced the rate of Na efflux from intact electroplaques and slowed the rate of recovery of the membrane potential following a large depolarization produced by carbamylcholine application. Repetitive direct stimulation of the innervated membrane at 10 Hz during the application of 10^?4M DDT produced a significant irreversible depolarization. Ouabain, 10^?4M, produced similar effects. The possible role of the inhibition of active NaK transport in producing the symptoms of DDT poisoning is discussed.     

DDT and pyrethroids: Receptor binding and mode of action in the house fly

The mode of action of DDT and pyrethroids was investigated in the house fly, Musca domestica L, using drug:receptor binding techniques. Both in vivo and in vitro binding studies demonstrated the existence of membrane receptors which bind specifically to [¹⁴C]DDT and [¹⁴C]cis-permethrin. The receptors show properties to be expected of a critical target site of these insecticides. These include negative temperature correlation with binding, relatively nonsensitivity to DDE, and sensitivity to Ca²⁺. The receptor sites are readily saturated at 45–90 nM [¹⁴C]DDT and have an apparent disassociation constant (K_d) of 12.2 nM. The maximum number of binding sites was estimated to be 17 pmol DDT/mg membrane protein (0.34 pmol/house fly head). Competition studies showed DDT, cis-permethrin, and cypermethrin bind to the same receptor but not at precisely the same site. The addition of Ca²⁺ to the incubation buffer significantly inhibited the binding of both [¹⁴C]DDT and [¹⁴C]cis-permethrin, suggesting the receptor binding is Ca²⁺ sensitive and may have a role in ion conductance.     

A Comparison of DDT w.p. and Dieldrin e.c. for Tesetse Fly Control in Botswana

Abstract

During the present century increasing world demand for forest products has brought about a rapid expansion of even-aged forest plantation estates, requiring the forester to adopt the outlook and techniques of the farmer to an increasing extent, both to maintain yield and protect crops from damage.

Aircraft have already proved their worth in the protection of natural and artificial forests from fire and are frequently used for seeding, fertiliser application, survey and the control of insect pests. They are also potentially useful for the control of forest diseases, although their role in this respect has so far been limited. The development of aerial spraying to control dothistroma blight of Pinus radiata is reviewed in this paper.     

Cryptogein and capsicein promote defence responses in Quercus suber against Phytophthora cinnamomi infection

The decline of cork oak (Quercus suber) stands in Iberian Peninsula is associated with infection by Phytophthora cinnamomi. Most Phytophthora species secrete elicitins, which can enhance defence reactions against some pathogens. Here cytological and physiological effects of the elicitins cryptogein and capsicein on cork oak root infection by P. cinnamomi were evaluated. The progression of the pathogen in root tissue and its effects on total fatty acid (TFA) composition of roots and leaves were analysed in seedlings. Net photosynthesis (P _n ), stomatal conductance (g _s ), chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements (quantum yield of linear electron transport ? _e , photochemical quenching q _P, non-photochemical quenching NPQ) and carotenoid determinations were carried out in well established (4?months) plants. In elicitin-treated roots, 2?days after inoculation, the pathogen which presented loss of viability and membrane degradation was mainly restricted to the intercellular spaces of the cortical parenchyma, and did not reach the vascular cylinder. Electron dense materials accumulated in the intercellular spaces of the cortex next to disorganized hyphae, suggested to be related with defence reactions. Cryptogein (or its interaction with P. cinnamomi) induced enhanced lipid synthesis in leaves, which may contribute to preserve membrane stability. P. cinnamomi decreased P _n , g _s , ? _e , and q _P, whereas elicitin-treated plants displayed values similar to controls. Overall, the results indicated a resistance response of cork oak against this oomycete, induced by the elicitins.     

Artificial infection of Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. and defence responses to Exobasidium species

An inoculation method for Exobasidium splendidum and Exobasidium vaccinii was developed on the dwarf shrub Vaccinium vitis-idaea. Using inoculated ramets, we investigated whether there are differences between V. vitis-idaea populations in the susceptibility to Exobasidium infections and whether the defence reaction of V. vitis-idaea is visible at a molecular level. Sixteen V. vitis-idaea clones from four populations were propagated in tissue cultures and the ramets were inoculated with E. splendidum or E. vaccinii fungi. The expression of three flavonoid biosynthetic genes (chalcone synthase, dihydroflavonol 4-reductase and anthocyanidin synthase) and the accumulation of flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids were determined in response to E. splendidum infection. A pathogenesis-related (PR 4) gene was isolated and its expression was studied in host ramet leaves. To our knowledge, this was the first successful artificial infection reported with E. splendidum. Disease frequencies of the inoculated ramets were between 32% and 47% for E. splendidum and 33% for E. vaccinii, but below 10% in uninoculated control ramets. There were no differences in disease frequencies between V. vitis-idaea populations. Both symptomatic leaves and healthy leaves of diseased ramets showed activation of flavonoid biosynthesis at the gene level, whereas expression of PR 4 was observed only in symptomatic leaves. The increase of flavonoid biosynthesis in healthy leaves of diseased ramets may represent a general response to stress or a role in defence against the pathogen E. splendidium. Ability of V. vitis-idaea to defend chemically against Exobasidium fungi and the heterogeneity of genotypes, age, size, and growth rates in host plant populations might be reasons for the low infection incidence of Exobasidia in nature.     

Resistance mechanisms to DDT and transpermethrin in Aedes aegypti

Penetration, metabolism and excretion of [¹⁴C]DDT and [³H]transpermethrin were studied in three strains of Aedes aegypti L. after topical application of 10 nl of a solution of the insecticide in 2-ethoxyethanol. The standard susceptible strain was compared with a DDT-selected strain (BKS) and a permethrin-selected strain (BKPM). No significant penetration resistance was observed in either resistant strain, but both showed high DDT-dehydrochlorinase activity which contributed to the DDT resistance. A non-metabolic factor was also involved. Rates of transpermethrin metabolism were very similar in all three strains and substantially higher internal concentrations of transpermethrin were required to produce toxic effects in both BKS and BKPM mosquitoes. By analogy with other insect species, it is concluded that transpermethrin resistance in these strains is of the kdr type, while the DDT resistance is a mixture of kdr and DDT-dehydrochlorinase.     

Experimental infection of immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice with Encephalitozoon cuniculi

An experimental infection with the microsporidian Encephalitozoon cuniculi Levaditi, Nicolau et Schoen, 1923 was studied using a model of immunocompetent BALB/c mice and immunodeficient SCID mice. The course of infection after intraperitoneal inoculation of E. cuniculi spores was evaluated using the presence of spores in peritoneal macrophages as a criterion. First significant decrease in the proportion of infected cells was recorded on day 9 post infection (p.i.) in BALB/c mice. From day 14 p.i. no spores were observed in macrophages from BALB/c mice, while the number of infected macrophages from SCID mice increased until the death of the mice. The natural killer (NK) cell activity of mouse splenocytes was compared with the production of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) by these cells. While in BALB/c mice NK activity peaked on days 9 and 14 p.i., in SCID mice the marked increase of NK activity was recorded close before death of mice, on day 21 p.i. in correlation with the production of IFN-gamma. Production of specific antibodies was demonstrated from day 9 p.i. in sera from BALB/c mice. It is concluded that intraperitoneal infection of SCID mice with spores of E. cuniculi results in the marked increase in the number of peritoneal exudate cells and in the percentage of infected cells close before death of mice. Neither high activity of NK cells nor increased production of IFN-gamma are sufficient for the recovery of SCID mice from an E. cuniculi infection.