Uterine Inertia due to Severe Selenium Deficiency in a Parturient Mare

A 12-year-old, multiparous, parturient show jumper embryo-recipient mare presented at a veterinary hospital, seven days past her due date and with a dilated cervix, for evaluation of mild colic. Gastrointestinal or metabolic abnormalities and fetal maldispositions were excluded as causes of dystocia, and a diagnosis of uterine inertia was made. There was no uterine response to oxytocin treatment. A live filly was delivered via C-section, and severe selenium deficiency was eventually confirmed in the mare, her offspring, and in the herd of origin. The filly was born with severe white muscle disease and required intensive treatment. This report suggests that selenium deficiency is an underlying cause of equine uterine inertia in the absence of other causes of dystocia.     

GSH对铅胁迫下多年生黑麦草幼苗抗氧化系统的调控

本试验以12周龄的多年生黑麦草（Lolium perenne ‘cuttle’）幼苗为试验材料,用铅（Lead,Pb）,Pb+还原型谷胱甘肽（Glutathione,GSH）和Pb+丁硫氨酸-亚砜亚胺（L-Buthionine-sulfoximine,BSO）处理1周,研究GSH对Pb胁迫下多年生黑麦草抗氧化系统的调控机理,寻求缓解植物Pb胁迫的有效措施。结果表明：Pb胁迫下,外源GSH能够显著提高多年生黑麦草Pb的吸收和转运,增加抗氧化酶超氧化物歧化酶（Superoxide dismutase,SOD）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（Glutathione peroxidase,GPX）和谷胱甘肽还原酶（Glutathione reductase,GR）活性,显著增加抗氧化剂GSH含量及GSH/氧化型谷胱甘肽（Oxidized glutathione,GSSG）比率,提高了植物的还原力。外源GSH也能够显著降低活性氧超氧阴离子（Superoxide anion,O₂^·-）和过氧化氢（Hydrogen peroxide,H₂O₂）的产生量、膜的相对透性（Relative electric conductivity,EC）和丙二醛（Malondialdehyde,MDA）含量,保持了细胞的稳定性,减轻了膜脂的过氧化程度。外源BSO作用基本上与GSH相反。相关分析表明：GSH可通过提高SOD和GPX等抗氧化酶的活性,促进GSSG和GSH的相互转化,降低活性氧产生量,提高植物抵抗逆境胁迫的能力。     

Isolation,properties and induction of plaice liver cytosolic glutathione-S-transferases

Three cytosolic glutathione S-transferases [E.C. 2.5.1.18] were identified in liver of a marine flatfish, the plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) and the two major isoforms were purified to homogeneity. There was no evidence for the presence of basic transferases. The plaice GST's exhibited comparable hematin binding to rat ligandin, however, bilirubin was only bound weakly and the enzymes did not display the inhibition characteristics of ligandin. They were extremely sensitive to inhibition by organotin compounds. Plaice transferase A was a homodimer of Mr 27 kDa subunits; it displayed strongest activity with CDNB and some activity with DCNB as substrates. Specific antibodies to it did not show any relationship with other plaice GST's or rat GST subunits 1,2,3,4,7,8 or 10. Plaice transferase B was a homodimer of Mr 25 kDa subunits, it displayed similar activities with CDNB and DCNB as substrates to transferase A and a low activity with ethacrynic acid or p-nitrobenzylchloride. It was immunologically related to the rat alpha class transferase subunits 1,2 and 8. A minor form, transferase AM, which was not separated from transferase A, appeared to be a heterodimer of Mr 25.5 and 27 kDa subunits. It displayed a greater activity with DCNB than the other plaice GST's and some activity with bromosulphalein indicative of a possible relationship with the Mu class transferases.     

Effect of methyl parathion and chlorpyrifos on certain biomarkers in various tissues of guppy fish, Poecilia reticulata

Tests of acute toxicity were performed on the most common species of aquarium fish, Poecilia reticulata. Guppies (P. reticulata) were exposed to progressive concentrations of methyl parathion (MP) and chlorpyrifos (CPF); a semi-static method according to guidelines of OECD was used. Tests of acute toxicity were conducted using 10 fish for each separate concentration and for the control group. The results were subjected to probit analysis to determine the 96 h LC₅₀ values. The 96 h LC₅₀ values of MP and CPF to P. reticulata were 8.48 ppm/L (5.98–10.89) and 0.176 ppm/L (0.313–0.224) respectively. In addition, behavioral changes at each concentration were observed for the individual fish. Fish were exposed for 96 h to different sublethal concentrations of MP and CPF (¼ LC₅₀, 1/8 LC₅₀ and 1/10 LC₅₀) and their oxidative stress-induction potential was estimated in brain, liver and gills of fish. MDA content is induced in all tissues but maximum rise was observed in gills (161% and 153% for MP and CPF respectively). With regard to antioxidant defense system (ADS), GSH level decreased in the brain, liver and gills of tissues of MP treated fishes (22%, 6% and 13% respectively) and showed increase in brain and gills CPF treated (23% and 21% respectively). CAT, GST, GR and SOD levels fluctuated in all treatment groups relative to the control. Brain AChE showed dose-dependent inhibition in fish exposed to the higher concentrations reached 45% and 66% for MP and CPF respectively. Collective findings demonstrated that pesticide exposure of fish induced an increase in MDA and fluctuated ADS along with inhibited AChE. These findings may be used as valuable biomarkers for evaluation of water pollution.     

重金属铅暴露对家蚕组织GSTs和GSH-Px酶活力及基因表达的影响

谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(GST)和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)是生物体内重要的解毒酶。为了研究重金属铅对鳞翅目昆虫的影响机制,给家蚕添食Pb(NO3)2进行Pb2+暴露,用酶活测定和real-time PCR方法,调查家蚕5龄6 d幼虫不同组织中酶活性及相关基因mRNA转录水平的变化。正常家蚕5龄6 d幼虫生殖腺中的GST酶活性分别是脂肪体和中肠中的20.0倍、34.6倍,GSH-Px酶活性分别是脂肪体和中肠中的57.7倍、46.6倍。幼虫食下含10 mg/kg Pb2+以上的人工饲料时,生殖腺中2种解毒酶的活性成倍下降;人工饲料含20～80 mg/kg Pb2+时,生殖腺中的Gstd1和Gsh-Px基因mRNA转录水平也显著下调,且雄性比雌性更加显著。幼虫食下含10～160 mg/kg Pb2+的人工饲料时,脂肪体中2种解毒酶活性显著升高,Pb2+对2种酶的影响浓度分别为10～160 mg/kg和20～80 mg/kg,但在20～80 mg/kg Pb2+范围内,Gsh-Px和Gstd1基因mRNA的转录却受到抑制,并且雌性幼虫脂肪体中的GSH-Px酶活性及其基因mRNA转录水平、雄性幼虫脂肪体中的GST酶活性及基因mRNA转录水平对Pb2+暴露更加敏感。幼虫食下含20 mg/kg Pb2+以上的人工饲料时,中肠的GST酶活性显著上升,而GSH-Px酶活性变化较小,性别间差异不明显;Gstd1基因mRNA转录水平有上调趋势,Gsh-Px基因mRNA转录水平则受到显著抑制。结果显示,家蚕幼虫生殖腺虽然有比脂肪体和中肠更强的GST酶和GSH-Px酶活性,但对Pb2+的毒害敏感,雄性比雌性受影响更大,生殖腺通过抗氧化防御系统抵御Pb2+毒害的作用很弱。     

转双抗三倍体毛白杨对舞毒蛾幼虫中肠解毒酶的影响

[目的]为转基因植物的合理利用提供理论依据。[方法]以转Bt基因和慈姑蛋白酶抑制剂基因三倍体毛白杨叶片喂4～5龄舞毒蛾幼虫,对其中肠几种重要解毒酶的活性进行了测定。[结果]幼虫中肠酯酶的比活力变化是先升高后降低,24 h后达到高峰,而在48 h后,比活力明显下降;谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶的比活力是一直在升高。取食抗虫杨Pb1、Pb33和Pb47叶片48 h后的舞毒蛾幼虫中肠酯酶的比活力分别为取食CK幼虫酯酶比活力的62.9%、70.7%和74.5%;24 h后的幼虫中肠谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶的比活力分别比取食CK幼虫谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶比活力下降了25.7%、27.7%和17.9%。[结论]导致幼虫中肠解毒酶活性的改变可能是转基因叶片毒杀害虫的作用机制之一。     

Anticarcinogenic effects of curry leaves in dimethylhydrazine-treated rats

Curry leaves are one of the spices used in Indian dishes for aroma and preservation. There are no reports on the antioxidant properties of curry leaves. In this study, the antioxidant potential of curry leaves in rats treated with a known chemical carcinogen, dimethylhydrazine hydrochloride (DMH) was investigated. Food intake was reduced in the rats fed curry leaf-supplemented diet but the body and the organ weights were not affected.Vitamin A content in the liver was significantly increased whereas glutathione (GSH) content was not altered. A 50% reduction was seen in the micronuclei induced by DMH and a 30% reduction in the activity of ,-glutamyl transpeptidase when the rats were fed a curry leaf-supplemented diet. These results indicate that curry leaves have highpotential as reducer of the toxicity of DMH.     

Influence of Seminal Plasma Antioxidants and Osteopontin on Fertility of the Arabian Horse

This study was designed to investigate enzymatic antioxidants’ activity and nonenzymatic antioxidants’ levels in seminal plasma of stallions and to relate them with season, age, and fertility of stallions. Fifty ejaculates were collected from six healthy Arabian stallions, 4-22 years old. Ejaculates were evaluated by conventional methods. Five milliliters of each semen sample was centrifuged, and the supernatant seminal plasma was stored at −20°C. Five antioxidants, in addition to osteopontin (OPN) and testosterone, were determined in stallion seminal plasma by using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Results revealed that uric acid, ascorbic acid, OPN, and testosterone concentrations and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in stallions’ seminal plasma were high (P < .05) during spring. GPx activity was higher (P < .05) in age group B (11-18 years old) than in age group A (4-10 years old). The effect of stallions’ age on GPx activity in the fertility groups was highly significant (P < .01). OPN concentration was highest (P < .05) in age group A. Uric acid and OPN concentrations and GPx activity in stallions’ seminal plasma and percent of sperm motility were higher (P < .05) in fertility group III (>70%) than in fertility group I (<50%). However, ascorbic acid concentration, catalase activity and percentage of sperm abnormalities were lower (P < .05) in fertility group III than in fertility group I. It was concluded that season and stallion age may affect antioxidant defense systems in stallions’ seminal plasma. The impairment of seminal antioxidants and OPN could lead to low fertility.     

Development of a Medium-term Animal Model Using gpt Delta Rats to Evaluate Chemical Carcinogenicity and Genotoxicity

In this study, the potential for development of an animal model (GPG46) capable of rapidly detecting chemical carcinogenicity and the underlying mechanisms of action were examined in gpt delta rats using a reporter gene assay to detect mutations and a medium-term rat liver bioassay to detect tumor promotion. The tentative protocol for the GPG46 model was developed based on the results of dose-response exposure to diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and treatment with phenobarbital over time following DEN administration. Briefly, gpt delta rats were exposed to various chemicals for 4 weeks, followed by a partial hepatectomy (PH) to collect samples for an in vivo mutation assay. The mutant frequencies (MFs) of the reporter genes were examined as an indication of tumor initiation. A single intraperitoneal (ip) injection of 10 mg/kg DEN was administered to rats 18 h after the PH to initiate hepatocytes. Tumor-promoting activity was evaluated based on the development of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive foci at week 10. The genotoxic carcinogens 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF), 2-amino-3-methylimidazo [4,5-f] quinolone (IQ) and safrole (SF), the non-genotoxic carcinogens piperonyl butoxide (PBO) and phenytoin (PHE), the non-carcinogen acetaminophen (APAP) and the genotoxic non-hepatocarcinogen aristolochic acid (AA) were tested to validate the GPG46 model. The validation results indicate that the GPG46 model could be a powerful tool in understanding chemical carcinogenesis and provide valuable information regarding human risk hazards.     

Sulfhydryl oxidase enhances the effects of ascorbic acid in wheat dough

Various enzyme families such as sulfhydryl oxidase have been successfully applied to bread production although their mechanism of action has not been fully described yet. In this study, we investigated the effects of the recently characterized fungal sulfhydryl oxidase AoSOX1 in fresh and frozen dough alone and in combination with ascorbic acid. The addition of AoSOX1 to an additive-free dough resulted in a weaker and more extensible dough while opposite effects were detected in the presence of ascorbic acid. The hardening of the doughs registered upon the combined use of AoSOX1 and ascorbic acid was dependent on the amount of enzyme used and not on the amount of ascorbic acid. The ability of the sulfhydryl oxidase to enhance the effects of the ascorbic acid system suggests their combined use as a valuable tool to stabilize the structure of fresh and frozen dough.