Ectopic bone formation by gel-derived bioactive glass-poly-L-lactide-co-glycolide composites in a rabbit muscle model.

In this study we aimed to assess the in vivo osteoinductive properties of two composite scaffolds made of PLGA (poly-L-lactide-co-glycolide) and two types of gel-derived bioactive glasses, namely a high silica S2 bioactive glass (S2-PLGA composites) or high lime A2 bioactive glass (A2-PLGA composites). To achieve that, the potential of the composites to induce ectopic bone formation in a rabbit muscle has been examined along with the control PLGA scaffold. Cylinder-like scaffolds of 7 × 3 mm (width × height) were implanted into pouches created in the latissimus dorsi muscle of 18 New Zealand rabbits. The tissue sections were obtained at 6, 12 or 24 weeks post-surgery (six rabbits per each time point) and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. The process of wound healing, the formation of collagen-rich connective tissue and its transition to cartilage were examined by Sirius red and Alcian blue histological stainings. We also performed immunohistochemical verification of the presence of osteoblast- and osteoclast- like cells in the vicinity of the scaffolds. A typical foreign body reaction and wound healing process was observed for all implanted scaffolds. Osteoblast- and osteoclast-like cells were observed in the vicinity of the scaffolds as determined by the immunohistochemical staining for Osteocalcin, BMP-2 and Cathepsin K. Compared to plain PLGA scaffolds, numerous osteoblast-like cells were observed 12 weeks post implantation near the composites and the scaffolds gradually degraded as bone formation proceeded. S2-PLGA and A2-PLGA composites display osteoinductive properties in vivo. Furthermore, they are more effective at inducing ectopic bone formation in a rabbit muscle compared to plain PLGA. Thus these SBG-PLGA composite scaffolds have potential for clinical applications in dental and/or orthopedic-bone tissue engineering.

Metal toxicokinetics and metal-driven damage to the gut of the ground beetle Pterostichus oblongopunctatus.

Toxicokinetics makes up the background for predicting concentrations of chemicals in organisms and, thus, ecological risk assessment. However, physiological and toxicological mechanisms behind toxicokinetics of particular chemicals are purely understood. The commonly used one-compartment model has been challenged recently, showing that in the case of metals it does not describe the pattern observed in terrestrial invertebrates exposed to highly contaminated food. We hypothesised that the main mechanism shaping toxicokinetics of metals in invertebrates at high exposure concentrations in food is the cellular damage to the gut epithelial cells. Gut damage should result in decreased metal assimilation rate, while shedding the dead cells - in increased elimination rate. We performed a typical toxicokinetic experiment, feeding the ground beetles Pterostichus oblongopunctatus food contaminated with Cd, Ni or Zn at 40 mM kg-1 for 28 days, followed by a depuration period of 14 days on uncontaminated food. The male beetles were sampled throughout the experiment for body metal concentrations and histopathological examinations of the midgut. All metals exhibited a complex pattern of internal concentrations over time, with an initial rapid increase followed by a decrease and fluctuating concentrations during further metal exposure. Histopathological studies showed massive damage to the midgut epithelium, with marked differences between the metals. Cd appeared the most toxic and caused immediate midgut cell degeneration. The effects of Ni were more gradual and pronounced after at least 1 week of exposure. Zn also caused extensive degeneration in the gut epithelium but its effects were the weakest among the studied metals.

Effects triggered by platinum nanoparticles on primary keratinocytes.

The platinum (Pt)-group elements (PGEs) represent a new kind of environmental pollutant and a new hazard for human health. Since their introduction as vehicle-exhaust catalysts, their emissions into the environment have grown considerably compared with their low natural concentration in the earth crust. PGE emissions from vehicle catalysts can be also in the form of nanometer-sized particles (Pt nanoparticles [PtNPs]). These elements, both in their metallic form or as ions solubilized in biological media, are now recognized as potent allergens and sensitizers. Human skin is always exposed to toxic particles; therefore, in the present study we addressed the question of whether polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated PtNPs may have any negative effects on skin cells, including predominantly epidermal keratinocytes. In this study, PtNPs of two sizes were used: 5.8 nm and 57 nm, in concentrations of 6.25, 12.5, and 25 µg/mL. Both types of NPs were protected with polyvinylpyrrolidone. Primary keratinocytes were treated for 24 and 48 hours, then cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, morphology, metabolic activity, and changes in the activation of signaling pathways were investigated in PtNP-treated cells. We found that PtNPs trigger toxic effects on primary keratinocytes, decreasing cell metabolism, but these changes have no effects on cell viability or migration. Moreover, smaller NPs exhibited more deleterious effect on DNA stability than the big ones. Analyzing activation of caspases, we found changes in activity of caspase 9 and caspase 3/7 triggered mainly by smaller NPs. Changes were not so significant in the case of larger nanoparticles. Importantly, we found that PtNPs have antibacterial properties, as is the case with silver NPs (AgNPs). In comparison to our previous study regarding the effects of AgNPs on cell biology, we found that PtNPs do not exhibit such deleterious effects on primary keratinocytes as AgNPs and that they also can be used as potential antibacterial agents, especially in the treatment of Escherichia coli, representing a group of Gram-negative species.

Circadian expression of the presynaptic active zone protein Bruchpilot in the lamina of Drosophila melanogaster.

In the fly's visual system, the morphology of cells and the number of synapses change during the day. In the present study we show that in the first optic neuropil (lamina) of Drosophila melanogaster, a presynaptic active zone protein Bruchpilot (BRP) exhibits a circadian rhythm in abundance. In day/night (or light/dark, LD) conditions the level of BRP increases two times, in the morning and in the evening. The same pattern of changes in the BRP level was detected in whole brain homogenates, thus indicating that the majority of synapses in the brain peaks twice during the day. However, these two peaks in BRP abundance, measured as the fluorescence intensity of immunolabeling, seem to be regulated differently. The peak in the morning is predominantly regulated by light and involves the transduction pathway in the retina photoreceptors. This peak is present neither in wild-type Canton-S flies in constant darkness (DD), nor in norpA(7) phototransduction mutant in LD. However, it also depends on the clock gene per, because it is abolished in the per(0) arrhythmic mutant. In turn, the peak of BRP in the evening is endogenously regulated by an input from the pacemaker located in the brain. This peak is present in Canton-S flies in DD, as well as in the norpA(7) mutant in LD, but is absent in per(01), tim,(01) and cry(01) mutants in LD. In addition both peaks seem to depend on clock gene-expressing photoreceptors and glial cells of the visual system.

SEM observations on polar body elimination and changes of the oocyte surface during egg maturation in the newt Triturus alpestris (Amphibia, Urodela).

We have studied the surface of the animal half of ovulated newt eggs recovered from different portions of the oviduct. The germinative area, about 40 µm diameter, is localized in the region of the whitish polar spot, about 450 µm diameter. The structural changes in the germinative area are connected with the formation and extrusion of the first and second polar bodies. Of the two types of oviductal eggs observed, those covered with microvilli (type 1) were found only in the ostial portions of the oviduct, whilst those covered with microfolds (type 11) were found more distally. The structural difference between these two types may be related to the known reduction in surface area of the cell membrane during oocyte maturation.