Gal3 Plays a Deleterious Role in a Mouse Model of Endotoxemia.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxemia induces an acute systemic inflammatory response that mimics some important features of sepsis, the disease with the highest mortality rate worldwide. In this work, we have analyzed a murine model of endotoxemia based on a single intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg of LPS. We took advantage of galectin-3 (Gal3) knockout mice and found that the absence of Gal3 decreased the mortality rate oflethal endotoxemia in the first 80 h after the administration of LPS, along with a reduction in the tissular damage in several organs measured by electron microscopy. Using flow cytometry, we demonstrated that, in control conditions, peripheral immune cells, especially monocytes, exhibited high levels of Gal3, which were early depleted in response to LPS injection, thus suggesting Gal3 release under endotoxemia conditions. However, serum levels of Gal3 early decreased in response to LPS challenge (1 h), an indication that Gal3 may be extravasated to peripheral organs. Indeed, analysis of Gal3 in peripheral organs revealed a robust up-regulation of Gal3 36 h after LPS injection. Taken together, these results demonstrate the important role that Gal3 could play in the development of systemic inflammation, a well-established feature of sepsis, thus opening new and promising therapeutic options for these harmful conditions.

Endocrine-active compound evaluation: qualitative and quantitative histomorphological assessment of zebrafish gonads after bisphenol-A exposure.

There is great social concern about the risk involved from exposure to BPA as an endocrine disrupter in humans, as well as the possible repercussion of this chemical on the environment. In this study, the short-term effects of BPA at a gonadal level were assessed by means of different biomarkers in a model animal organism in vogue, the zebrafish (Danio rerio). For this purpose, 60 female zebrafish aged 16 weeks were used. These were exposed for 14 days in aquariums (following OECD Directive no.204) to BPA concentrations of 1, 10, 100 and 1000 µg/L, in addition to a control batch. After the exposure period, the zebrafish were sacrificed and samples taken for a histopathological study by light and electron microscopy and morphometric analysis. During the fourteen days of exposure, water samples were taken from the aquariums to analyze the BPA levels. The BPA concentration in the fish and the water was determined by LC-MS/MS. The gonads of the zebrafish exposed to the BPA had a normal external appearance and there were no variations in their size or body weight. An accumulation of BPA was produced in the zebrafish tissues, and this increased as the BPA concentration to which the fish were exposed did. In the histopathological and morphometric studies, multiple alterations were observed in the zebrafish ovaries, particularly highlighting the vacuolization of the follicular cytoplasm, a great degeneration of all the cell components, and an important increase in the percentage of atretic follicles as from concentrations of 100 and 1000 µg/L of BPA, verified by morphometry. These data indicate that morphological endpoints are sufficiently sensitive to individuate early effects of environmental concentration of BPA on gonads after two weeks of exposure.

Time-dependent histopathological changes induced in Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) after acute exposure to pure cylindrospermopsin by oral and intraperitoneal route.

Although fish and aquatic organisms can be in contact with the cyanotoxin cylindrospermopsin (CYN), toxicological studies are practically nonexistent. CYN has a late and progressive acute toxicity in rodents, but no data have been reported in fish. In this work, tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were exposed for the first time to an acute dose of CYN (200 µg/kg fish) by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection, and the effects were compared with the oral route (gavage). In both cases, fish were sacrificed after 24 h or 5 days of the toxin administration. CYN induced multiorganic damage, being the liver and kidney the main targets of toxicity. The histological findings were more pronounced after i.p. administration (in the liver, kidney, heart, gills) with the exception of the gastrointestinal tract. The time of sacrifice influenced the degree of histological damage in all organs studied, and was more severe after 5 d in comparison to 24 h. Moreover, CYN induced an increase in the average nuclear diameter of hepatocytes in the liver, and decreased cross sections of proximal and distal convoluted tubules in the kidney. The changes in these parameters were also more severe by i.p. route, and with the time of sacrifice, supporting the histopathological results obtained in these organs. Thus, both parameters could be useful for quantifying the extent of the damage in fish after CYN exposure.

Preneoplastic and neoplastic changes in the Leydig cells population in mice exposed to low doses of cadmium.

The morphological consequences of chronic exposition to low doses of cadmium (Cd) in the Leydig cells population were investigated in 40 sexually mature male mice at morphological and ultrastructural levels. Animals were orally exposed to cadmium (0.015 g/L of CdCl(2) in drinking water) for 3, 6, 12 and 18 months and then sacrificed, samples were collected for toxicological, light and electron microscope studies. Vascular lesions were evident from 6 months of Cd exposure, the severity of the morphological changes observed in the testicular vases were highly and clearly correlated to the time of exposure to Cd. The severity of the Leydig cells morphological changes were increasing along the time of exposure. Presence of cytoplasm vacuolization and degenerative images of the cells were frequent after 12 months of Cd exposure. Also two Leydig cells tumours after 12 and 18 months Cd exposure were presented. These results indicate that prolonged exposures to low doses of Cd are able to induce morphological damage on the Leydig cells.

Evaluation of toxicological endpoints in female zebrafish after bisphenol A exposure.

Given the importance of bisphenol A (BPA) as a xenoestrogen and its potential effects on human and animal health, we evaluated BPA exposure's short-term effects on follicular development, yolk protein vitellogenin (VTG) production and aromatase expression in female zebrafish. Histological modifications were observed along with increased presence of atretic follicles. Whole-body VTG concentration increased with the dose of BPA exposure. In contrast, expression of Cyp19a mRNA in the ovaries of BPA-exposed fish exhibited an apparent non-monotonic response curve, marked by downregulation at 1 µg/L BPA, upregulation at 10 µg/L BPA, and a return to downregulation at 100 µg/L BPA and higher doses. Ovaries only exhibited significant increases in follicular atresia and VTG concentration after exposure to 100 µg/L BPA and higher doses. Ovarian histopathology, aromatase Cyp19a transcript levels and whole-body VTG protein abundance may be good biomarkers for early detection of environmental BPA exposure.

Quantitative changes in the testicular structure in mice exposed to low doses of cadmium.

The purpose of this study was to quantify the consequences of a long-term exposure to low doses of cadmium on the testicular structure. Sexually mature male mice were orally exposed to cadmium (0.015g/1 of CdCl2 in drinking water) for 1, 3, 6 and 12 months and then sacrificed; cadmium withdrawal was also considered in two groups raised with cadmium for 3 and 6 months, and without cadmium for 3 and 6 months before sacrifice, respectively. Morphometrical and stereological estimations were applied to quantify the structural constituents of the testes. The morphological parameters (testicular mass and size) were significantly decreased at 6 and 12 months of cadmium exposure. Interstitium was the testicular constituent most sensitive to cadmium so that significant decreases in the volume fractions of interstitium and Leydig cells were recorded as from 3 months of cadmium exposure. Cadmium-exposed seminipherous tubules showed increased diameters and lumens together with decreased tubular densities and epithelial percentages.

Evaluation of acute hepatotoxic effects exerted by environmental estrogens nonylphenol and 4-octylphenol in immature male rats.

Nonylphenol (NP) and 4-Octylphenol (4OP) have shown estrogenic properties both in vivo and in vitro. Researchers have known for years that estrogens induce a wide number of hepatotoxic actions in rodents. In order to study the acute hepatic effects exerted by NP and 4OP on rat liver the following endpoints were evaluated: relative liver weight (RLW), morphology, cell cycle and ploidy status, monooxygenase enzymes content and levels of both, cytosolic estrogen receptor (cER) and microsomal binding sites for estrogens (mEBS). Immature male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 60 mg/kg of NP or 4OP for 1, 5 or 10 days. Despite the fact that RLW of the animals was not modified but any treatment, the histopathological study revealed the presence of an increase in the percentage of both, mitotic activity and Ki-67-labeling index (LI) in the livers from animals treated with alkylphenols in absence of any degenerative lesion. Furthermore, all the livers from alkylphenols-treated groups showed the presence of abnormal mitosis and c-mitosis. Although the levels of both, cER and cytochrome P450 (Cyt. P450) were not affected by any treatment, concentration of the mEBS was decreased after 10 days of treatment with alkylphenols. These findings taken together suggest that the exposition to alkylphenols induce cell proliferation and spindle disturbances and that these compounds are capable of modulating the expression of putative membrane receptors for estrogens.

Intracranial portion of the trochlear nerve and dorsal oblique muscle composition in dog: a structural and ultrastructural study.

In the present investigation the right intracranial portion of the trochlear nerves and dorsal oblique muscle of the right ocular globe were removed from six adult dogs and analyzed by light and electron microscopy. Unmyelinated fibers were observed in the analyzed nerves. The number, diameter, area, and density of myelinated fibers were determined, as were corresponding axon area and diameter and myelin sheath thickness. Frequency histograms of myelin sheath thickness and fiber size show a bimodal distribution with a similar proportion of large and small fibers. Muscle samples were taken from the central portion of the muscle belly, subsequently frozen, cut, and stained with m-ATPase at pH 4.6. Fibers were classified as Type 1 or Type 2 according to their reaction to the m-ATPase and detailed morphologic and morphometric studies were made. The muscles showed two clearly distinct layers, a central layer and a peripheral layer, chiefly composed of Type 2 fibers. The fibers in the central layer were larger in size than those in the peripheral layer.

Quantitative changes in the normal and apoptotic thymocytes of pigs treated with anabolic doses of the beta2 adrenergic agonist clenbuterol.

Although the beta2 adrenergic agonists have been seen to have important effects on the mechanisms regulating the development and death of T-cells in the thymus, the side-effects on the immune system of anabolic treatments of these substances have hardly been considered. In order to evaluate the effects exerted by the beta2 adrenergic agonist clenbuterol on the thymocyte population, the thymus of eight pigs treated with anabolic doses of this substance was studied by morphometric methods, regarding apoptotic (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL)-positive) and normal (TUNEL-negative) cells. The thymus of another eight pigs fed without clenbuterol served as a control. The clenbuterol treatment had a clear effect on the thymocyte size, decreasing their mean nuclear area. The T-cell apoptosis index was also affected by the clenbuterol, significantly increasing the apoptosis percentage in the treated group with respect to the control. In the light of our results, the clenbuterol induced thymocyte apoptosis throughout the thymus and caused morphometric changes in the thymocyte population, which was in line with the immunosuppressive role attributed to other beta2 adrenergic agonists.

Morphological effects of oestradiol-17beta, and selective oestrogen receptor alpha and beta agonists on luteinising hormone-secreting cells in tamoxifen-treated ovariectomised rats.

To investigate the role played by the different rat gonadotroph oestrogen receptor (ER) pools in the effects of oestradiol-17beta (E2) on gonadectomy cells, two-week ovariectomised (OVX) rats were used. The basic experimental group of rats was injected with 3 mg of the selective ER modulator tamoxifen (TX) on days 15-20 after OVX. Groups of TX-treated OVX rats were additionally injected on days 18-20 after OVX with 10 microg oestradiol benzoate (EB), 1 mg of the selective ERalpha agonist propylpyrazole triol (PPT), or 1 mg of the selective ERbeta diarylpropionitrile (DPN). Negative and positive control groups were OVX rats injected over six days after OVX with 0.2 ml oil and EB, respectively. On day 21 after OVX, anterior pituitary glands were dissected out and divided into halves. One hemipituitary was processed for light microscopy and immunocytochemistry for betaLH subunit and progesterone receptor (PR), and the other hemipituitary for ultrastructural evaluation. Results showed that: gonadotrophs were the only pituitary cell type expressing PR; treatment with TX alone shrunk gonadectomy cells and induced both reorganization of membrane-enclosed intracellular organelles and PR expression, and treatment with DPN or EB, but not PPT, reduced the agonistic morphological effects of TX. Considering that TX activates nuclear ERalpha, the results indicate that activation of nuclear ERalpha is determinant for the reversal effects of E2 on gonadotrope morphology and PR expression, and the simultaneous activation of ERbeta modulates the action of ERalpha in an inhibitory fashion.

Quantitative modification of the testicular structure in pigs fed with anabolic doses of clenbuterol.

Morphological and structural data of the testes of thirty male pigs were recorded in order to evaluate the effects of an anabolic clenbuterol treatment. Pigs aged 6 months were randomly allocated to one of three experimental groups. In two treated groups, the animals were fed with anabolic doses of clenbuterol (1 ppm); in the CLB group (n = 10) clenbuterol was given until they were slaughtered (treatment period = 3 months) whereas in the CLBW group (n = 10) the clenbuterol was withdrawn two weeks before slaughter (treatment period = 2.5 months); clenbuterol was not given to the pigs of the control group (n = 10). Stereological estimations of the tissular volume fraction and tubular volume density were applied to quantify the structural constituents of the testes. The results showed an increased volume fraction of the testicular interstitium especially in the Leydig cell population, as a result of the clenbuterol treatment. The increase in the nuclear volume fraction of the Leydig cells was the more persistent change in the variations recorded in both treated groups with respect to the control. A regression of the seminal epithelium was also recorded in the treated animals. The rest of the structural parameters were closer to the normal figures in the CLBW group, suggesting a recovery of the testicular structure when clenbuterol was withdrawn.

Steroid hormone progesterone induces cell proliferation and abnormal mitotic processes in rat liver.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute hepatic effects exerted by the steroid hormone progesterone (PR) in the rat. Although the liver is not a target tissue for this hormone, a number of hepatic actions of PR have been described, and, furthermore, a specific binding site for PR (PBS) exists in rat liver microsomes. Immature male rats were treated intraperitoneally with 60 mg/kg PR per day for 1, 5 or 10 days, and different parameters were evaluated in order to detect possible alterations in liver cells. Morphological study of the livers did not present images of cytotoxicity in any group of animals. The presence of a clear hyperplasia of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) was noteworthy, mainly seen in perilobular hepatocytes. Despite this SER increase, the levels of cytochrome P450 (Cyt P450) significantly decreased after 10 days of PR administration. Similarly, the concentration of PBS was significantly decreased after 10 days of treatment with PR. On the other hand, these studies revealed a clear increase of mitotic activity and Ki-67 labelling index in the livers of animals treated with PR; furthermore, livers of PR-treated animals showed an increased percentage of binucleate hepatocytes. Flow cytometry analysis showed that although ploidy status of liver cells was not modified in any case the percentage of diploid nuclei in S-phase decreased during treatment with PR. The most relevant finding was the presence of abnormal mitosis and c-mitosis in livers from animals from all PR-treated groups. This study demonstrates that PR (a) does not induce cytotoxicity although it can induce cell proliferation and spindle disturbances in liver cells, (b) may also modulate the drug-metabolizing liver enzyme function, and (c) downregulates the expression of its own microsomal specific binding site.