Nitrogen and sulphur mustard induced histopathological observations in mouse visceral organs.

Nitrogen mustards (HN) and sulphur mustard (SM) are potent alkylating blister inducing chemical warfare agents. Single 1.0 LD50 dose produced a progressive fall in body weight from second day onwards in all groups of mustard agents exposed animals. Histological examination of spleen, liver skin and kidney revealed significant histopathological lesions in nitrogen mustards and sulphur mustard. These lesions include granulovascular degeneration with perinuclear clumping of the cytoplasm of hepatocytes and renal parenchymal cells. Renal lesions were characterized by congestion and hemorrhage. The maximum toxic manifestation were noted in spleen and skin of HN-3 exposed mice while sulphur mustard reported maximum toxicity in liver and kidneys. The study suggests both nitrogen mustards and sulphur mustard to be extremely toxic by percutaneous route based on histopathological observation and can contributed to earlier reported free radical generation by these toxicants.

Presidential address.

PIP: During this graduation address at the International Institute for Population Sciences in Bombay, India's Secretary of Health and Family Welfare noted that India has achieved a sustained decline in fertility, but that additional efforts must be made to increase maternal age, lengthen birth intervals, and reduce the number of higher-order births. Women must be given greater access to family planning information and methods, to maternal health care, and to safe abortion. In particular, the estimated 30 million women with unmet need for contraception must be served. Infant survival, which is intimately linked with fertility reduction, has improved because of an increase in immunization. The success of the immunization program created the confidence to attempt the highly successful Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme in the past year, and the success of this program, in turn, has led to plans to carry out a week-long, country-wide health check-up of all 5-10 year old children. Additional efforts have been made to improve outreach, decentralize the Family Welfare Programme, eliminate target-setting, improve quality, and place family planning within the broader context of reproductive health.^ieng

Cadmium nephropathy in a freshwater fish, Puntius conchonius Hamilton.

Renal pathology was examined in a freshwater fish, Puntius conchonius, during a 12-week exposure to 500, 630, and 840 micrograms CdCl2/liter (1/25, 1/20, and 1/15 fractions of the 96-hr TLm, respectively). Multifocal tubular epithelial degeneration including severe vacuolation and nuclear pyknosis and karyorrhexis composed the most obvious lesions. The degenerative changes were found mainly in the proximal segments, while the distal segments and the collecting tubules and ducts remained unaffected. Collapsed and shrunken glomeruli and swollen Bowman's spaces were also frequently observed. The cadmium-exposed fish appeared heavily stressed and moribund. A comparison of the renal pathology with that of other fishes and mammals and possible mechanisms of cadmium nephropathy are discussed.

Branchial pathogenesis in a freshwater fish, Puntius conchonius Ham., chronically exposed to sublethal concentrations of cadmium.

Effects of sublethal concentrations, 630 and 840 micrograms/liter (0.05 and 0.066 fractions of the 96-hr LC50), of cadmium chloride on the gills of a freshwater fish, Puntius conchonius, were examined light microscopically during a 12-week exposure. The secondary gill lamellae showed disrupted epithelium, necrosis, accumulation of cellular debris, capillary congestion, and wilting of the pillar cell system. Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of chloride cells as well as partial or complete fusion of secondary lamellae also occurred in the Cd-exposed fish. Branchial lesions together with coagulation film anoxia are likely to result in serious respiratory distress and related tissue hypoxia.

Effect of organomercurial poisoning on the peripheral blood and metabolite levels of a freshwater fish.

This work evaluated the hematological and biochemical changes in the fish, Puntius conchonius, under experimental organomercurial poisoning. Long-term (8 weeks) exposure to 3.63 and 6.03 mg/liter methoxyethyl mercuric chloride (MEMC) (0.2 and 0.33 fractions of 96-hr LC50) led to morphological aberrations in mature erythrocytes including nuclear and cytoplasmic deterioration, vacuolation, chromatin condensation, and hypochromia. Immature erythrocytes showing membrane leakage were also encountered. Erythrocyte count and hemoglobin (Hb) were significantly lowered after 1 and 3 weeks followed by a marginal rise persisting upto 8 weeks. Differential leucocyte counts revealed significant thrombocytopenia, lymphocytosis, and neutropenia. Collateral evaluation of blood glucose and tissue glycogen levels revealed significant hyperglycemia as well as glycogen depletion in liver and brain. Heart glycogen content evinced a substantial increase after 5 and 8 weeks exposure.

Erythrocytic and leukocytic responses to cadmium poisoning in a freshwater fish, Puntius conchonius Ham.

Chronically sublethal concentrations of cadmium caused conspicuous hematological anomalies in the cyprinid fish, Puntius conchonius. Exposure to 0.63 and 0.84 mg/liter cadmium chloride (1/20 and 1/15 of 96-hr LC50) induced morphological aberrations in mature erythrocytes including cytoplasmic vacuolation, hypochromia, deterioration of cellular membrane, basophilic stippling of cytoplasm, clumping of chromatin material and extrusion of nuclei, and schistocytosis. Anomalous basophils and monocytes were also encountered though less frequently. Decreased erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin and hematocrit values were also associated with chronic cadmium poisoning. The mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume increased (30 days) but mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration showed no obvious change. A significant thrombocytopenia (90 days), elevated small lymphocyte and basophil populations, and a mild neutropenia were manifested in the cadmium-exposed fish. Large lymphocytes were not significantly affected.

Cadmium toxicity: inducement of changes in blood and tissue metabolites in fish.

The effects of acute (24 h) and chronic (90 days) cadmium (Cd) poisoning on blood and tissue metabolite levels of a teleost, Puntius conchonius were studied. Significant hyperglycemia with an increment in liver, kidney and ovary cholesterol occurred during acute Cd poisoning. By contrast, an enduring hypoglycemia and diminished levels of tissue cholesterol manifested the chronically intoxicated fish. Both acute and chronic Cd poisoning, however, caused marked hypocholesterolemia, glycogenolysis in liver and brain, and a concomitant rise in myocardium glycogen concentration. Testes cholesterol was found to be depleted after both acute and chronic (60 days) Cd poisoning.