Residential proximity to pesticide applications in Argentine Patagonia: impact on pregnancy and newborn parameters.

Among residents living close to agricultural fields who are potentially exposed to pesticides, pregnant women and their fetuses are of particular concern for their vulnerability to environmental chemicals. In this collaborative multicenter study, we covered a wide distribution of participants in the most important fruit production zone of north Patagonia (Argentina) to investigate whether maternal residential proximity to fruit croplands with intense pesticide applications (rural group -RG-) is associated with pregnancy complications and alterations in their newborn parameters compared to the urban population (urban group -UG-). A total of 776 pregnant women met the inclusion criteria. The percentage of threatened miscarriage was significantly higher in the RG than in the UG. The percentage of miscarriage, threat of premature labor, intrauterine fetal death, preterm premature rupture of membranes, and intrauterine growth retardation were similar in both groups. Newborn anthropometric parameters were corrected by sex and gestational age prior to statistical analysis. Length at birth and head circumference were lower in the RG than in the UG. Birth weight was similar in both groups. The percentage of head circumference less than the 5th percentile and the ponderal index were greater in the RG than in the UG. Our results suggest that proximity to pesticide applications may increase the risk of pregnancy complications and altered newborn parameters.

Microscopic sperm head damage and abnormalities as heat stress indicators in Australian Merino rams (Ovis aries) in Northern Patagonia, Argentina / Danos e anormalidades microscópicas das cabeças espermáticas como indicadores de estresse por calor em carneiros Merino Australiano (Ovis aries) da Patagônia Norte, Argentina

In Northern Patagonia, the mating season starts on March 15th, when rams are submitted to summer temperatures. Exposure of rams to heat stress increases the prevalence of microscopic damage to spermatozoa, morphological abnormalities, and reductions in fertility. This study assesses the adaptive capabilities of six unshorn and six shorn Australian Merino rams, half of which were treated in a heat chamber for eight hours for five days, gradually reaching a temperature of up to 40 °C. Microscopic damage, abnormalities and ultramicroscopic alterations of the plasma membrane and the acrosome of sperm head were analysed. There were significant differences in the percentage of tailless spermatozoa and proximal cytoplasmic droplets between post-treatment periods. Temperature primarily affected the shorn rams and the sperm heads during spermiogenesis. Submicroscopic alterations were observed when the plasma membrane was present in the anterior segment. These alterations can be intact, waved, or dilated. When the plasma membrane was absent, the acrosome might be intact, dilated, and waved. In addition, the outer acrosomal membrane may completely lose its contents or have a nude nucleus. The plasma membrane assumes a waved shape as a result of the effect of temperature on the epididymis. According to this study, the tailless head, proximal cytoplasmic droplets, and the ultramicroscopic categories studied were robust indicators of semen heat stress. After ten weeks, the sperm head recovered its normal shape. Unshorn rams are better adapted to summer heat stress than shorn ones. Microscopy and transmission electron microscopy alterations have been shown to be excellent indicators of thermal stress in Australian Merino rams and may be useful tools to help sheep farmers choose when to begin the mating season, which will vary depending on the environmental conditions of the summer.(AU)

Na Patagônia Norte, os ovinos têm sua estação de acasalamento iniciada em 15 de março, portanto, ficam sujeitos às temperaturas do verão. A exposição de carneiros a estresse térmico aumenta a prevalência de danos microscópicos e anomalias morfológicas nos espermatozoides, que implica uma redução na fertilidade. Este trabalho avaliou a capacidade adaptativa de carneiros Merino Australiano com lã (N = 6) e tosquiados (N = 6): metade ficou ao ar livre e outra metade foi mantida em uma câmara climática por oito horas, durante cinco dias, chegando gradualmente a uma temperatura máxima de 40 °C. Foram analisados danos microscópicos, anormalidades e alterações ultramicroscópicas da membrana plasmática e do acrossoma da cabeça dos espermatozoides. Os resultados microscópicos confirmaram a existência de diferença significativa na porcentagem de espermatozoides sem cauda e com gota citoplasmática proximal, entre os ejaculados pós-tratamento. A temperatura afetou os carneiros tosquiados, principalmente a cabeça de seus espermatozoides, durante a espermatogênese. Alterações submicroscópicas foram observados na membrana plasmática quando ela estava presente no segmento anterior: quando não intacta, ficava ondulada ou dilatada. Quando a membrana plasmática estava ausente, o acrossoma podia se apresentar ondulado ou dilatado. Além disso, sob efeito do calor, a membrana acrossomal externa pode perder completamente seu conteúdo ou apresentar núcleo desnudo. A membrana plasmática assume uma forma ondulada pelo efeito da temperatura no epidídimo. Depois de dez semanas, a cabeça dos espermatozoides recuperou sua forma normal. Como demonstrado neste estudo, a cabeça sem cauda, as gotas citoplasmáticas proximais e as categorias ultramicroscópicas estudadas são indicadores do efeito do estresse térmico no sêmen, e os carneiros com maior cobertura de lã se adaptam melhor ao estresse por calor. Alterações de microscopia e de microscopia eletrônica de transmissão têm se mostrado excelentes indicadores de estresse por calor em carneiros Merino Australiano e podem ser ferramentas úteis para ajudar criadores de ovelhas a escolher quando começar a época de acasalamento, o que irá variar de acordo com as condições ambientais do verão.(AU)

Organophosphate pesticide environmental exposure: analysis of salivary cholinesterase and carboxilesterase activities in preschool children and their mothers.

A pilot study was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of salivary cholinesterase and carboxylesterase as biomarkers of exposure to environmental organophosphate pesticides. Ninety samples were obtained from women and 62 samples from their preschool-aged children who live near an agricultural area of the Upper Valley of the Negro River (Patagonia, Argentina) where pesticides are applied 6 months a year. Each participant donated two samples under similar conditions: one in the pre-exposure period and another during the pulverization period. Demographic information, potential confounders, and risk behaviors were registered. Active or passive smoking had no effect on these enzyme activities in either group. During the pulverization period, cholinesterase activity was not detectable in 76% of the children's samples and 23% of the mothers' samples. Comparing samples collected during the pulverization period with respect to the pre-pulverization period, the average mother and child cholinesterase activity decreased by 65.7% (p < 0.001) and 85.8% (p < 0.001), respectively. Also, mother and child carboxylesterase activity decreased by 27.5% (p < 0.001) and 41.9% (p < 0.01), respectively. Child carboxylesterase activity in the pulverization period was associated to the habit of eating dust outdoors (p < 0.01). The most frequent inhibition levels observed for cholinesterase and carboxylesterase activity were between 70-100% and 0-29%, respectively, in both groups studied. This shows that at the same level of exposure, cholinesterase was more sensitive to inhibition than carboxylesterase. Therefore, carboxylesterase might more properly reflect the degree of environmental organophosphate exposure and may have potential as a novel tool for biomonitoring.

Exposición ambiental a plaguicidas: impacto en parámetros moleculares, bioquímicos y morfométricos de la tríada madre-placenta-feto / Environmental exposure to pesticides: impact on molecular, biochemical and morphometric parameters of the mother-placenta-fetus triad

INTRODUCCION:La salud prenatal representa un problema relevante de salud públic, y uno de los temas prioritarios es la exposición ambiental a los plaguicidas.OBJETIVO:Identificar modificaciones en biomarcadores de efecto en la tríada madre-placenta-feto, mecanismos involucrados y asociaciones con el desarrollo "in utero".METODOS:Se realizó un estudio prospectivo con 776 embarazadas del Alto Valle del Río Negro, donde se aplican organofosforados (OF) intensivamente. Se utilizaron criterios de inclusión/exclusión, determinándose parámetros bioquímicos, moleculares y morfométricos en población de comunidades rurales (PoR) en período de pulverizaciones (PP) y de receso (PR) y en grupo control (PoC). Se registraron las alteraciones del embarazo.RESULTADOS:En PP, la Por presentó exposición a OF, y se vieron afectados los niveles de progesterona, cortisol y sulfato de dehidroepiandrosterona séricos durante el embarazo. En sangre de cordón aumentó la actividad de catalasa eritrocitaria. En la placenta se modificaron biomarcadores de estrés oxidativo, de funcionalidad mitocondrial, la expresión de TNFò e IL-13 y el contenido de la proteína Bcl-2. En concordancia, en células JEG-3 expuestas a OF se observó estrés oxidativo, apoptosis y aumento en la expresión de dichas citoquinas. La talla y el perímetro cefálico ajustados por sexo y edad gestacional del neonato fueron menores en PoR que en PoC (p<0,010 y p<0,05, respectivamente), mientras que el porcentaje de neonatos con perímetro cefálico menor al percentilo 5 fue mayor. En PoR se registró un mayor porcentaje de amenaza de aborto. Los niveles maternos de cortisol de primer y segundo trimestre de embarazo de PoR se asociaron negativamente con el peso y el perímetro cefálico.CONCLUSIONES:En PoR se afectaron parámetros de la tríada y del desarrollo intrauterino. El aumento en el nivel de cortisol materno sobreexpondría al feto a esta hormona, afectando la programación del eje hipotalámico-adrenal y la capacidad cognitiva.

INTRODUCTION: Prenatal health represents a relevant problem in public health. Special attention should be given to pesticide environmental exposure.OBJECTIVE: To identify changes in biomarkers of effect in the triad mother-placenta-fetus, mechanisms involved and their association with the in utero development.METHODS: Prospective study of 776 pregnante woman living in the High Valley of Río Negro, where organophosphate pesticides (OP) are intensively applied. The study used inclusion/exclusion criteria. Biochemical, molecular and morphometric parameters were determined in rural residents (RR) in pulverization (PP) and recess periods (RP) and in a control group (CG). Pregnancy alterations were registered.RESULTS: In PP, RR were exposed to OP, while serum progesterone, cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels were affected during pregnancy. In cord blood, erythrocyte catalase activity was increased. In the placenta, there was a change in stress oxidative biomarkers, mitochondrial function biomarkers, the expression of TNFò and IL-13 and the protein Bcl-2 content. In line with the above, JEG-3 cells exposed to OP showed oxidative stress, apoptosis and increase in these cytokines expression. In RR, the newborn length and heah circumference adjusted by sex and gestational age were lower (p<0.010 and p<0.05, respectively) than in CG. Meanwhile, the percentage of newborns with head circumference lower than percentile 5 was higher. In RR, a higher percentage of threatened abortion was registered. Cortisol blood levels at first and second trimester of pregnancy were negatively associated with newborn weight and head circumference.CONCLUSIONS: Parameters of the triad and intrauterine development were affected in RR. The increase in the level of maternal cortisol would overexpose the fetus to this hormone, affecting the programming of hypothalamic-adrenal axis and the cognitive ability.

Exposición ambiental a plaguicidas: impacto en parámetros moleculares, bioquímicos y morfométricos de la tríada madre-placenta-feto / Environmental exposure to pesticides: impact on molecular, biochemical and morphometric parameters of the mother-placenta-fetus triad

INTRODUCCION:La salud prenatal representa un problema relevante de salud públic, y uno de los temas prioritarios es la exposición ambiental a los plaguicidas.OBJETIVO:Identificar modificaciones en biomarcadores de efecto en la tríada madre-placenta-feto, mecanismos involucrados y asociaciones con el desarrollo "in utero".METODOS:Se realizó un estudio prospectivo con 776 embarazadas del Alto Valle del Río Negro, donde se aplican organofosforados (OF) intensivamente. Se utilizaron criterios de inclusión/exclusión, determinándose parámetros bioquímicos, moleculares y morfométricos en población de comunidades rurales (PoR) en período de pulverizaciones (PP) y de receso (PR) y en grupo control (PoC). Se registraron las alteraciones del embarazo.RESULTADOS:En PP, la Por presentó exposición a OF, y se vieron afectados los niveles de progesterona, cortisol y sulfato de dehidroepiandrosterona séricos durante el embarazo. En sangre de cordón aumentó la actividad de catalasa eritrocitaria. En la placenta se modificaron biomarcadores de estrés oxidativo, de funcionalidad mitocondrial, la expresión de TNFò e IL-13 y el contenido de la proteína Bcl-2. En concordancia, en células JEG-3 expuestas a OF se observó estrés oxidativo, apoptosis y aumento en la expresión de dichas citoquinas. La talla y el perímetro cefálico ajustados por sexo y edad gestacional del neonato fueron menores en PoR que en PoC (p<0,010 y p<0,05, respectivamente), mientras que el porcentaje de neonatos con perímetro cefálico menor al percentilo 5 fue mayor. En PoR se registró un mayor porcentaje de amenaza de aborto. Los niveles maternos de cortisol de primer y segundo trimestre de embarazo de PoR se asociaron negativamente con el peso y el perímetro cefálico.CONCLUSIONES:En PoR se afectaron parámetros de la tríada y del desarrollo intrauterino. El aumento en el nivel de cortisol materno sobreexpondría al feto a esta hormona, afectando la programación del eje hipotalámico-adrenal y la capacidad cognitiva.

INTRODUCTION: Prenatal health represents a relevant problem in public health. Special attention should be given to pesticide environmental exposure.OBJECTIVE: To identify changes in biomarkers of effect in the triad mother-placenta-fetus, mechanisms involved and their association with the in utero development.METHODS: Prospective study of 776 pregnante woman living in the High Valley of Río Negro, where organophosphate pesticides (OP) are intensively applied. The study used inclusion/exclusion criteria. Biochemical, molecular and morphometric parameters were determined in rural residents (RR) in pulverization (PP) and recess periods (RP) and in a control group (CG). Pregnancy alterations were registered.RESULTS: In PP, RR were exposed to OP, while serum progesterone, cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels were affected during pregnancy. In cord blood, erythrocyte catalase activity was increased. In the placenta, there was a change in stress oxidative biomarkers, mitochondrial function biomarkers, the expression of TNFò and IL-13 and the protein Bcl-2 content. In line with the above, JEG-3 cells exposed to OP showed oxidative stress, apoptosis and increase in these cytokines expression. In RR, the newborn length and heah circumference adjusted by sex and gestational age were lower (p<0.010 and p<0.05, respectively) than in CG. Meanwhile, the percentage of newborns with head circumference lower than percentile 5 was higher. In RR, a higher percentage of threatened abortion was registered. Cortisol blood levels at first and second trimester of pregnancy were negatively associated with newborn weight and head circumference.CONCLUSIONS: Parameters of the triad and intrauterine development were affected in RR. The increase in the level of maternal cortisol would overexpose the fetus to this hormone, affecting the programming of hypothalamic-adrenal axis and the cognitive ability.