Both diet and gene mutation induced obesity affect oocyte quality in mice.

Obesity was shown to cause reproductive dysfunctions such as reduced conception, infertility and early pregnancy loss. However, the possible effects of obesity on oocyte quality are still not fully understood. In this study we investigated the effects of both diet and gene mutation induced obesity on impairments in mouse oocyte polarization, oxidative stress, and epigenetic modifications. Our results showed that high-fat diet induced obesity (HFD) and gene mutation induced obesity (ob/ob) could both impair oocyte meiotic maturation, disrupt spindle morphology, and reduce oocyte polarity. Oocytes from obese mice underwent oxidative stress, as shown by high DHE and ROS levels. Abnormal mitochondrial distributions and structures were observed in oocytes from obese groups of mice and early apoptosis signals were detected, which suggesting that oxidative stress had impaired mitochondrial function and resulted in oocyte apoptosis. Our results also showed that 5 mC levels and H3K9 and H3K27 methylation levels were altered in oocytes from obese mice, which indicated that DNA methylation and histone methylation had been affected. Our results showed that both HFD and ob/ob induced obesity affected oocyte maturation and that oxidative stress-induced early apoptosis and altered epigenetic modifications may be the reasons for reduced oocyte quality in obese mice.

[Assessment of Heavy Metals Pollution and Its Health Risk of Atmospheric Dust Fall from East Part of Junggar Basin in Xinjiang].

In order to evaluate the contamination and health risk of heavy metals from atmospheric dust fall in Zhundong opencast coalfield in Xinjiang, samples of atmospheric dust fall were collected from 52 sampling sites covering the entire region and the contents of Zn, Cu, Cr, Pb, Hg and As were tested and analyzed. The contamination was assessed by geo-accumulation index method, and the risk to human health was assessed using the US EPA Health Risk Assessment Model. The results showed that:The contamination of heavy metals from atmospheric dust fall had a significant difference, in the order of Zn > Cr > Cu > As > Pb > Hg, and the average contents were higher than the soil background of Changji. The coefficient of variation of Hg, Cu and As was 381.91%, 99.94% and 97.82%, and human activities had a greater impact on them. The correlation coefficients in 6 heavy metals were complex, the correlation coefficients among Zn-Cu-Cr were more relevant than Hg-As-Pb. The assessment results of geo-accumulation index indicated that the Zn pollution in the atmospheric dust fall should be classified as extreme degree, and that of Cu, Pb, As as between slight and extreme degrees, and Hg as practically uncontaminated. The exposure content of carcinogenic risk and non-carcinogenic risk of the study area had little difference. It was HQCr > HQAs > HQZn > HQPb > HQCu > HQHg, the total non-cancer hazard index was 0.258, the non-cancer hazard indexes were both lower than their threshold values, suggesting that they would not harm the health. The carcinogenic risk hazard indexes were in the order of CRAs > CRCr > CRPb, suggesting that Pb had no cancer risk, while As was the most important carcinogenic factor. The average TCR was 1.95E-05, indicating that the risk was within the limit that human can tolerate.

[Study on estimation of deserts soil total phosphorus content from thermal-infrared emissivity].

Soil phosphorus provides nutrient elements for plants, is one of important parameters for evaluating soil quality. The traditional method for soil total phosphorus content (STPC) measurement is not effective and time-consuming. However, remote sensing (RS) enables us to determine STPC in a fast and efficient way. Studies on the estimation of STPC in near-infrared spectroscopy have been developed by scholars, but model accuracy is still poor due to the low absorption coefficient and unclear absorption peak of soil phosphorus in near-infrared. In order to solve the deficiency which thermal-infrared emissivity estimate desert soil total phosphorus content, and could improve precision of estimation deserts soil total phosphorus. In this paper, characteristics of soil thermal-infrared emissivity are analyzed on the basis of laboratory processing and spectral measurement of deserts soil samples from the eastern Junggar Basin. Furthermore, thermal-infrared emissivity based RS models for STPC estimation are established and accuracy assessed. Results show that: when STPC is higher than 0.200 g x kg(-1), the thermal-infrared emissivity increases with the increase of STPC on the wavelength between 8.00 microm and 13 microm, and the emissivity is more sensitive to STPC on the wavelength between 9.00 and 9.6 microm; the estimate mode based on multiple stepwise regression was could not to estimate deserts soil total phosphorus content from thermal-infrared emissivity because the estimation effects of them were poor. The estimation accuracy of model based on partial least squares regression is higher than the model based on multiple stepwise regression. However, the accuracy of second-order differential estimation model based on partial least square regression is higher than based on multiple stepwise regression; The first differential of continuous remove estimation model based on partial least squares regression is the best model with R2 of correction and verification are up to 0.97 and 0.82 respectively, and RMSE of correction and verification are only 0.0106 and 0.015 7 respectively, RPD is 2.62. Research results provide optimized models for remotely sensed analysis on deserts soil total phosphorus content and could realize timeliness and effective monitoring on the space-time dynamic of deserts soil total phosphorus content for future regional ecological restoration.

Zearalenone exposure affects mouse oocyte meiotic maturation and granulosa cell proliferation.

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a metabolite of Fusarium and is a common contaminant of grains and foodstuffs. ZEN acts as a xenoestrogen and is considered to be cytotoxic, tissue toxic, and genotoxic, which causes abortions and stillbirths in humans and animals. Since estrogens affect oocyte maturation during meiosis, in this study we investigated the effects of ZEN on mouse oocyte meiotic maturation and granulosa cell proliferation. Our results showed that ZEN-treated oocyte maturation rates were decreased, which might be due to the disrupted cytoskeletons: (1) ZEN treatment resulted in significantly more oocytes with abnormal spindle morphologies; (2) actin filament expression and distribution were also disrupted after ZEN treatment, which was confirmed by the aberrant distribution of actin regulatory proteins. In addition, cortical granule-free domains (CGFDs) were disrupted after ZEN treatment, which indicated that ZEN may affect mouse oocyte fertilization capability. ZEN reduced mouse granulosa cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner as determined by MTT assay and TUNEL apoptosis analysis, which may be another cause for the decreased oocyte maturation. Thus, our results demonstrated that exposure to zearalenone affected oocyte meiotic maturation and granulosa cell proliferation in mouse.

Zearalenone exposure affects epigenetic modifications of mouse eggs.

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin produced by various Fusarium fungi, which has been shown to cause several cases of mycotoxicosis in farm animals and humans. However, there is no evidence regarding the effect of ZEA on mouse egg developmental competence. In this study, we found that the activation rate of maturated oocytes was affected in mice by ZEA treatment, indicating that ZEA affects egg developmental competence. And we explored possible mechanisms of low mouse maturated oocyte developmental competence after ZEA treatment from an epigenetic modification perspective. The fluorescence intensity analysis showed that 5-methyl cytosine level increased after ZEA treatment, indicating that the general DNA methylation level increased in the treated eggs. Moreover, histone methylations were also altered: H3K4me2 as well as H3K9me3 and H4K20me1, me2, me3 levels decreased in eggs that were cultured in high-dose ZEA medium. Thus, our results indicated that ZEA decreased egg developmental competence by affecting the epigenetic modifications.

Effect of mycotoxin-containing diets on epigenetic modifications of mouse oocytes by fluorescence microscopy analysis.

Mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin (AF), fumonisin B1, zearalenone (ZEA), and deoxynivalenol (DON), are commonly found in many food commodities. Mycotoxins have been shown to increase DNA methylation levels in a human intestinal cell line. We previously showed that the developmental competence of oocytes was affected in mice that had been fed a mycotoxin-containing diet. In this study, we explored possible mechanisms of low mouse oocyte developmental competence after mycotoxin treatment in an epigenetic modification perspective. Mycotoxin-contaminated maize (DON at 3,875 µg/kg, ZEA at 1,897 µg/kg, and AF at 806 µg/kg) was included in diets at three different doses (mass percentage: 0, 15, and 30%) and fed to mice for 4 weeks. The fluorescence intensity analysis showed that the general DNA methylation levels increased in oocytes from high dose mycotoxin-fed mice. Mouse oocyte histone methylation was also altered. H3K9me3 and H4K20me3 level increased in oocytes from mycotoxin-fed mice, whereas H3K27me3 and H4K20me2 level decreased in oocytes from mycotoxin-fed mice. Thus, our results indicate that naturally occurring mycotoxins have effects on epigenetic modifications in mouse oocytes, which may be one of the reasons for reduced oocyte developmental competence.

Oocyte quality in mice is affected by a mycotoxin-contaminated diet.

Mycotoxins, such as deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), and aflatoxin (AF), are commonly found in many food commodities and may impair the growth and reproductive efficiency of animals and humans. We investigated the effects of a mycotoxin-contaminated diet on mouse oocyte quality. Maize contaminated with DON (3.875 mg/kg), ZEN (1,897 µg/kg), and AF (806 µg/kg) was incorporated into a mouse diet at three different levels (0, 15, and 30% w/w). After 4 weeks, ovarian and germinal vesicle oocyte indices decreased in mycotoxin-fed mice. Oocytes from these mice exhibited low developmental competence with reduced germinal vesicle breakdown and polar body extrusion rates. Embryo developmental competence also showed a similar pattern, and the majority of embryos could not develop to the morula stage. Actin expression was also reduced in both the oocyte cortex and cytoplasm, which was accompanied by decreased expression of the actin nucleation factors profilin-1 and mDia1. Moreover, a large percentage of oocytes derived from mice that were fed a mycotoxin-contaminated diet exhibited aberrant spindle morphology, a loss of the cortical granule-free domain, and abnormal mitochondrial distributions, which further supported the decreased oocyte quality. Thus, our results demonstrate that mycotoxins are toxic to the mouse reproductive system by affecting oocyte quality.

Mycotoxin-containing diet causes oxidative stress in the mouse.

Mycotoxins which mainly consist of Aflatoxin (AF), Zearalenone (ZEN) and Deoxynivalenol (DON) are commonly found in many food commodities. Although each component has been shown to cause liver toxicity and oxidative stress in several species, there is no evidence regarding the effect of naturally contained multiple mycotoxins on tissue toxicity and oxidative stress in vivo. In the present study, mycotoxins-contaminated maize (AF 597 µg/kg, ZEN 729 µg/kg, DON 3.1 mg/kg maize) was incorporated into the diet at three different doses (0, 5 and 20%) to feed the mice, and blood and tissue samples were collected to examine the oxidative stress related indexes. The results showed that the indexes of liver, kidney and spleen were all increased and the liver and kidney morphologies changed in the mycotoxin-treated mice. Also, the treatment resulted in the elevated glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the serum and liver, indicating the presence of the oxidative stress. Moreover, the decrease of catalase (CAT) activity in the serum, liver and kidney as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the liver and kidney tissue further confirmed the occurrence of oxidative stress. In conclusion, our data indicate that the naturally contained mycotoxins are toxic in vivo and able to induce the oxidant stress in the mouse.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate acts as an activator for the porcine Gpr3 of constitutively active G protein-coupled receptors.

We cloned the complete coding sequences of porcine Gpr3, Gpr6, and Gpr12 genes. Further, on the basis of their high levels of sequence similarity, these genes are identified as a subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors. These putative protein sequences also showed high sequence identity with other mammalian orthologs, including several highly conserved motifs. A wide expression of the Gpr3 gene in pigs was observed through tissue distribution analysis by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time PCR, specially in the brain, pituitary, fat, liver and oocyte, where its strong expression was observed. The Gpr3 gene was found to be located on chromosome 6 and a single exon coded for the entire open-reading frame. Expression of porcine Gpr3 in HEK293 cells resulted in constitutive activation of adenylate cyclase (AC) similar in amplitude to that produced by fully stimulated G(s)-coupled receptors. Moreover, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) could increase AC activation via the constitutively active Gpr3 receptor. When a Gpr3-green fluorescent protein (GFP) construct was expressed in HEK293 cells, GFP-labeled Gpr3 protein was shown to be localized in the plasmalemma and subcellular membranes. After S1P treatment, agonist-mediated internalization could be visualized by confocal microscopy. In short, our findings suggest the porcine Gpr3, Gpr6, and Gpr12 genes as a subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors, and porcine Gpr3 was a constitutively active G protein-coupled receptor. Constitutive activation of AC and agonist-mediated internalization of Gpr3 receptor could be modulated by the S1P, suggesting that S1P might act as an activator for porcine Gpr3 receptor.

3,4-Dimeth-oxy-4'-nitro-1,1'-biphen-yl.

The title compound, C(14)H(13)NO(4), was prepared through a palladium-catalysed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction. The asymmetric unit comprises two mol-ecules related by pseudo-inversion symmetry. The dihedral angles between the benzene rings in the two mol-ecules are 44.30 (6) and 48.50 (6)° while those between the benzene ring and the nitro group are 6.54 (13) and 5.73 (10)°. The crystal packing is defined only by Van der Waals inter-actions.

3',4'-Dimeth-oxy-biphenyl-4-carbonitrile.

The title compound, C(15)H(13)NO(2), was prepared through a palladium-catalysed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction. The dihedral angle between the biphenyl rings is 40.96 (6)°. The meth-oxy groups are twisted slightly out of the plane of the benzene ring [C-C-C-C torsion angles = -3.61 (18) and 12.6 (2)°]. The packing of the molecules is stabilized by van der Waals inter-actions.

2,9,10-Trimeth-oxy-dibenzo[b,d]oxepin-7(6H)-one.

The title compound, C(17)H(16)O(5), was prepared through a cyclization reaction of 2-(3',4',5-trimeth-oxy-biphenyl-2-yl-oxy)acetyl chloride. The two benzene rings form a dihedral angle of 34.55 (5)°. The crystal structure does not feature any hydrogen bonds.

3a,11b-Dihy-droxy-3a,11b-dihydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline-2(3H)-thione.

The title compound, C(13)H(10)N(4)O(2)S, was prepared through a cyclization reaction of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione and thio-urea. The dihedral angle between the pyridine rings is 8.22 (2)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are connected by N-H⋯O, O-H⋯N, N-H⋯S and O-H⋯S hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional network.

4-Meth-oxy-2-nitro-4'-(trifluoro-meth-yl)biphen-yl.

The title compound, C(14)H(10)F(3)NO(3), was prepared by a palladium-catalysed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction. The dihedral angle between the nitro group and its parent benzene ring is 66.85 (19)° while the dihedral angle between the two benzene rings is 49.98 (9)°. The CF(3) group is disordered over two sets of sites with occupancies of 0.457 (8) and 0.543 (8).

Ethyl N-[3-(N,N-dimethyl-carbamo-yl)pyridin-2-ylsulfon-yl]carbamate.

In the mol-ecular structure of the title compound, C(11)H(15)N(3)O(5)S, the amide group is nearly perpendicular to the pyridine ring, making a dihedral angle of 86.30 (13)°. The terminal ethyl group is disordered over two sites of equal occupancy. Inter-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bonding is present in the crystal structure.

Methyl 4-methyl-sulfonyl-2-nitro-benzoate.

The title compound, C(9)H(9)NO(6)S, was prepared by the reaction of methanol and thionyl chloride with 4-methyl-sulfonyl-2-nitro-benzoic acid under mild conditions. The dihedral angle between the nitro group and benzene ring is 21.33 (19)° and that between the carboxyl-ate group and the benzene ring is 72.09 (17)°. The crystal structure is stabilized by weak inter-molecular bifurcated C-H⋯O inter-actions occurring in the (100) plane.

Poly[[[diaqua-cobalt(II)]-bis-[µ-1,1'-(butane-1,4-di-yl)diimidazole-κN:N]] dichloride tetra-hydrate].

In the title compound, {[Co(C(10)H(14)N(4))(2)(H(2)O)(2)]Cl(2)·4H(2)O}(n), the Co(II) atom and the mid-point of the 1,1'-butane-1,4-diyl-diimidazole ligands lie on inversion centers. The Co(II) atom is six-coordinated in a slightly distorted octa-hedral environment by four N atoms from four different ligands and by two O atoms from the water mol-ecules. The Co(II) atoms are bridged by the ligands into a (4,4) net. Adjacent nets are linked to the chloride anions and uncoordinated water mol-ecules via O-H⋯Cl and O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, generating a three-dimensional supra-molecular structure.

1,4-Bis[(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)meth-yl]benzene dihydrate.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(14)H(14)N(4)·2H(2)O consists of two half-mol-ecules of the main mol-ecule, each situated on an inversion center, and two mol-ecules of water. One-dimensional chains of water mol-ecules are built up by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds which are then linked with the main mol-ecule via O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds, forming a two-dimensional supra-molecular network in the ac plane.

[Effect of organic compounds on the degradation of nitrobenzene in aqueous solution by catalytic ozonation].

We investigated the effects of organic compounds on the processes of ozonation alone and ceramic honeycomb-catalyzed ozonation for the degradation of nitrobenzene in aqueous solution, including formaldehyde, methanol, formic acid and dibutyl phthalate. The results indicated that degradation rate of ozonation alone and ceramic honeycomb-catalyzed ozonation decreased by 11.6% and 9.6% with the increase of the concentration of formaldehyde (0-12 mg x L(-1)). The degradation rates of the two processes both increased firstly and decreased subsequently with the increase of the concentration of methanol (0-16 mg x L(-1)). The degradation rate of ozonation alone reached the climax at the concentration of methanol 2 mg x L(-1), and that of ceramic honeycomb-catalyzed ozonation reached the culmination at the concentration of methanol 4 mg x L(-1) under the same experimental condition. With the increase of the concentration of formic acid (0-8 mg x L(-1)), the degradation rates also increased firstly and decreased subsequently, and those of ozonation alone and ceramic honeycomb-catalyzed ozonation reached the vertex, respectively, at the concentration of methanol 0.5 mg x L(-1) and 2 mg x L(-1). At the lower concentration, methanol and formic acid could accelerate the degradation of nitrobenzene, however, the reaction was retarded at higher concentrations of methanol and formic acid. The degradation rates of ozonation alone and ozonation/ceramic honeycomb both declined by 19.7% and 18.6% with the increase of the concentration of dibutyl phthalate (0-10 mg x L(-1)).

Degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in water by ozone-hydrogen peroxide process.

This study reports an investigation into the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in bubble contactor column by O3/H2O2 process, which is widely used as a principal advanced oxidation process. The degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid was studied under different H2O2/03 molar ratio and pH value. Meanwhile, TOC removal was investigated both in distilled water and tap water. The influences of ozone transfer and consumed hydrogen peroxide were also discussed. The degradation products and oxidation intermediates were identified by GC-MS and LC-MS. A possible reaction mechanism was thus proposed.