Carta de control de Physella acuta usando tóxico de referencia. Intervalo de tolerancia comparado con el intervalo de confianza / Physella acuta control chart using reference toxicant. Tolerance interval vs confidence interval

Varias especies de organismos representativos de los diferentes ecosistemas son utilizados como biomodelos para evaluar el impacto ambiental de productos contaminantes del medio ambiente, así como de productos químicos y bioproductos que son empleados como fertilizantes y controladores de plagas en la agricultura. Se determinó la sensibilidad toxicológica cuantificada por la Concentración Letal Media (CL50) del biomodelo Physella acuta, expuesto al compuesto de referencia dicromato de potasio. Se partió de una concentración de 120 mg/L y se prepararon 7 diluciones decreciente (1:2) con cuatro réplicas y un grupo control sin tratamiento. Juveniles de Physella acuta fueron expuestos durante 96 h a las concentraciones del tóxico de referencia. El efecto cuantificado fue la mortalidad de los organismos. De un total de 20 estimaciones de la CL50 se obtuvo un valor promedio de 15,54 mg/L con una desviación estándar (S) de 5,92. Se determinó además, la precisión intralaboratorio del bioensayo con el tóxico de referencia mediante la estimación del coeficiente de variación (CV = 38,09 %). El intervalo de tolerancia superior e inferior de la CL50 al 95% de confianza fue de 27,38 mg/L y 3,37 mg/L, respectivamente. Se recomienda el uso del intervalo de tolerancia y no del intervalo de confianza para realizar la carta de control. Se concluye que es factible el uso del Physella acuta como biomodelo para ensayos ecotoxicológicos. (AU)

Several species of representative organisms of the different ecosystems are used as biomodels to evaluate the environmental impact of polluting products of the environment, as well as of chemical products and bioproducts that are used as fertilizers and pest controllers in agriculture. The toxicological sensitivity quantified by the Mean Lethal Concentration (LC50) of the Physella acuta biomodel, exposed to the reference compound Potassium Dichromate (K2Cr2O7), was determined. Seven serial concentrations (1:2) were evaluated with four replications and a control group without treatment. Juveniles of Physella acuta were exposed for 96 h to the concentrations of the reference toxicant. The quantified effect was the mortality of the organisms. From a total of 20 estimates of the LC50, an average value of 15.54 mg/L was obtained with a standard deviation (S) of 5,92. Furthermore, the intralaboratory precision of the bioassay with the reference toxicant was determined by estimating the coefficient of variation (CV = 38,09%). The upper and lower tolerance interval of the LC50 at 95% confidence was 27,38 mg/L and 3,37 mg/L, respectively. The use of the tolerance interval and not the confidence interval is recommended to make the control chart. It is concluded that the use of Physella acuta as a biomodel for ecotoxicological tests is feasible. (AU)

Regulation of mammary differentiation by extracellular matrix involves protein-tyrosine phosphatases.

Extracellular matrix and growth factors cooperate to regulate signaling pathways and gene transcription in adherent cells. However, the mechanism of extracellular matrix signaling is poorly defined. In mammary gland, the expression of milk protein genes is controlled by cross-talk between signals derived from the basement membrane protein, laminin, and the lactogenic hormone, prolactin. Signals from basement membrane are transduced by beta1 integrins and are required for prolactin to activate DNA binding of the milk protein gene transcription factor, Stat5. Here we show that basement membrane is necessary for tyrosine phosphorylation of the prolactin receptor and thus directly affects cytokine signaling and differentiation at the level of the plasma membrane. Prolactin does not induce tyrosine phosphorylation of its receptor, Jak2, or Stat5 in nondifferentiated breast epithelia cultured on collagen I, and we show that this is due to a vanadate-sensitive activity that inhibits the prolactin pathway. We suggest that protein-tyrosine phosphatases are novel targets for regulation by extracellular matrix and in mammary cells represent an additional control to the requirement of integrins for milk protein production.