Assessment of Bio-physiological damages and cytological aberrations in cowpea varieties treated with gamma rays and sodium azide.

The assessment of mutagen induced biological damage forms an important study in determining the mutagenic potency and genotypic sensitivity, a vital aspect in mutation breeding programs. A prior assessment of lethal dose (LD50), mutagen induced biological damage (alterations in bio-physiological traits and frequency of cytological aberrations) is a prerequisite for determining an optimum mutagen dose in a successful mutation breeding experiment. Therefore, in a multi-year project of mutation breeding, two widely cultivated varieties of cowpea viz., Gomati VU-89 and Pusa-578, were treated with gamma (γ) rays and sodium azide (SA) doses. The results reflected a proportionate increase in bio-physiological damages with the increase in mutagenic doses and caused a substantial reduction in mean seed germination and seedling height. Different cytological aberrations such as cytomixis, univalents, chromosome stickiness, precocious separation, unequal separation, bridges, laggards, disturbed polarity, dyads, triads, and polyads were observed in both varieties. All the mutagen doses induced a broader spectrum of cytological aberrations with varying frequencies.

Mutagenic effects of sodium azide on in vitro mutagenesis, polymorphism and genomic instability in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

INTRODUCTION: Breeding studies are commonly conducted to develop new cultivars with high yield levels and improved quality traits. Chemically-induced mutations are used to create genetic variations in wheat genomes. Various physical and chemical mutagens are used to increase frequency of mutations and facilitate the selection processes. Sodium azide (SA) is largely employed to induce mutations of the genes regulating essential traits. Such mutations may also elucidate gene functions of the mutant phenotypes. Present experiments were conducted to investigate potential use of conventional chemical mutagenesis technique through SA for mature embryo culture in wheat. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sodium azide mutagenesis was experimented with 4 treatment durations (1, 2, 3 and 4 h) and 5 treatment concentrations (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 mM). Mature embryos were subjected to experimental treatments to detect optimum doses of mutagenesis and to estimate polymorphism and genomic instability. Primarily, 50% reduction in number of regenerated plants as compared to the control (LD50) was adopted as the optimum dose. Based on LD50 criterion, the optimum value was achieved at 1 h duration of 4 mM SA concentration. Afterwards, inter-primer binding site markers were applied to investigate polymorphism and genomic instability in the regenerated plants. CONCLUSIONS: Present findings revealed that efficiency of chemical mutagenesis could be improved through the use of molecular technology and such mutations may assist plant breeders in developing high-yield cultivars.

The critical role of unique azido-substituted chloro-O-semiquinone radical intermediates in the synergistic toxicity between sodium azide and chlorocatecholic carcinogens.

We have shown previously that exposing bacteria to tetrachlorocatechol (TCC) and sodium azide (NaN3) together causes synergistic cytotoxicity in a biphasic mode. However, the underlying chemical mechanism remains unclear. In this study, an unexpected ring-contraction 3(2H)-furanone and two quinoid-compounds were identified as the major and minor reaction products, respectively; and two unusual azido-substituted chloro-O-semiquinone radicals were detected and characterized as the major radical intermediates by complementary applications of direct ESR, HPLC/ESI-Q-TOF and high-resolution MS studies with nitrogen-15 isotope-labeled NaN3. Taken together, we proposed a novel molecular mechanism for the reaction of TCC/NaN3: N3- may attack on tetrachloro-O-semiquinone radical, forming two transient 4-azido-3,5,6-trichloro- and 4,5-diazido-3,6-dichloro-O-semiquinone radicals, consecutively. The second-radical intermediate may either undergo an unusual zwitt-azido cleavage to form the less-toxic ring-contraction 3(2H)-furanone product, or further oxidize to form the more toxic quinoid-product 4-amino-5-azido-3,6-dichloro-O-benzoquinone. A good correlation was observed between the biphasic formation of this toxic quinone due to the two competing decomposition pathways of the radical intermediate and the biphasic synergism between TCC and NaN3, which are dependent on their molar-ratios. This is the first report of detection and identification of two unique azido-substituted chloro-O-semiquinone radicals, and an unprecedented ring-contraction mechanism via an unusually mild and facile zwitt-azido rearrangement.

Elucidation of the RNA-granule inducing sodium azide stress response through transcriptome analysis.

Sodium azide is a commonly used cytochrome oxidase inhibitor that leads to translation repression and RNA granule assembly. The global changes in mRNA abundance in response to this stressor are unknown. RGG-motif proteins Scd6 and Sbp1 are translation-repressors and decapping-activators that localize to and affect the assembly of RNA granules in response to sodium azide stress. Transcriptome-wide effects of these proteins remain unknown. To address this, we have sequenced transcriptome of the: a) wild type strain under unstressed and sodium azide stress, b) Δscd6 and Δsbp1 strains under unstressed and sodium azide stress. Transcriptome analysis identified altered abundance of many transcripts belonging to stress-responsive pathways which were further validated by qRT-PCR results. Abundance of several transcripts was altered in Δscd6/Δsbp1 under normal conditions and upon stress. Overall, this study provides critical insights into transcriptome changes in response to sodium azide stress and the role of RGG-motif proteins in these changes.

A Comparison of Potential Azide Antidotes in a Mouse Model.

Three cobalt-containing macrocyclic compounds previously shown to antagonize cyanide toxicity have been comparatively evaluated for the amelioration of sublethal azide toxicity in juvenile (7-8 weeks) Swiss-Webster mice. The lowest effective doses were determined for hydroxocobalamin, a cobalt porphyrin, and a cobalt-Schiff base macrocycle by giving the antidotes 5 min prior to the toxicant, 27 mg (415 µmol) /kg sodium azide. Both male and female mice were evaluated for their response to the toxicant as well as the antidotes, and no significant differences were noted once weight differences were taken into account. Two of the three compounds significantly decreased the recovery time of azide-intoxicated mice at 10 min after the administration of sodium azide, as determined by a behavioral test (pole climbing). Additionally, azide was determined to cause a several degree drop (∼3 °C) in measured tail temperature, and warming the mice led to a more rapid recovery. The mice were also shown to recover more rapidly when given sodium nitrite, 24 mg (350 µmol)/kg, 5 min after the toxicant; this treatment also suppressed the azide-induced tail temperature decrease. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements of mouse blood treated with sodium azide demonstrated the presence of nitrosylhemoglobin at levels of 10-20 µM which persisted for ∼300 min. The presence of the methemoglobin azide adduct was also detected by EPR at a maximum level of ∼300 µM, but these signals disappeared around 200 min after the administration of azide. The treatment of mice with 15N sodium azide proved that the nitrosylhemoglobin was a product of the administered azide by the appearance of a two-line hyperfine (due to the 15N) in the EPR spectrum of mouse blood.

Presence of antigenotoxic and anticytotoxic effects of the chalcone 1E,4E-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexen-1-yl)penta-1,4-dien-3-one using in vitro and in vivo assays.

Chalcones are chemically defined as α,ß-unsaturated ketones with a 1,3-diphenyl-2-propen-1-one nucleus. These compounds occur naturally in plants and are considered precursors of flavonoids. Given that evaluating genetic toxicology tests is essential in investigating the safe use and chemopreventive potential of different natural and synthetic compounds, this study aimed to assess the genotoxic, cytotoxic, antigenotoxic, and anticytotoxic activity of the chalcone 1E,4E-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexen-1-yl)penta-1,4-dien-3-one (CAB7ß). The CAB7ß was synthesized via Claisen-Schmidt reaction. The Ames test was applied using the co-treatment model as well as a micronucleus assay of mouse bone marrow with co-, pre- and post-treatment models. Our results indicate no genotoxic effect for CAB7ß in any of the tests applied. At all the concentrations used, CAB7ß showed a significant DNA protective effect against the mutagenic action of 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide and sodium azide according to the Ames test, and against doxorubicin in the co-, pre- and post-treatment models of the micronucleus assay. CAB7ß alone displayed cytotoxic activity in the micronucleus test. At concentrations of 12,5 and 50 µg/plate, CAB7ß showed a moderate cytotoxic profile only in Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98. However, an anticytotoxic effect was observed against S. typhimurium strain TA100 for all the concentrations tested and during co-, pre- and post-treatment in the micronucleus assay. It was concluded that CAB7ß exhibited a slightly cytotoxic effect in S. typhimurium strain TA98 and significant antigenotoxic and anticytotoxic effects in cells of mouse, making it a promising candidate in chemoprevention and possibly in the development of new cancer treatments.

Identification and Molecular Characterization of Superoxide Dismutases Isolated From A Scuticociliate Parasite: Physiological Role in Oxidative Stress.

Philasterides dicentrarchi is a free-living microaerophilic scuticociliate that can become a facultative parasite and cause a serious parasitic disease in farmed fish. Both the free-living and parasitic forms of this scuticociliate are exposed to oxidative stress associated with environmental factors and the host immune system. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by the host are neutralized by the ciliate by means of antioxidant defences. In this study we aimed to identify metalloenzymes with superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity capable of inactivating the superoxide anion (•O2-) generated during induction of oxidative stress. P. dicentrarchi possesses the three characteristic types of SOD isoenzymes in eukaryotes: copper/zinc-SOD, manganese-SOD and iron-SOD. The Cu/Zn-SOD isoenzymes comprise three types of homodimeric proteins (CSD1-3) of molecular weight (MW) 34-44 kDa and with very different AA sequences. All Cu/Zn-SODs are sensitive to NaCN, located in the cytosol and in the alveolar sacs, and one of them (CSD2) is extracellular. Mn- and Fe-SOD transcripts encode homodimeric proteins (MSD and FSD, respectively) in their native state: a) MSD (MW 50 kDa) is insensitive to H2O2 and NaN3 and is located in the mitochondria; and b) FSD (MW 60 kDa) is sensitive to H2O2, NaN3 and the polyphenol trans-resveratrol and is located extracellularly. Expression of SOD isoenzymes increases when •O2- is induced by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, and the increase is proportional to the dose of energy applied, indicating that these enzymes are actively involved in cellular protection against oxidative stress.

Stress granules are formed in renal proximal tubular cells during metabolic stress and ischemic injury for cell survival.

Stress granules (SGs) are a type of cytoplasmic structures formed in eukaryotic cells upon cell stress, which mainly contain RNA-binding proteins and RNAs. The formation of SGs is generally regarded as a mechanism for cells to survive a harsh insult. However, little is known about SG formation and function in kidneys. To address this, we applied different kinds of stressors to cultured proximal tubular cells as well as a short period of ischemia-reperfusion to mouse kidneys. It was found that glycolytic inhibitors such as 2-deoxy-d-glucose and 3-(3-pyridinyl)-1-(4-pyridinyl)-2-propen-1-one induced SG formation within 30 min in these cells. Similarly, SGs were induced by inhibitors of mitochondrial respiration such as sodium azide and CCCP. Renal ischemia-reperfusion induced SG formation in the cells of proximal tubules. To test the role of SGs, we stably knocked down G3bp1, a SG core protein, in renal tubular cells by shRNA viral transduction. As expected, knockdown of G3bp1 largely disrupted the assembly of SGs. After azide or cisplatin treatment, more dead cells were found in knockdown cells compared with controls, accompanied by increases in cleaved/active caspase-3. Reintroduction of exogenous G3bp1 into knockdown cells could rescue the cell death phenotype. Taken together, our data provide the first evidence of SG formation in renal tubular cells during metabolic stress and acute kidney injury. SGs are formed to protect proximal tubular cells under these conditions. Modulation of SG biogenesis may provide a novel approach to lessen the severity of renal diseases.

Sodium azide induces mitochondria­mediated apoptosis in PC12 cells through Pgc­1α­associated signaling pathway.

Sodium azide (NaN3), an inhibitor of cytochrome oxidase, induces the release of excitotoxins via an energy impairment and this, in turn, results in neurodegeneration. The present study aimed to investigate the toxic effects NaN3 on apoptosis of PC12 cells and its mechanism of action in peroxisome proliferator­activated receptor γ co­activator 1­α (Pgc­1α)­associated signaling pathways. To induce apoptosis, PC12 cells were exposed to NaN3 (0, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 mM) for 12, 24, 48 and 72 h. Cell viability was determined by CCK­8 assay. DAPI staining was employed to additionally examine apoptotic cells and their nuclear changes. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and apoptotic rate were also assessed by flow cytometry. Cellular ATP content was estimated by firefly luciferase assay. In addition, the expression levels of B­cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl­2), Bcl­2­associated X protein (Bax), phosphorylated (p)­Ca2+/calmodulin­dependent protein kinase (CaMK), p­p38 mitogen­activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), Pgc­1α, nuclear respiratory factor (Nrf)­1, mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam), p­extracellular signal­regulated kinase (Erk)1/2, Nrf­2 and complex IV (Cox IV) were determined by western blot analysis. The data suggested that NaN3 may induce PC12 cell injury and dose­dependently decrease the cell viability. The expression levels of pro­apoptotic proteins Bax and cytochrome c were upregulated, while the expression levels of anti­apoptotic proteins procaspase­3 and Bcl­2 were downregulated. In addition, the phosphorylation of MAPK and Ca2+/calmodulin­dependent protein kinase II (CaMKⅡ) family members including pan­calcineurin A was increased, in particular the ratios of p­p38/p38 and p­CaMKⅡ/CaMKⅡ. However, the expression levels of Pgc­1α and its associated proteins, including Nrf­1/2, Tfam and p­Erk1/2 were decreased. In addition, mitochondria were the target organelles of NaN3­induced toxicity in PC12 cells, which moderated the dissipation of ΔΨm, preserved the cellular ATP content, promoted the production of ROS and increased the apoptotic rate. These results suggested that NaN3 induced cell death in PC12 cells via Pgc­1α­associated signaling pathways and provided a theoretical basis for additional investigation of the neurotoxic mechanism of NaN3, with applications in neurodegenerative disorders.

Mitochondrial Impairment in Oligodendroglial Cells Induces Cytokine Expression and Signaling.

Widespread inflammatory lesions within the central nervous system grey and white matter are major hallmarks of multiple sclerosis. The development of full-blown demyelinating multiple sclerosis lesions might be preceded by preactive lesions which are characterized by focal microglia activation in close spatial relation to apoptotic oligodendrocytes. In this study, we investigated the expression of signaling molecules of oligodendrocytes that might be involved in initial microglia activation during preactive lesion formation. Sodium azide was used to trigger mitochondrial impairment and cellular stress in oligodendroglial cells in vitro. Among various chemokines and cytokines, IL6 was identified as a possible oligodendroglial cell-derived signaling molecule in response to cellular stress. Relevance of this finding for lesion development was further explored in the cuprizone model by applying short-term cuprizone feeding (2-4 days) on male C57BL/6 mice and subsequent analysis of gene expression, in situ hybridization and histology. Additionally, we analyzed the possible signaling of stressed oligodendroglial cells in vitro as well as in the cuprizone mouse model. In vitro, conditioned medium of stressed oligodendroglial cells triggered the activation of microglia cells. In cuprizone-fed animals, IL6 expression in oligodendrocytes was found in close vicinity of activated microglia cells. Taken together, our data support the view that stressed oligodendrocytes have the potential to activate microglia cells through a specific cocktail of chemokines and cytokines among IL6. Further studies will have to identify the temporal activation pattern of these signaling molecules, their cellular sources, and impact on neuroinflammation.

Nrf2 Signaling in Sodium Azide-Treated Oligodendrocytes Restores Mitochondrial Functions.

Mitochondrial dysfunctions mark a critical step in many central nervous system (CNS) pathologies, including multiple sclerosis (MS). Such dysfunctions lead to depolarization of mitochondrial membranes and imbalanced redox homeostasis. In this context, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are potentially deleterious but can also act as an important signaling step for cellular maintenance. The transcription factor nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), the key regulator in the cellular oxidative stress-response, induces a battery of genes involved in repair and regeneration. Here, we investigated the relevance of Nrf2 signaling for the prevention of cellular damage caused by dysfunctional mitochondria. We employed sodium azide (SA) as mitochondrial inhibitor on oligodendroglial OliNeu cells in vitro, and the cuprizone model with wild type and GFAP-Cre+::Keap1loxP/loxP mice to induce mitochondrial defects. The importance of Nrf2 for cellular functions and survival after SA treatment was elucidated by in vitro knockdown experiments with shRNA directed against Nrf2 and its inhibitor Keap1 as well as by methysticin treatment. Metabolic activity, cytotoxicity, and depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane were analyzed after SA treatment. The expression of Nrf2 target genes as well as endoplasmic reticulum stress response genes was additionally measured by real-time PCR (in vitro) and PCR gene arrays (in vivo). Treatment of OliNeu cells with SA resulted in significant depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane, decreased metabolic activity, and increased cytotoxicity. This was partly counteracted in Nrf2-hyperactivated cells and intensified in Nrf2-knockdown cells. Our studies demonstrate a key role of Nrf2 in maintaining cellular functions and survival in the context of mitochondrial dysfunction.

In vitro inhibition of food borne mutagens induced mutagenicity by cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) bark extract.

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) is an important spice which is widely consumed in the Indian subcontinent as well as in several other parts of the world. In the present study, NMR spectroscopy showed the presence of cinnamaldehyde to be the major component of the bark. The possible mutagenic effects of cinnamon bark ethanolic extract (CEE, 0.01-1 mg/plate) cinnamon oil (CNO, 0.125-1 mg/plate), and its active component cinnamadehyde (CLD, 0.125-1 mg/plate) were evaluated. Antimutagenic activity of CEE, CNO, and CLD was also tested against various food borne mutagens (heterocyclic amines and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)) and sodium azide (SA) using Ames assay. Similarly, the antimicrobial activity was studied using agar well diffusion assay against various pathogens. CEE was non-mutagenic in any of the five tester strains of Salmonella typhimurium (TA97a, TA98, TA100, TA102, and TA104) in Ames test. CEE exhibited antimutagenic activity against all the mutagens tested in the higher doses. Additionally, CEE, CNO, and CLD were effective against various pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris, S. typhimurium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli in the agar well diffusion assay. Promising antimutagenic and antimicrobial properties were shown by the cinnamon bark ethanolic extract and cinnamaldehyde, respectively. Therefore, their role in cancer chemoprevention, as well as a natural antimicrobial agent must be exploited and studied in depth in in vivo conditions.

Neuroprotective effects of hydrogen sulfide on sodium azide-induced oxidative stress in PC12 cells.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder, responsible for >50% of all dementia cases. Sodium azide (NaN3) inhibits cytochrome oxidase by irreversibly binding to the heme cofactor and selectively reducing the complex IV activity, which is present in post­mortem AD brains. Previous data demonstrated that hydrogen sulfide (H2S), the third endogenous gaseous mediator, exerted protective effects against neuronal damage. Therefore, it was hypothesized that H2S may be able to scavenge excess reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby protecting against oxidative stress and cell death. In the present study, it was observed that cell viability decreased in a concentration-dependent manner 12 h after NaN3 treatment (20, 30 and 50 mmol/l). A decrease in cell viability (to 51±3%) was observed 12 h after treatment with 30 mM NaN3. NaN3 treatment also led to decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, increased lipid peroxidation (excessive production of malondialdehyde), and increased the protein expression levels of caspase-3. Pretreatment with H2S (200 µmol/l) attenuated NaN3-mediated apoptosis, and the anti-apoptotic action of H2S was partially dependent on suppressing the production of ROS. The findings of the present study suggested that H2S exerted a neuroprotective effect against NaN3-induced neurotoxicity through mechanisms related to anti-oxidation and anti-apoptosis. Therefore, the findings of the present study suggest there may be a promising future for H2S-based preventions and therapies for neuronal damage following exposure to NaN3.

Mdivi­1 attenuates sodium azide­induced apoptosis in H9c2 cardiac muscle cells.

The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of mitochondrial division inhibitor 1 (Mdivi­1) in sodium azide­induced cell death in H9c2 cardiac muscle cells. Mdivi­1 is a key inhibitor of the mitochondrial division protein dynamin­related protein 1 (Drp1). Mdivi­1 was added to H9c2 cells for 3 h, after which, the cells were treated with sodium azide for 24 h. Cell viability was measured by Cell Counting kit­8 assay. DAPI staining was used to observe nuclear morphology changes by microscopy. To further investigate the role of mitochondria in sodium azide­induced cell death, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and the cellular ATP content were determined by JC­1 staining and ATP­dependent bioluminescence assay, respectively. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was also assessed by use of the specific probe 2',7'­dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate. In addition, the expression of Drp1 and of the apoptosis­related proteins BCL2 apoptosis regulator (Bcl­2), and BCL2 associated X (Bax) was determined by western blotting. The present findings demonstrated that pretreatment with Mdivi­1 attenuated sodium azide­induced H9c2 cell death. Mdivi­1 pretreatment also inhibited the sodium azide­induced downregulation of Bcl­2 expression and upregulation of Bax and Drp1 expression. In addition, the mitochondrion was revealed to be the target organelle of sodium azide­induced toxicity in H9c2 cells. Mdivi­1 pretreatment moderated the dissipation of ΔΨm, preserved the cellular ATP contents and suppressed the production of ROS. The results suggested that the mechanism of sodium azide­induced cell death in H9c2 cells may involve the mitochondria­dependent apoptotic pathway. The present results indicated that Mdivi­1 may have a cardioprotective effect against sodium azide­induced apoptosis in H9c2 cardiac muscle cells.

Neuroprotective effects of hydrogen sulfide on sodium azide­induced autophagic cell death in PC12 cells.

Sodium azide (NaN3) is a chemical of rapidly growing commercial importance. It is very acutely toxic and inhibits cytochrome oxidase (COX) by binding irreversibly to the heme cofactor. A previous study from our group demonstrated that hydrogen sulfide (H2S), the third endogenous gaseous mediator identified, had protective effects against neuronal damage induced by traumatic brain injury (TBI). It is well­known that TBI can reduce the activity of COX and have detrimental effects on the central nervous system metabolism. Therefore, in the present study, it was hypothesized that H2S may provide neuroprotection against NaN3 toxicity. The current results revealed that NaN3 treatment induced non­apoptotic cell death, namely autophagic cell death, in PC12 cells. Expression of the endogenous H2S­producing enzymes, cystathionine­ß­synthase and 3­mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase, decreased in a dose­dependent manner following NaN3 treatment. Pretreatment with H2S markedly attenuated the NaN3­induced cell viability loss and autophagic cell death in a dose­dependent manner. The present study suggests that H2S­based strategies may have future potential in the prevention and/or therapy of neuronal damage following NaN3 exposure.

Mitochondrion to endoplasmic reticulum apposition length in zebrafish embryo spinal progenitors is unchanged in response to perturbations associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Mutations in the human genes PRESENILIN1 (PSEN1), PRESENILIN2 (PSEN2) and AMYLOID BETA A4 PRECURSOR PROTEIN (APP) have been identified in familial Alzheimer's disease (AD). The length of mitochondrion-endoplasmic reticulum (M-ER) appositions is increased in Psen1-/-/Psen2-/- double knockout murine embryonic fibroblasts and in fibroblasts from AD-affected individuals. Development of an easily accessible, genetically manipulable, in vivo system for studying M-ER appositions would be valuable so we attempted to manipulate M-ER apposition length in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. We injected fertilized zebrafish eggs with antisense morpholino oligonucleotides (MOs) that inhibit expression of zebrafish familial AD gene orthologues psen1 and psen2. Furthermore, we treated zebrafish embryos with DAPT (a highly specific γ-secretase inhibitor) or with sodium azide (to mimic partially hypoxic conditions). We then analyzed M-ER apposition in an identified, presumably proliferative neural cell type using electron microscopy. Our analysis showed no significant differences in M-ER apposition lengths at 48 hours post fertilization (hpf) between psen1 & psen2 MO co-injected embryos, embryos treated with DAPT, or sodium azide, and control embryos. Instead, the distribution of M-ER apposition lengths into different length classes was close to identical. However, this indicates that it is feasible to reproducibly measure M-ER size distributions in zebrafish embryos. While our observations differ from those of murine and human studies, this may be due to differences in cellular differentiation and metabolic state, cell age, or species-specific responses. In particular, by focusing on a presumably proliferative embryonic cell type, we may have selected a cell heavily already reliant on anaerobic glycolysis and less responsive to factors affecting M-ER apposition. Future examination of more differentiated, more secretory cell types may reveal measurable responses of M-ER apposition to environmental and genetic manipulation.

Novel in vivo experimental viability assays with high sensitivity and throughput capacity using a bdelloid rotifer.

Rotifers have been used in biological research as well-characterized models of aging. Their multi-organ characters and their sensitivity for chemicals and environmental changes make them useful as in vivo toxicological and lifespan models. Our aim was to create a bdelloid rotifer model to use in high-throughput viability and non-invasive assays. In order to identify our species Philodina acuticornis odiosa (PA), 18S rDNA-based phylogenetic analysis was carried out and their species-specific morphological markers identified. To execute the rotifer-based experiments, we developed an oil-covered water-drop methodology adapted from human in vitro fertilization techniques. This enables toxicological observations of individual one-housed rotifers in a closed and controllable micro-environment for up to several weeks. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and sodium azide (NaN3) exposures were used as well-understood toxins. The toxicity and survival lifespan (TSL), the bright light disturbance (BLD) the mastax contraction frequency (MCF) and the cellular reduction capacity (CRC), indices were recorded. These newly developed assays were used to test the effects of lethal and sublethal doses of the toxins. The results showed the expected dose-dependent decrease in indices. These four different assays can either be used independently or as an integrated system for studying rotifers. These new indices render the PA invertebrate rotifer model a quantitative system for measuring viability, toxicity and lifespan (with TSL), systemic reaction capacity (with BLD), organic functionality (with MCF) and reductive capability of rotifers (with CRC), in vivo. This novel multi-level system is a reliable, sensitive and replicable screening tool with potential application in pharmaceutical science.

Ameliorative effect of vitamin E and selenium against oxidative stress induced by sodium azide in liver, kidney, testis and heart of male mice.

The study purported to define the effects of daily administration of vitamin E (Vit E) and selenium (Se) on antioxidant enzyme activity in mice treated with high doses of sodium azide (SA). Male mice were randomly split into nine groups. Groups 1, 2 and 3 were injected daily with saline, Vit E, and Se, respectively, while groups 4, 5 and 6 administrated with different doses of SA (low, medium and high, respectively). The mice in groups 7, 8 and 9 received 100mg/kg Vit E, 17.5mg/kg Se, and a combination of Vit E and Se, respectively before the SA-treatment. Hepatic, renal, testis and heart, antioxidant enzymes as well as levels of lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity levels were determined. Vit E alone affected on the antioxidant parameters of the examined tissues. Se had a preventive effect on the decrease of antioxidant parameters caused by SA and improved the diminished activities of all of them. The study demonstrates that a high dose of SA may alter the effects of normal level antioxidant/oxidative status of male mice and that Se is effective in reducing the SA-damage. Se acts as a synergistic agent with the effect of Vit E in various damaged caused by SA.

Pre-breeding of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) for herbicide resistance through seed mutagenesis.

Lentil is a poor competitor of weeds and its sensitivity to herbicides is a major hurdle for large scale production. The present study was conducted to select herbicide resistant lentil genotypes through seed mutagenesis. Seeds of three advanced lentil genotypes (LPP 11001, LPP 11100 and LPP 11116) were treated with two different concentrations of ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS; 0.1 and 0.2%), hydrazine hydrate (HH; 0.02 and 0.03%) and sodium azide (SA; 0.01 and 0.02%) to develop M1 seed. The M2 was screened against two herbicides including Ally Max 28.6% SG (X = 34.58 g/ha and 1.5X = 51.87 g/ha) and Atlantis 3.6% WG (X = 395.2 g/ha and 1.5X = 592.8 g/ha) using the following three screening methods: post plant emergence (PPE), pre-plant incorporation (PPI) and seed priming (SP). Data were recorded on survival index and survival percentage from each experimental unit of every population. Plants in all populations were categorized following their reaction to herbicides. The newly developed populations showed greater variation for herbicide resistance when compared to their progenitors. Phenotypic traits were significantly reduced in all the screening environments. Overall, 671 herbicide resistant mutants were selected from all testing environments. The seeds from selected plants were re-mutagenized at 150 Gy of gamma radiation and evaluated against higher dose of herbicides. This allowed selection of 134 herbicide resistant mutants. The selected mutants are useful germplasm for herbicide resistance breeding of lentil.

Inhibitory effects of sodium azide on microbial growth in experimental resuspension of marine sediment.

Sodium azide (NaN3) was evaluated as inhibitor of microbial growth and activity in marine sediment resuspensions by monitoring the abundance of free-living and sessile bacteria using both flow cytometry and qPCR methods. Results show that 50mM of NaN3 strongly inhibits bacterial growth under natural and enriched resource conditions.