Subchronic neurotoxicity of chlorpyrifos, carbaryl, and their combination in rats.

Anticholinesterase pesticides have been widely used in agricultural and domestic settings and can be detected in the environment after long-term use. Although the acute toxic effects of chlorpyrifos and carbaryl have been well described, little is known about the chronic toxicity of the pesticides mixture. To investigate their chronic neurotoxicity, Wistar rats were exposed to chlorpyrifos, carbaryl, and their mixture (MIX) for 90 consecutive days. The activities of serum cholinesterase (ChE) as well as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and neuropathy target esterase (NTE) in nerve tissues were determined. Furthermore, the histopathological examination was carried out. The results showed that ChE activity significantly decreased in all treated rats except the rats treated with low dose carbaryl. Treatment with middle- and high-dose chlorpyrifos and MIX in rats significantly inhibited AChE activity in the central nervous tissues, whereas treatment with carbaryl alone did not. In sciatic nerve, AChE activity was significantly inhibited by high-dose carbaryl and MIX, but not by chlorpyrifos alone. No significant NTE inhibition was observed in all treatment groups. Histopathological examination revealed that both chlorpyrifos and MIX treatment induced hippocampal damage. However, no obvious hippocampal damage was found in carbaryl-treated rats. Carbaryl and MIX, but not chlorpyrifos alone, induced pathological damage of sciatic nerve. Taken together, all of the results indicated that chlorpyrifos and carbaryl have different toxicological target tissues in nervous system and showed corresponding effects in the nervous tissues, which may reflect the different sensitivity of central and peripheral nervous tissues to different pesticides individually and in combination.

The alteration of the expression level of neuropathy target esterase in human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells disrupts cellular phospholipids homeostasis.

Neuropathy target esterase (NTE) has been proven to act as a lysophospholipase (LysoPLA) and phospholipase B (PLB) in mammalian cells. In this study, we took human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells as the research object and explored the effect of NTE on phospholipid homeostasis. The results showed that phosphatidylcholine (PC) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) levels significantly increased (> 40%), while glycerophosphocholine (GPC) decreased (below 60%) after NTE gene was knockdown in the cells (NTE < 30% of control), which were prepared by gene silencing with dsRNA-NTE. However, in the NTE-overexpressed cells (NTE > 50% of control), which were prepared by expressing recombinant catalytic domain of NTE, LPC remarkably decreased (below 80%) and GPC enhanced (> 40%). Mipafox, a neuropathic organophosphorus compound (OP), significantly inhibited NTE-LysoPLA and NTE-PLB activities (> 95-99% inhibition at 50 µM), which was accompanied with a decreased GPC level (below 40%) although no change of the PC and LPC levels was observed; while paraoxon, a non-neuropathic OP, suppresses neither the activities of NTE-phospholipases nor the levels of PC, LPC, and GPC. Thus, we concluded that both the stable up- or down-regulated expression of NTE gene and the loss of NTE-LysoPLA/PLB activities disrupts phospholipid homeostasis in the cells although the inhibition of NTE activity only decreased GPC content without altering PC and LPC levels.

Regulation of neuropathy target esterase by the cAMP/protein kinase A signal.

As a phospholipase B, neuropathy target esterase (NTE) is responsible for the conversion of phosphatidylcholine (PC) to glycerophosphocholine (GPC). We examined the role of cAMP in the regulation of NTE in mammalian cells. Endogenous NTE activity was increased by cAMP-elevating chemicals, including dibutyryl cAMP, forskolin and forskolin plus 1-isobutyl-3-methylxanthine (IBMX), but decreased by the adenyl cyclase inhibitor SQ22536 which can reduce intracellular cAMP levels. Exogenous GFP-tagged NTE activity was not affected by changes in intracellular cAMP. NTE protein levels were up-regulated by the cAMP-elevating reagents and down-regulated by the inhibitor. The effect of the adenyl cyclase activator forskolin on NTE protein and mRNA levels was blocked by pretreatment with the protein kinase A (PKA) activity inhibitor H89. In addition, we found that changes in GPC, but not PC, levels were correlated with cAMP induced changes in NTE activity. These results are the first evidence that cAMP/PKA signals regulate NTE expression and GPC content in mammalian cells.

Metabolic profiles of serum from rats after subchronic exposure to chlorpyrifos and carbaryl.

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) and carbaryl (CAR) have been widely used in agricultural and domestic settings. Previous studies have demonstrated that CPF and CAR are generally neurotoxic to mammals, whereas the toxicities of these pesticides to other organs and their potential interactive effects remain unclear. The purpose of this study assessed the alterations of histopathology, biochemical parameters, and metabolic profiles of serum in rats following the treatment with CPF and CAR alone or in combination. No histopathological changes were observed in the liver and kidney tissues. Biochemical analysis of blood showed that alanine aminotransferase and total bilirubin in serum increased slightly in CPF-treated rats as compared to controls. Metabonomic analysis revealed alternations in a number of metabolites involving the metabolism of glucose, free fatty acids, and amino acids in liver mitochondria. The treatment of rats with CPF alone resulted in a decrease in lactate, low- and very low-density lipoprotein (LDL/VLDL), dimethylglycine (DMG), and aspartate. This was accompanied by an increase in isoleucine and leucine, 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-HB), N-acetylglycoprotein (NAC), acetone, succinate, glutamine, choline, creatine, glucose, and amino acids in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, treatment with a high dose of CAR alone led to a decrease in DMG, aspartate, LDL/VLDL, and dimethylamine and an increase in taurine, glucose, and amino acids. The levels of lactate and LDL/VLDL decreased, while those of 3-HB, NAC, acetone, succinate, and glutamine elevated in the group of rats treated with a mixture of CPF and CAR as compared to the groups of CPF or CAR alone. Our results suggest that subchronic exposure to CPF and CAR alone, or in combination, could cause a disturbance in energy and fatty acid metabolism in the liver mitochondria of rats. Overall, we have shown that analysis of metabolic profiles can make exceptional contributions to the understanding of the individual or mutual effects following exposure to a low dose of pesticides.

Effect of inhibition of neuropathy target esterase in mouse nervous tissues in vitro on phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine homeostasis.

Neuropathy target esterase has been shown to be a lysophospholipase in mouse. The authors investigate the effect of neuropathy target esterase inhibition in mouse nervous tissues in vitro on the homeostasis of phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine by treating the homogenates with tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate, paraoxon, paraoxon plus mipafox, and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. The activity of neuropathy target esterase is significantly inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and paraoxon plus mipafox but not by paraoxon alone. Tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate slightly but significantly inhibits neuropathy target esterase activity in brain. The levels of phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine in all 3 nervous tissues are not obviously altered after treatment with tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate, paraoxon, or paraoxon plus mipafox. However, phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine levels are clearly enhanced by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. It is concluded that inhibition of neuropathy target esterase in mouse nervous tissues is not enough to disrupt the homeostasis of phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine and that the upregulation by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride may be the consequence of combined inhibition of neuropathy target esterase and other phospholipases.

The homeostasis of phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine was not disrupted during tri-o-cresyl phosphate-induced delayed neurotoxicity in hens.

Little is known regarding early biochemical events in organophosphate-induced delayed neurotoxicity (OPIDN) except for the essential inhibition of neuropathy target esterase (NTE). We hypothesized that the homeostasis of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and/or phosphatidylcholine (PC) in nervous tissues might be disrupted after exposure to the organophosphates (OP) which participates in the progression of OPIDN because new clues to possible mechanisms of OPIDN have recently been discovered that NTE acts as lysophospholipase (LysoPLA) in mice and phospholipase B (PLB) in cultured mammalian cells. To bioassay for such phospholipids, we induced OPIDN in hens using tri-o-cresyl phosphate (TOCP) as an inducer with phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) as a negative control; and the effects on the activities of NTE, LysoPLA and PLB, the levels of PC, LPC, and glycerophosphocholine (GPC), and the aging of NTE enzyme in the brain, spinal cord, and sciatic nerves were examined. The results demonstrated that the activities of NTE, NTE-LysoPLA, LysoPLA, NTE-PLB and PLB were significantly inhibited in both TOCP- and PMSF-treated hens. The inhibition of NTE and NTE-LysoPLA or NTE-PLB showed a high correlation coefficient in the nervous tissues. Moreover, the NTE inhibited by TOCP was of the aged type, while nearly all of the NTE inhibited by PMSF was of the unaged type. No significant change in PC or LPC levels was observed, while the GPC level was significantly decreased. However, there is no relationship found between the GPC level and the delayed symptoms or aging of NTE. All results suggested that LPC and/or PC homeostasis disruption may not be a mechanism for OPIDN because the PC and LPC homeostasis was not disrupted after exposure to the neuropathic OP, although NTE, LysoPLA, and PLB were significantly inhibited and the GPC level was remarkably decreased.

1H NMR-based metabonomic analysis of the serum and urine of rats following subchronic exposure to dichlorvos, deltamethrin, or a combination of these two pesticides.

Metabonomic analysis, clinical chemical analysis and histopathology were used to investigate the toxic effects of subchronic exposure to dichlorvos, deltamethrin, and a combination of these two pesticides, in rats. Weight loss, hind limb weakness and histopathological changes in kidney tissue were only observed in rats exposed to high doses of deltamethrin, or a combination of deltamethrin and dichlorvos. Urinary metabonomic analysis indicated that exposure to a mixture of dichlorvos and deltamethrin was followed by increases in urinary lactate, dimethylamine, N-glycoprotein (NAC) and glycine similar to those observed in rats treated with either dichlorvos or deltamethrin alone. Serum metabonomic analysis suggests that dichlorvos induced an increase in lactate and alanine and a decrease in dimethylglycine (DMG), NAC and very low- and low-density lipoprotein (VLDL/LDL). High levels of lactate and low levels of NAC and VLDL/LDL were observed in the deltamethrin treatment group. Treating rats with a mixture of dichlorvos and deltamethrin caused an increase in serum lactate, trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), choline and alanine, with the highest levels of these metabolites observed in those that received the highest dose. Exposure to a mixture of dichlorvos and deltamethrin also resulted in a decrease in serum acetone, DMG, NAC, and VLDL/LDL. Changes in serum TMAO, alanine, choline and acetone in this treatment group were higher than in rats treated with either dichlorvos or deltamethrin. These results suggest that exposing rats to subchronic doses of dichlorvos, deltamethrin, or a combination of these pesticides, disrupted the energy metabolism of the liver and reduced kidney function.

Effects of avermectins on neurite outgrowth in differentiating mouse neuroblastoma N2a cells.

Avermectins (AVMs) are macrocyclic lactone compounds that have been widely used as parasiticides in veterinary and human medicine and as pesticides in agriculture and horticulture. The multidrug resistance transporter, P-glycoprotein (P-gp), is associated with the efflux transport of AVMs and other drugs across the blood-brain and placental barrier, and plays an important role in attenuating the neurotoxicity and developmental toxicity of AVMs. In this study, the mouse neuroblastoma N2a cell line was used to investigate the neurotoxicity of two AVM derivatives: abamectin (ABM) and doramectin (DOR). We found that both these compounds caused significant dose-dependent inhibition of neurite growth in differentiating N2a cells. In addition, Western blotting analysis showed that ABM and DOR significantly inhibited the expression of not only P-gp but also the cytoskeletal proteins, beta-actin and beta-tubulin. This suggests ABM and DOR may inhibit neurite growth by down-regulating the expression of P-gp and cytoskeletal proteins. Furthermore, knockdown of P-gp expression by RNA interference in N2a cells reduced neurite growth even in the absence of ABM and DOR, and reduced it even more in the presence of low levels of these compounds. These results suggest that even subcytotoxic levels of ABM and DOR can be neurotoxic in differentiating cells and that this neurotoxicity may, at least in part, be the result of the down-regulation of P-gp and cytoskeletal proteins.

The homeostasis of phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine in nervous tissues of mice was not disrupted after administration of tri-o-cresyl phosphate.

Neuropathy target esterase (NTE) is proven to act as a lysophospholipase (LysoPLA) in mice and phospholipase B (PLB) in cultured mammalian cells. In sensitive species, organophosphate (OP)-induced delayed neurotoxicity is initiated when NTE is inhibited by > 70% and then aged. It is hypothesized that homeostasis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and/or lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) in mice might be disrupted by the OPs since NTE and other phospholipases could be inhibited. To test this hypothesis, we treated mice using tri-o-cresyl phosphate (TOCP), which can inhibit and age NTE. Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), which inhibits NTE but cannot age, was used as a negative control. Effects on activity of NTE, LysoPLA, and PLB, the levels of PC, LPC, and glycerophosphocholine (GPC), and the aging of NTE in the brain, spinal cord, and sciatic nerve were examined. The results showed that the activities of NTE, NTE-LysoPLA, LysoPLA, NTE-PLB, and PLB were significantly inhibited in both TOCP- and PMSF-treated mice, and the inhibition of NTE and NTE-LysoPLA or NTE-PLB showed a high correlation coefficient. The NTE inhibited by TOCP was of the aged type, while nearly all NTE inhibited by PMSF was of the unaged type. Although the GPC level was remarkedly decreased, no significant change of PC and LPC levels was observed. However, the inhibition of these enzymes in mice by TOCP exhibited different characteristics from the TOCP-treated hens that we previously reported, which indicates that these enzymes were inhibited and then recovered more rapidly in mice than in hens. All results suggest that PC and LPC homeostasis was not disrupted in mice after exposure to TOCP. Differences in inhibition of NTE, LysoPLA, and PLB activities by TOCP between mice and hens may elucidate why these two species display different signs after exposure to the same neuropathic OPs.