RESUMO
Reports of declining male fertility have renewed interest in assessing the role of electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Testicular function is particularly susceptible to the radiation emitted by EMFs. Significant decrease in sperm count, increase in the lipid peroxidation damage in sperm cells, reduction in seminiferous tubules and testicular weight and DNA damage were observed following exposure to EMF in male albino rats. The results suggest that mobile phone exposure adversely affects male fertility.
Assuntos
Telefone Celular , Campos Eletromagnéticos , Espermatozoides/efeitos da radiação , Testículo/efeitos da radiação , Animais , Ensaio Cometa , Masculino , Tamanho do Órgão/efeitos da radiação , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Contagem de EspermatozoidesRESUMO
Cadmium selenium quantum dots (CdSe QDs) with modified surfaces exhibit superior dispersion stability and high fluorescence yield, making them desirable biological probes. The knowledge of cellular and biochemical toxicity has been lacking, and there is little information on the correlation between in vitro and in vivo data. The current study was carried out to assess the toxicity of CdSe QDs after intravenous injection in Wistar male rats (230 g). The rats were given a single dose of QDs of 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg and were kept for 30 days. Following that, various biochemical assays, hematological parameters, and bioaccumulation studies were carried out. Functional as well as clinically significant changes were observed. There was a significant increase in WBC while the RBC decreased. This suggested that CdSe quantum dots had inflammatory effects on the treated rats. The various biochemical assays clearly showed that high dose induced hepatic injury. At a dose of 80 mg/kg, bioaccumulation studies revealed that the spleen (120 g/g), liver (78 g/g), and lungs (38 g/g) accumulated the most. In treated Wistar rats, the bioretention profile of QDs was in the following order: the spleen, liver, kidney, lungs, heart, brain, and testis. The accumulation of these QDs induced the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species, resulting in an alteration in antioxidant activity. It is concluded that these QDs caused oxidative stress, which harmed cellular functions and, under certain conditions, caused partial brain, kidney, spleen, and liver dysfunction. This is one of the most comprehensive in vivo studies on the nanotoxicity of CdSe quantum dots.
Assuntos
Compostos de Cádmio , Pontos Quânticos , Compostos de Selênio , Ratos , Masculino , Animais , Ratos Wistar , Compostos de Cádmio/toxicidade , Pontos Quânticos/toxicidade , Bioacumulação , Compostos de Selênio/toxicidade , Estresse Oxidativo , Sulfetos , Compostos de ZincoRESUMO
The present study deals with the effects of chronic exposure of low-level microwave radiation on developing rat brain. Starting at 35 days of age, male rats were exposed to 2 h/day for another 35 days to a 16.5-GHz microwave radiation field. After the exposure period, the rats were sacrificed, and brain tissues dissected out and used for biochemical assay. Results showed that exposure to a 16.5-GHz radiation caused significant changes in the activity of protein kinase C as compared to the control group. Furthermore, electron microscopic study revealed an increase in glial cell population. These results confirm that brain cell membrane is an interactive site for electromagnetic field causing an inflammation and possibly tumor promotion.
Assuntos
Encéfalo/enzimologia , Encéfalo/efeitos da radiação , Micro-Ondas/efeitos adversos , Animais , Encéfalo/citologia , Encéfalo/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Relação Dose-Resposta à Radiação , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Masculino , Proteína Quinase C/metabolismo , Ratos , Ratos WistarRESUMO
Betel leaf is consumed as a mouth freshener due to its characteristic flavor, aromaticity, and medicinal values. Abundance of phytochemicals in betel leaf contributes towards unique qualitative features. Screening of metabolites is quintessential for identifying flavoring betel leaves and their origin. Metabolomics presently lays emphasis on the cumulative application of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic approaches. Here we adopted different protocols based on the above-mentioned analytical metabolomics platform for untargeted plant metabolite profiling followed by multivariate analysis methods and a phytochemical characterization of Piper betel leaf cultivars endemic to coastal Odisha, India. Based on variation in the solvent composition, concentration of solvent, extraction temperature, and incubation periods, five extraction methods were followed in GC-MS and NMR spectroscopy of betel leaf extracts. Phytochemical similarities and differences among the species were characterized through multivariate analysis approaches. Principal component analysis, based on the relative abundance of phytochemicals, indicated that the betel cultivars could be grouped into three groups. Our results of FTIR-, GC-MS-, and NMR-based profiling combined with multivariate analyses suggest that untargeted metabolomics can play a crucial role in documenting metabolic signatures of endemic betel leaf varieties.
Assuntos
Piper betle , Metabolômica , Compostos Fitoquímicos , Piper betle/química , Extratos Vegetais/química , Folhas de Planta , SolventesRESUMO
This study concerns with the multiple treatment of the target site to potent carcinogen and the super imposition of low level radiofrequency and microwave radiation. Swiss albino mice (male) were used for this investigation. The study has been divided in two parts, part A: a single dose of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) 100 µg/animal was applied topically on the skin of mice and were exposed to 112 MHz amplitude modulated (AM) at 16 Hz (power density 1.0 mW/cm(2), specific absorption rate (SAR) 0.75 W/kg). Similarly after a single dose of DMBA, mice were exposed to 2.45 GHz radiation (power density of 0.34 mW/cm(2), SAR, 0.1 W/kg), 2 h/day, 3 days a week for a period of 16 weeks. The two sets of experiments were carried out separately. Part B: mice were transplanted intraperitoneally (ip) with ascites 8 × 10(8) (Ehrlich-Lettre ascites, strain E) carcinoma cells per mouse. These mice were exposed to 112 MHz amplitude modulated at 16 Hz and 2.45 GHz radiation separately for a period of 14 days. There was no tumor development in mice exposed to RF and MW. Similarly a topical application of single dose of DMBA followed by RF/MW exposure also did not produce any visible extra tumor on the skin of mice. On the other hand mice were transplanted intraperitoneally with ascites (8 × 10(8) cell/ml) and subsequently exposed to above mentioned fields for 14 days showed a slight increase in the cell numbers as compared to the control group. However, the increase is insignificant. There were insignificant differences either in the mortality or cell proliferation among the control and exposed group. This results show that low level RF or MW do not alter tumor growth and development as evidenced by no observable change in tumor size.
Assuntos
Carcinoma de Ehrlich/etiologia , Micro-Ondas , Neoplasias Induzidas por Radiação/etiologia , Neoplasias Cutâneas/etiologia , 9,10-Dimetil-1,2-benzantraceno , Animais , Carcinoma de Ehrlich/patologia , Proliferação de Células/efeitos da radiação , Hiperplasia , Masculino , Camundongos , Neoplasias Induzidas por Radiação/patologia , Neoplasias Cutâneas/induzido quimicamente , Neoplasias Cutâneas/patologia , Fatores de Tempo , Carga Tumoral/efeitos da radiaçãoRESUMO
Lipase derived from Bacillus licheniformis MTCC 6824 was purified to homogeneity by anion exchange chromatography on Amberlite IRA 410 (Cl-) and gel filtration using Sephadex G-100 as judged by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified lipase was used for hydrolysis of triacylglycerol in sardine oil to enrich Delta5-polyunsaturated fatty acids (Delta5-PUFAs) namely, arachidonic acid (5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid, ARA, 20:4n-6) and eicosapentaenoic acid (5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA, 20:5n-3). The individual fatty acids were determined as fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) by gas-liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy as FAMEs and N-acyl pyrrolidides. The enzyme exhibited hydrolytic resistance toward ester bonds of Delta5-PUFAs as compared to those of other fatty acids and was proved to be effective for increasing the concentration of EPA and ARA from sardine oil. Utilizing this fatty acid specificity, EPA and ARA from sardine oil were enriched by lipase-mediated hydrolysis followed by urea fractionation at 4 degrees C. The purified lipase produced the highest degree of hydrolysis for SFAs and MUFAs (81.5 and 72.3%, respectively, from their initial content in sardine oil) after 9 h. The profile of conversion by lipase catalysis showed a steady increase up to 6 h and thereafter plateaued down. Lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of sardine oil followed by urea adduction with methanol provided free fatty acids containing 55.4% EPA and 5.8% ARA, respectively, after complexation of saturated and less unsaturated fatty acids. The combination of enzymatic hydrolysis and urea complexation proved to be a promising method to obtain highly concentrated EPA and ARA from sardine oil.
Assuntos
Bacillus/enzimologia , Fracionamento Químico/métodos , Ácidos Graxos Insaturados/isolamento & purificação , Óleos de Peixe/química , Lipase/química , Ácido Eicosapentaenoico , Ativação Enzimática , Ácidos Graxos Insaturados/química , Hidrólise , Especificidade por Substrato , Ureia/químicaRESUMO
The present article delineates the epidemiological and experimental studies of electromagnetic field which affects various tissues of human body. These affects lead to cell proliferation, which may lead to cancer formation. Certain biomarkers have been identified which are one way or the other responsible for tumor promotion or co-promotion. These are (i) melatonin, a hormone secreted by pineal gland, (ii) Ca2+, which is essential in the regulation of the resting membrane potential and in the sequence of events in synaptic excitation and neurotransmitter, release are affected by electromagnetic field, (iii) ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), a rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of polyamines, considered as a useful biological marker; over expression of ODC can cause cell transformation and enhancement of tumor promotion. (iv) protein kinase is an enzyme, which transfers phosphate groups from ATP to hydroxyl groups in the amino acid chains of acceptor proteins, and (v) Na+-K+ ATPase, which transports sodium and potassium ions across the membrane has a critical role in living cells. The various possible mechanisms depending upon non equilibrium thermodynamics, co-operativism, stochastic and resonance are discussed as possible models of signal transduction in cytosol, thereby controlling the transcription phenomena. Finally a mechanism comprising the extremely low frequency and radio frequency (RF)/microwave (MW) modulated field is compared.
Assuntos
Biomarcadores Tumorais/análise , Campos Eletromagnéticos/efeitos adversos , Neoplasias Induzidas por Radiação/diagnóstico , Animais , DNA/efeitos da radiação , Quebras de DNA , Humanos , Micro-Ondas/efeitos adversos , Ondas de Rádio/efeitos adversosRESUMO
Landfills are considered the most widely practiced method for disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) and 95% of the total MSW collected worldwide is disposed of in landfills. Leachate produced from MSW landfills may contain a number of pollutants and pose a potential environmental risk for surface as well as ground water. In the present study, chemical analysis and toxicity assessment of landfill leachate have been carried out. Leachate samples were collected from Ghazipur landfill site, New Delhi. Leachates were characterized by measuring the concentration of heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Cr and Ni), 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), pH, electrical conductivity and SO42-. For toxicity testing of leachate, Triticum aestivum (wheat) was selected and testing was done in a time- and dose-dependent manner using the crude leachate. Median lethal concentration after 24 and 48 h of exposure was observed. The main objective of this study was to evaluate toxicity of MSW landfill leachate and establish a possible correlation between the measured physicochemical parameters and resultant toxicity. Statistical analysis showed that toxicity was dependent on the concentration of heavy metals (Pb, Cu), conductivity, and organic matter (COD and BOD5).
Assuntos
Metais Pesados , Resíduos Sólidos , Instalações de Eliminação de Resíduos , Poluentes Químicos da Água , Cidades , Monitoramento Ambiental , Germinação/efeitos dos fármacos , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Índia , Metais Pesados/análise , Metais Pesados/química , Metais Pesados/toxicidade , Sementes/efeitos dos fármacos , Sementes/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Triticum/efeitos dos fármacos , Triticum/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análise , Poluentes Químicos da Água/química , Poluentes Químicos da Água/toxicidadeRESUMO
This investigation concerns with the effect of low intensity microwave (2.45 and 16.5 GHz, SAR 1.0 and 2.01 W/kg, respectively) radiation on developing rat brain. Wistar rats (35 days old, male, six rats in each group) were selected for this study. These animals were exposed for 35 days at the above mentioned frequencies separately in two different exposure systems. After the exposure period, the rats were sacrificed and the whole brain tissue was dissected and used for study of single strand DNA breaks by micro gel electrophoresis (comet assay). Single strand DNA breaks were measured as tail length of comet. Fifty cells from each slide and two slides per animal were observed. One-way ANOVA method was adopted for statistical analysis. This study shows that the chronic exposure to these radiations cause statistically significant (p<0.001) increase in DNA single strand breaks in brain cells of rat.
Assuntos
Encéfalo/efeitos da radiação , Dano ao DNA/efeitos da radiação , DNA de Cadeia Simples/efeitos da radiação , Micro-Ondas , Animais , Ensaio Cometa , Relação Dose-Resposta à Radiação , Masculino , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Valores de ReferênciaRESUMO
Titanium-dioxide nanoparticles (TNP) are used in various consumable goods. Evidence has demonstrated the cytotoxicity of TNPs, but exact mechanism is yet to be elucidated. The present study has been aimed at finding out the mechanism of TNP-induced toxicity in biological system. Different doses of anatase-TNPs administrated intravenously to Wistar rats for once a week for 1 month and properties of TH cells, macrophages, cytokines secretion, oxidative damage, apoptotic pathway, and hematological and pathological changes were investigated as downstream events of TNP-mediated cytotoxicity. Result suggests that TNPs induce TH1 and TH2 response as measured by immunophenotyping (interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin (IL)-4) of TH cells, causing induction of M1 (nitric oxide (NO), nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), NF-kappaB (NF-κB), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α) and M2 (Arg-1, Ym1) macrophages response. At lower dose, TH1 or M1 response counteracted by TH2 or M2 response, resulting in insignificant oxidative damage. However, with increasing dose of TNPs, the M1 response was increased over M2 response resulting in significant tissue damage. The M1-induced inflammatory response was found to cause DNA and chromosomal damage resulting apoptosis induction via upregulation of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and subsequent loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and cyto c release in splenocytes. The TNP-led inflammatory response also causes damage at different tissue levels.
Assuntos
Inflamação/patologia , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Nanopartículas/química , Estresse Oxidativo/efeitos dos fármacos , Titânio/farmacologia , Administração Intravenosa , Animais , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Interferon gama/metabolismo , Interleucina-4/metabolismo , Ativação de Macrófagos/efeitos dos fármacos , Macrófagos/efeitos dos fármacos , Masculino , Potencial da Membrana Mitocondrial/efeitos dos fármacos , Nanopartículas/administração & dosagem , Ratos Wistar , Baço/efeitos dos fármacos , Baço/metabolismo , Titânio/administração & dosagemRESUMO
The present work describes the effect of amplitude modulated radio frequency (rf) radiation (112 MHz amplitude-modulated at 16 Hz) on calcium-dependent protein kinase C (PKC) activity on developing rat brain. Thirty-five days old Wistar rats were used for this study. The rats were exposed 2 h per day for 35 days at a power density of 1.0 mW/cm2 (SAR = 1.48 W/kg). After exposure, rats were sacrificed and PKC was determined in whole brain, hippocampus and whole brain minus hippocampus separately. A significant decrease in the enzyme level was observed in the exposed group as compared to the sham exposed group. These results indicate that this type of radiation could affect membrane bound enzymes associated with cell signaling, proliferation and differentiation. This may also suggest an affect on the behavior of chronically exposed rats.
Assuntos
Hipocampo , Proteína Quinase C , Ondas de Rádio/efeitos adversos , Animais , Masculino , RatosRESUMO
The effect of exposing rats to amplitude modulated radiofrequency radiation (112 MHz modulated to 16 Hz) during development and growth has been examined. Wistar rats (35 days old) when exposed at above frequency at the power level 1.0 mW/cm2 (SAR, 0.75 W/kg) for 35 days showed enhanced ornithine decarboxylase activity and Ca2+ efflux in brain indicating potential health hazards due to exposure.
Assuntos
Encéfalo/efeitos da radiação , Cálcio/metabolismo , Ornitina Descarboxilase/metabolismo , Ondas de Rádio , Animais , Encéfalo/enzimologia , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Feminino , Transporte de Íons , Masculino , Ratos , Ratos WistarRESUMO
We have surveyed the levels of magnetic field in the open environment around the high-tension lines as well as in the domestic and laboratory environment in the JNU campus. Measurements were made in the direction of most likely access, and from the surface of the appliances. The data so obtained are analyzed and compared with some quoted in the literature. It is hoped that the results will be useful for epidemiological studies in determining the criteria for safe human exposure.
Assuntos
Campos Eletromagnéticos , Exposição Ambiental , Humanos , Índia , UniversidadesRESUMO
Present study concerns with various biochemical changes in the developing rat brain exposed to 9.9 GHz (square wave modulated, 1 kHz) at power density 0.125 mW/cm(2) (specific absorption rate 1.0 W/kg) for 2 h/day for 35 days. Thirty days old male wistar rats were used for this present study. Each group consists of eight animals. After the exposure, biochemical assays such as calcium ion efflux, calcium-dependent protein kinase (PKC), and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) were performed on the brain tissue. Results of this study reveal that chronic exposure of rat to microwave radiation alter the activity of certain enzymes. There was a significant increase in calcium ion efflux and the activity of ODC. On the other hand, there is a significant decrease in PKC activity. Since these enzymes are related to growth, any alteration may lead to affect functioning of the brain and its development.
Assuntos
Encéfalo/metabolismo , Encéfalo/efeitos da radiação , Micro-Ondas , Animais , Encéfalo/enzimologia , Cálcio/metabolismo , Masculino , Ornitina Descarboxilase/metabolismo , Proteínas Quinases/metabolismo , Ratos , Ratos WistarRESUMO
We report fluorescence behavior in non-functionalized carbon nanoparticles (NCNP) prepared from lamp soot and their application in imaging of normal and cancer cells. Structural characterization of these particles by Raman spectroscopy showed characteristic peaks located at 1350 and 1590 cm(-1) corresponding to the diamond-like (D) and graphite-like (G) bands of the carbon allotropes respectively with the characteristic ratio I(D)/I(G)=2.24. X-ray diffraction study confirmed the presence of amorphous as well as graphitized carbon in these nanostructures with minimum grain size ≈2 nm. A typical luminescence lifetime measured by time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy was obtained 3.54 ns. The photoluminescence behavior of these particles was excitation dependent and gave off blue, green and red fluorescence under UV, blue and green excitation, respectively. Cellular uptake of these NCNP yielded excellent results for cell imaging of human embryonic kidney, lung carcinoma and breast adenocarcinoma cells. Cell imaging was further correlated with cytotoxicity in the above mentioned cell lines and also in leukemia cell lines. Dose dependant cytotoxicity was observed after 24 h up to 48 h of incubation of nanoparticles. Fluorescence microscopy of nanoparticle-cell interaction clearly indicated aggregation of the particles.
Assuntos
Carbono/química , Nanopartículas , Neoplasias/patologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Humanos , Técnicas In Vitro , Espectrometria de Fluorescência , Difração de Raios XRESUMO
Two new guaiane sesquiterpene derivatives, guai-2-en-10alpha-ol (1) and guai-2-en-10alpha-methanol (2), were chromatographically purified as major constituents of the CHCl3/CH3OH (1:1, v/v) soluble fraction of Ulva fasciata. Acetylation of 2 furnished guai-2-en-10alpha-methyl methanoate (3) with acetyl group at C11 position. The structures of the compounds were elucidated using one and two-dimensional NMR and mass spectrometric analysis. Compounds 2 and 3 exhibited significant inhibition to the growth of Vibrio parahaemolyticus with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 25 and 35 microg/mL, respectively. The electronegative C10 acetyl group with high polarisability (7.02x10(-24) cm3) in 3 appeared to withdraw electron cloud from substituted cycloheptyl ring and (R)-3-methylcyclohept-1-ene moiety, thus acting as the nucleophilic center of the molecule resulting in high bioactivity.
Assuntos
Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Sesquiterpenos de Guaiano/farmacologia , Ulva/química , Antibacterianos/química , Antibacterianos/isolamento & purificação , Espectroscopia de Ressonância Magnética , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Sesquiterpenos de Guaiano/química , Sesquiterpenos de Guaiano/isolamento & purificação , Relação Estrutura-AtividadeRESUMO
An extracellular lipase produced by Pseudomonas fluorescens MTCC 2421 was purified 184.37-fold with a specific activity of 424.04 LU/mg after anion exchange and gel exclusion chromatography. The enzyme is a homomeric protein with an apparent molecular mass of 65.3 kDa. The lipase exhibited hydrolytic resistance toward triglycerides with longer fatty acyl chain length containing unsaturation as evident from the lower V(max) (0.23 mM/mg/min) of the lipase toward glycerol trioleate (C(18:1n9)) compared with the fatty acid triglycerides having short to medium carbon chain lengths (C(18:0-12:0), V(max) 0.32-0.51 mM/mg/min). This indicates a preferential specificity of the lipase toward cleaving shorter carbon chain length fatty acid triglycerides. The lipase exhibited optimum activity at 40 degrees C and pH 8.0, respectively. A combination of Ca(2+) and sorbitol induced a synergistic effect on the thermostability of lipase with a significantly high residual activity (100%) after 30 min at 40 degrees C, as compared to 90.6% after incubation with Ca(2+) alone. The lipase activity was inhibited by Cu(2+) and Fe(2+) (42 and 48%, respectively) at 10 mM. The enzyme lost 31% of its initial activity by 0.001 mM EDTA and 42% by 0.1 mM EDTA. Significant reduction in lipase activity was apparent by 2-mercaptoethanol and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride at diluted concentration (0.001 mM), thereby indicating an important role of sulfhydryl groups in the catalytic mechanism.
Assuntos
Lipase/isolamento & purificação , Lipase/metabolismo , Pseudomonas fluorescens/enzimologia , Cálcio/farmacologia , Cromatografia em Gel , Cromatografia por Troca Iônica , Inibidores Enzimáticos/farmacologia , Estabilidade Enzimática/efeitos dos fármacos , Ácidos Graxos/química , Ácidos Graxos/metabolismo , Cinética , Lipase/antagonistas & inibidores , Sorbitol/farmacologia , Especificidade por Substrato , Triglicerídeos/química , Triglicerídeos/metabolismoRESUMO
There is growing concern by the public regarding the potential human health hazard due to exposure to microwave frequencies. 2.45 GHz radiation widespread use in industry, research, and medicine, and leakage into the environment is possible. In order to quantitate this, experiments were performed on developing rat brain. Male Wistar 35-day-old rats (n = 6) were used for this study. Animals were exposed to 2.45 GHz radiation for 2 h/day for a period of 35 days at a power density of 0.344 mW/cm(2) (SAR 0.11 W/kg). The control group was sham irradiated. After 35 days these rats were sacrificed and whole brain tissue was isolated for protein kinase C (PKC) assay. For morphological study the forebrain was isolated from the whole brain and PKC activity was measured using P(32) labeled ATP. Our study reveals a statistically significant (p < 0.05) decrease in PKC activity in hippocampus as compared to the remaining portion of the whole brain and the control group. A similar experiment conducted on hippocampus and the whole brain gave a similar result. Electron microscopic study shows an increase in the glial cell population in the exposed group as compared to the control group. This present study is indicative of a significant change after exposure to the above-mentioned field intensity. This suggests that chronic exposures may affect brain growth and development.