BACKGROUND： Studies have reported the antioxidant effects of lead and cadmium in the central nervous system, but very few have addressed the combined toxicity of lead and cadmium. The mechanisms by which these combin...BACKGROUND： Studies have reported the antioxidant effects of lead and cadmium in the central nervous system, but very few have addressed the combined toxicity of lead and cadmium. The mechanisms by which these combined heavy metals are toxic, as well as how to protect cells from these agents, remains poorly understood. OBJECTIVE： Primary cultured rat cortical neurons were used to determine the effects of combined lead and cadmium on levels of glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px）, superoxide dismutase （SOD）, catalase （CAT）, and acetylcholinesterase （ACHE）, as well as malondialdehyde （MDA）, and to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of N-acetylcysteine （NAC）. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING An in vitro toxicological observation was performed at the Comparative Medicine Center of Yangzhou University from August 2007 to April 2008. MATERIALS： Lead acetate, cadmium acetate, and NAC were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich （St. Louis, USA）. Commercial kits of GSH-Px, SOD, CAT, ACHE, and MDA were purchased from Nanjing Jiancheng Bioengineering Institute, Nanjing, China. METHODS： The cerebral cortical neurons were isolated from newborn Sprague dawley rats at 24 hours after birth and primary cultured for 6 days. Thereafter, the cells were treated with a range of cadmium doses （0, 5.0, and 10.0μmol/L）, lead doses （0, 1.0, and 2.0 μmol/L）, or a combination of the two for 12 hours at 37℃in a 5% CO2 incubator, respectively. In addition, the cells were incubated with different doses of cadmium and/or lead and （0 and 50 μmol/L） NAC for 12 hours to assess the protective effects on cell survival. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The activity of SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, and ACHE, as well as MDA content, in the cell lysates was detected using commercial kits. RESULTS： At 12 hours after treatment, compared to the control group, activity of GSH-Px, SOD, and AChE in the lead, cadmium, or combined treated cells was significantly decreased with increasing doses of cadmium/or lead （P 〈 0.05）, but CAT activity and MDA levels were significantly increased （P 〈 0.05）. The combination of cadmium and lead led to higher levels of toxicity than individual exposure. CONCLUSION： The degree of oxidative damage increased when the two heavy metals were combined. NAC protected neonatal cortical neurons by increasing activity of anti-oxidative enzymes and reducing lipid peroxidation, but the reduction was not statistically significant.展开更多
Germinating wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） seeds were exposed to CdCI2 （50, 100 and 200 μM） for 48 h and some aspects of oxidative metabolism was assessed in the embryonic tissues. The germination percentage and th...Germinating wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） seeds were exposed to CdCI2 （50, 100 and 200 μM） for 48 h and some aspects of oxidative metabolism was assessed in the embryonic tissues. The germination percentage and the soluble protein content of the embryonic tissues were found to decrease with increasing of Cd concentration. There was elevation in superoxide dismutase （SOD） and decline in catalase （CAT） and peroxidase （POX） activities. The increasing of lipid peroxidation levels indicated the prevalence of oxidative stress in the tissues which was probably due to the alteration of antioxidative enzymes activities. The adding of ascorbate, along with CdCl2, has resulted in restoration of the Cd induced decline in CAT activity. Weakening in H2O2 detoxification system seems to be the principal reason behind Cd induced oxidative stress in germinating seeds. Thus, imposition of oxidative stress might be the consequence of cadmium stress and this finding may help in elucidating the mechanisms underlying cadmium mediated toxicity in germinating seeds.展开更多
Heavy metals pose a potential threat to aquatic organisms. In this study, a static-renewal acute toxicity test was conducted to investigate the effects of cadmium on the antioxidant defense systems （both enzymatic an...Heavy metals pose a potential threat to aquatic organisms. In this study, a static-renewal acute toxicity test was conducted to investigate the effects of cadmium on the antioxidant defense systems （both enzymatic and non-enzymatic） and lipid peroxidaton in liver and gill tissues of juvenile GIFT tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. After 8 days of exposure to Cd （0, 0.016, 0.08, 0.4 and 2 mg/L）, livers accumulated significantly more Cd than gills. Catalase （CAT）, superoxide dismutase （SOD） and glutathione S-transferase （GST） activities were stimulated only at the highest concentration tested （2 mg/L）. Glutathione peroxidase （GPx） activity was stimulated in the gill while inhibited in the liver, these alternations in gill and liver showed a strong relationship with Cd levels in these tissues. This may indicate either a tissue-specific response of GPx to Cd or, most probably, a hormetic effect of Cd on GPx. Cd increased GSH levels and decreased the ratio GSSG/GSH in fish livers at 2 mg/L. Cd exposure resulted in an elevated level of MDA in the livers of fish at 2 mg/L, indicating that Cd caused lipid peroxidation. Taken together, the results demonstrated that Cd altered the enzymatic and non-enzymatic defensive systems and caused lipid peroxidation in O. niloticus at relatively high concentrations （compared to environmentally relevant concentrations）. In addition, the results implied that O. niloticus could tolerate high level of Cd in sites polluted by Cd.展开更多
Objective To assess lipid peroxidation and ultrastructural modifications in rat brains following perinatal exposure to lead （Pb） and/or cadmium （Cd）. Methods Female rats were divided into four groups： control gro...Objective To assess lipid peroxidation and ultrastructural modifications in rat brains following perinatal exposure to lead （Pb） and/or cadmium （Cd）. Methods Female rats were divided into four groups： control group, Pb （300 mg/L） group, Cd group （10 mg/L） and Pb＋Cd （300 mg/L, 10 mg/L） group. The compounds were delivered in the drinking water throughout pregnancy and lactation. Results The levels of compounds in blood and brain of the Pb＋Cd group were similar to those of other groups, but the effects of Pb＋Cd on pups＇ body and brain weights were higher than on other compounds. Electron microscopy revealed that Pb and Cd had effects on mitochondrial swelling, disruption and cristae loss, Nissl body dissolution, degenerated organelles and vacuoles, cytomembrane disappearance, and nuclear chromoplasm concentration. The activity of glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px）, superoxide dismutase （SOD）, catalase （CAT）, acetylcholinesterase （ACHE） was decreased, whereas the activity of maleic dialdehyde （MDA） was increased. Conclusion Perinatal exposure to low doses of Pb and Cd can produce alterations in lipid peroxidation and ultrastructural modifications in rat brains, and exposure to both metals can result in greater damages.展开更多
Hydrilla verticillata （I.f.） Royle twigs were exposed to CdCI2 （50, 100, 200 and 500 BM） under continuous light for 48 hrs and the physiological parameters like photosynthetic pigment （chlorophylls a, b and carot...Hydrilla verticillata （I.f.） Royle twigs were exposed to CdCI2 （50, 100, 200 and 500 BM） under continuous light for 48 hrs and the physiological parameters like photosynthetic pigment （chlorophylls a, b and carotenoids） contents, activities of antioxidative enzymes like superoxide dismutase （SOD）, catalase （CAT） and peroxidase （POX） along with lipid peroxidation level were determined. With respect to increase in Cd concentration in the medium and exposure duration, decrease in pigment contents, and decrease in the activities of SOD, CAT and POX were found. The increased levels of lipid peroxidation indicated the prevalence of oxidative stress situation in the tissues which might be one of the reasons behind Cd induced toxicity in Hydrilla verticillata. Since there was significant decrease in the activities of key antioxidative ezymes, the study suggests that Hydrilla verticillata may not be effective for phytoremediation of cadmium in these concentration ranges.展开更多
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Cd exposure （100 μmol/L） on polar lipid composition, and to examine the level of fatty acid unsaturation in maize （Zea mays L.）. In roots, the level of 16：0 and monouns...This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Cd exposure （100 μmol/L） on polar lipid composition, and to examine the level of fatty acid unsaturation in maize （Zea mays L.）. In roots, the level of 16：0 and monounsaturated fatty acids （16：1 ＋ 18：1） decreased in phosphatidylcholine （PC） and phosphatidylethanolamine （PE）. In contrast, the proportion of unsaturated 18-C fatty acid species showed an opposite response to Cd. The content, on the other hand, of PC, PE, digalactosyldiacylglycerol （DGDG）, and steryl lipids increased in roots （2.9-, 1.6-, 5.3-, and 1.7-fold increase, respectively）. These results suggest that a more unsaturated fatty acid composition than found in control plants with a concomitant increase in polar lipids may favor seedling growth during Cd exposure. However, the observed increase in the steryl lipid （SL） ： phospholipid （PL） ratio （twofold）, the decrease in monogalactosyldiacylglycerol （MGDG） ： DGDG ratio, as well as the induction of lipid peroxidation in roots may represent symptoms of membrane injury. In shoots, the unsaturation level was markedly decreased in PC and phosphatidylglycerol （PG） after Cd exposure, but showed a significant increase in sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol （SQDG）, MGDG and DGDG. The content of PG and MGDG was decreased by about 65%, while PC accumulated to higher levels （4.4-fold increase）. Taken together, these changes in the polar lipid unsaturation and composition are likely to be due to alterations in the glycerolipid pathway. These results also support the idea that the increase in overall unsaturation plays some role in enabling the plant to withstand the metal exposure.展开更多
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.305713647Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province,No. BK2008214
文摘BACKGROUND： Studies have reported the antioxidant effects of lead and cadmium in the central nervous system, but very few have addressed the combined toxicity of lead and cadmium. The mechanisms by which these combined heavy metals are toxic, as well as how to protect cells from these agents, remains poorly understood. OBJECTIVE： Primary cultured rat cortical neurons were used to determine the effects of combined lead and cadmium on levels of glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px）, superoxide dismutase （SOD）, catalase （CAT）, and acetylcholinesterase （ACHE）, as well as malondialdehyde （MDA）, and to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of N-acetylcysteine （NAC）. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING An in vitro toxicological observation was performed at the Comparative Medicine Center of Yangzhou University from August 2007 to April 2008. MATERIALS： Lead acetate, cadmium acetate, and NAC were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich （St. Louis, USA）. Commercial kits of GSH-Px, SOD, CAT, ACHE, and MDA were purchased from Nanjing Jiancheng Bioengineering Institute, Nanjing, China. METHODS： The cerebral cortical neurons were isolated from newborn Sprague dawley rats at 24 hours after birth and primary cultured for 6 days. Thereafter, the cells were treated with a range of cadmium doses （0, 5.0, and 10.0μmol/L）, lead doses （0, 1.0, and 2.0 μmol/L）, or a combination of the two for 12 hours at 37℃in a 5% CO2 incubator, respectively. In addition, the cells were incubated with different doses of cadmium and/or lead and （0 and 50 μmol/L） NAC for 12 hours to assess the protective effects on cell survival. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The activity of SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, and ACHE, as well as MDA content, in the cell lysates was detected using commercial kits. RESULTS： At 12 hours after treatment, compared to the control group, activity of GSH-Px, SOD, and AChE in the lead, cadmium, or combined treated cells was significantly decreased with increasing doses of cadmium/or lead （P 〈 0.05）, but CAT activity and MDA levels were significantly increased （P 〈 0.05）. The combination of cadmium and lead led to higher levels of toxicity than individual exposure. CONCLUSION： The degree of oxidative damage increased when the two heavy metals were combined. NAC protected neonatal cortical neurons by increasing activity of anti-oxidative enzymes and reducing lipid peroxidation, but the reduction was not statistically significant.
文摘Germinating wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） seeds were exposed to CdCI2 （50, 100 and 200 μM） for 48 h and some aspects of oxidative metabolism was assessed in the embryonic tissues. The germination percentage and the soluble protein content of the embryonic tissues were found to decrease with increasing of Cd concentration. There was elevation in superoxide dismutase （SOD） and decline in catalase （CAT） and peroxidase （POX） activities. The increasing of lipid peroxidation levels indicated the prevalence of oxidative stress in the tissues which was probably due to the alteration of antioxidative enzymes activities. The adding of ascorbate, along with CdCl2, has resulted in restoration of the Cd induced decline in CAT activity. Weakening in H2O2 detoxification system seems to be the principal reason behind Cd induced oxidative stress in germinating seeds. Thus, imposition of oxidative stress might be the consequence of cadmium stress and this finding may help in elucidating the mechanisms underlying cadmium mediated toxicity in germinating seeds.
文摘Heavy metals pose a potential threat to aquatic organisms. In this study, a static-renewal acute toxicity test was conducted to investigate the effects of cadmium on the antioxidant defense systems （both enzymatic and non-enzymatic） and lipid peroxidaton in liver and gill tissues of juvenile GIFT tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. After 8 days of exposure to Cd （0, 0.016, 0.08, 0.4 and 2 mg/L）, livers accumulated significantly more Cd than gills. Catalase （CAT）, superoxide dismutase （SOD） and glutathione S-transferase （GST） activities were stimulated only at the highest concentration tested （2 mg/L）. Glutathione peroxidase （GPx） activity was stimulated in the gill while inhibited in the liver, these alternations in gill and liver showed a strong relationship with Cd levels in these tissues. This may indicate either a tissue-specific response of GPx to Cd or, most probably, a hormetic effect of Cd on GPx. Cd increased GSH levels and decreased the ratio GSSG/GSH in fish livers at 2 mg/L. Cd exposure resulted in an elevated level of MDA in the livers of fish at 2 mg/L, indicating that Cd caused lipid peroxidation. Taken together, the results demonstrated that Cd altered the enzymatic and non-enzymatic defensive systems and caused lipid peroxidation in O. niloticus at relatively high concentrations （compared to environmentally relevant concentrations）. In addition, the results implied that O. niloticus could tolerate high level of Cd in sites polluted by Cd.
基金supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30440050 and No. 305713647)
文摘Objective To assess lipid peroxidation and ultrastructural modifications in rat brains following perinatal exposure to lead （Pb） and/or cadmium （Cd）. Methods Female rats were divided into four groups： control group, Pb （300 mg/L） group, Cd group （10 mg/L） and Pb＋Cd （300 mg/L, 10 mg/L） group. The compounds were delivered in the drinking water throughout pregnancy and lactation. Results The levels of compounds in blood and brain of the Pb＋Cd group were similar to those of other groups, but the effects of Pb＋Cd on pups＇ body and brain weights were higher than on other compounds. Electron microscopy revealed that Pb and Cd had effects on mitochondrial swelling, disruption and cristae loss, Nissl body dissolution, degenerated organelles and vacuoles, cytomembrane disappearance, and nuclear chromoplasm concentration. The activity of glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px）, superoxide dismutase （SOD）, catalase （CAT）, acetylcholinesterase （ACHE） was decreased, whereas the activity of maleic dialdehyde （MDA） was increased. Conclusion Perinatal exposure to low doses of Pb and Cd can produce alterations in lipid peroxidation and ultrastructural modifications in rat brains, and exposure to both metals can result in greater damages.
文摘Hydrilla verticillata （I.f.） Royle twigs were exposed to CdCI2 （50, 100, 200 and 500 BM） under continuous light for 48 hrs and the physiological parameters like photosynthetic pigment （chlorophylls a, b and carotenoids） contents, activities of antioxidative enzymes like superoxide dismutase （SOD）, catalase （CAT） and peroxidase （POX） along with lipid peroxidation level were determined. With respect to increase in Cd concentration in the medium and exposure duration, decrease in pigment contents, and decrease in the activities of SOD, CAT and POX were found. The increased levels of lipid peroxidation indicated the prevalence of oxidative stress situation in the tissues which might be one of the reasons behind Cd induced toxicity in Hydrilla verticillata. Since there was significant decrease in the activities of key antioxidative ezymes, the study suggests that Hydrilla verticillata may not be effective for phytoremediation of cadmium in these concentration ranges.
文摘This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Cd exposure （100 μmol/L） on polar lipid composition, and to examine the level of fatty acid unsaturation in maize （Zea mays L.）. In roots, the level of 16：0 and monounsaturated fatty acids （16：1 ＋ 18：1） decreased in phosphatidylcholine （PC） and phosphatidylethanolamine （PE）. In contrast, the proportion of unsaturated 18-C fatty acid species showed an opposite response to Cd. The content, on the other hand, of PC, PE, digalactosyldiacylglycerol （DGDG）, and steryl lipids increased in roots （2.9-, 1.6-, 5.3-, and 1.7-fold increase, respectively）. These results suggest that a more unsaturated fatty acid composition than found in control plants with a concomitant increase in polar lipids may favor seedling growth during Cd exposure. However, the observed increase in the steryl lipid （SL） ： phospholipid （PL） ratio （twofold）, the decrease in monogalactosyldiacylglycerol （MGDG） ： DGDG ratio, as well as the induction of lipid peroxidation in roots may represent symptoms of membrane injury. In shoots, the unsaturation level was markedly decreased in PC and phosphatidylglycerol （PG） after Cd exposure, but showed a significant increase in sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol （SQDG）, MGDG and DGDG. The content of PG and MGDG was decreased by about 65%, while PC accumulated to higher levels （4.4-fold increase）. Taken together, these changes in the polar lipid unsaturation and composition are likely to be due to alterations in the glycerolipid pathway. These results also support the idea that the increase in overall unsaturation plays some role in enabling the plant to withstand the metal exposure.
