OBJECTIVES: Previous studies using oral administration of environmentally relevant doses of cyanobacterial biomass containing microcystins (MCs) induced only sub-lethal effects in experimental birds. Therefore, the objective of this study was to obtain data on avian high-dose toxicity of MCs and compute LD50, if possible, following the natural oral route of administration. DESIGN: Responses of birds to single high-dose exposure to MCs were evaluated in fourteen-day old Japanese quail males (Coturnix coturnix japonica) with average body weight of 50 g which were randomly divided into five groups. Birds from four experimental groups were administered 7.5 ml of cyanobacterial biomass suspension containing increasing MCs quantities of 2500, 5000, 10000, and 20000 µg/kg using oral gavage. Controls received an equal dose of drinking water instead of the test substance. Birds were observed for clinical signs of acute toxicity. Survivors were killed on day 5 to obtain body and liver weights. A five-grade semi-quantitative system for histopathological liver damage scoring was used to compare cyanobacterial-biomass-exposed birds against controls. RESULTS: No mortality occurred during the period of five days post exposure in both control and MCs-exposed groups and this high-dose experiment failed to provide data to compute the LD50. Nevertheless, marked sub-lethal effects were recognised in the damage of liver that included dose-dependent changes in the body/liver ratios and morphological changes ranging from mild vacuolar dystrophy to focal liver necroses in the highest exposure group. Hepatic lesions were mainly observed in the pericentral area of the liver. CONCLUSIONS: Though maximum cyanobacterial biomass dose rates that could be administered to birds of the size were used in the present experiment and more pronounced hepatic lesions than after exposure to environmentally relevant doses were observed, birds would probably have survived unless killed for histopathology on day 5 of exposure. These results provide support to previously reported data on sub-lethal effects following exposure to cyanobacterial biomass containing MCs in birds and mortality occurring only in birds under combined action with other stressors.
- MeSH
- bakteriální toxiny toxicita MeSH
- biomasa MeSH
- Coturnix * MeSH
- hepatocyty účinky léků patologie MeSH
- karcinogeny toxicita MeSH
- LD50 MeSH
- lékové postižení jater epidemiologie patologie MeSH
- mikrocystiny toxicita MeSH
- mořské toxiny toxicita MeSH
- náhodné rozdělení MeSH
- rizikové faktory MeSH
- sinice chemie MeSH
- tělesná hmotnost MeSH
- velikost orgánu MeSH
- vztah mezi dávkou a účinkem léčiva MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to examine the hypothesis that a combination of cyanobacterial biomass containing microcystins, acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and anticoagulant can enhance avian toxic effects produced by single exposures only. METHODS: A total of 48 two-month-old Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) with average body weight of 160 g were randomly divided into 8 experimental groups of six birds and sex ratio of 1:1. Experimental groups of control Japanese quails (C) and birds exposed to single and combined sub-lethal doses of paraoxon (P), bromadiolone (B), and microcystins in cyanobacterial biomass (M) included: C, P, P+B, B, B+M, P+M, M, and P+B+M. During the 10-day exposure birds in the respective groups received biomass containing 61.62 µg microcystins daily (i.e. 26.54 µg MC-RR, 7.62 µg MC-YR and 27.39 µg MC-LR), two 250 μg/kg doses of paraoxon, and two 500 mg/kg doses of bromadiolone. Group responses were compared using standard plasma biochemistry and antioxidant/oxidative stress parameters in tissues. RESULTS: While single and double combinations of toxicants induced responses in individual biochemical parameters measured and evaluated using univariate statistical analysis, those in the triple exposure were most extensive. The principal component analysis of antioxidant/oxidative stress parameters (glutathione reductase, lipid peroxidation, and ferric reducing antioxidant power) in tissues (liver, kidney, heart, brain, lungs, gonads, and pectoralis major muscle) clearly separated the triple group (P+B+M) from all single and double exposure groups and the control and indicated thus marked joint effects in the overall pattern of antioxidant/oxidative stress responses of this group. The separation was driven by the modification of the ferric reducing antioxidant power levels in heart and brain and the cardiac lipid peroxidation level, in particular. CONCLUSIONS: This experiment contributes to the understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of combined sub-lethal exposure to natural toxins and agrochemicals and may be used for risk assessment of environmental pollution in birds.
- MeSH
- 4-hydroxykumariny toxicita MeSH
- antikoagulancia toxicita MeSH
- biomasa MeSH
- cholinesterasové inhibitory toxicita MeSH
- Coturnix * MeSH
- játra účinky léků MeSH
- karcinogeny toxicita MeSH
- kosterní svaly účinky léků MeSH
- ledviny účinky léků MeSH
- mikrocystiny toxicita MeSH
- mozek účinky léků MeSH
- náhodné rozdělení MeSH
- paraoxon toxicita MeSH
- plíce účinky léků MeSH
- rizikové faktory MeSH
- sinice chemie MeSH
- srdce účinky léků MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
OBJECTIVES: Pharmaceuticals and heavy metals such as diclofenac and lead, respectively, have been identified as environmental contaminants toxic to birds and posing serious threats to declining populations of raptors worldwide. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that a sublethal combination of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and lead induces more pronounced effects than single exposures in birds. METHODS: A total of 40 Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) at the age of 2 months and average weight of 180g were on a random basis divided into four experimental groups of 10 specimens (i.e., control, diclofenac, lead, and lead+diclofenac exposures). Six lead shots in the total weight of 1.5 grams were inserted into the crop on day 0 of the experiment, while a total of 5 mg/kg of diclofenac administered intramuscularly were divided into treatments on days 0 and 5. Group responses were compared using haematology and biochemistry after 10 days. RESULTS: There was no mortality in control and both single and combined diclofenac and lead exposure groups, nor did the birds show any clinical signs of intoxication. Univariate analyses of blood parameters yielded a decrease in haematocrit in birds exposed to both substances when compared with the control, a lower haemoglobin level of the lead-exposed group, increased activity of aspartate aminotransferase in the NSAIDs-exposed group, increased activity of alkaline phosphatase in birds exposed to a combination of diclofenac and lead, and a higher phosphorus level in the lead-exposed group. The principal component analysis revealed no multivariate pattern of responses of blood parameters and did not allow separation of exposure groups from controls when the variables and samples were projected onto a two dimensional space. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the present study can enhance understanding of combination toxicity of veterinary drugs and heavy metals in birds, i.e. a scenario that has become environmentally relevant in recent decades. Fortunately, individual blood parameter effects prevailed and no joint mortal effects were recognised in Japanese quails exposed to a combination of sublethal doses of diclofenac and lead.
- MeSH
- antiflogistika nesteroidní toxicita MeSH
- Coturnix * MeSH
- diklofenak toxicita MeSH
- gastrointestinální trakt účinky léků MeSH
- hemoglobiny metabolismus MeSH
- krevní proteiny metabolismus MeSH
- látky znečišťující životní prostředí toxicita MeSH
- náhodné rozdělení MeSH
- olovo toxicita MeSH
- otrava olovem krev mortalita MeSH
- rizikové faktory MeSH
- synergismus léků MeSH
- testy toxicity MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
OBJECTIVES: The causative agent of tularemia Francisella tularensis is highly infectious and lagomorphs are important reservoirs and a source of human disease. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that sublethal exposure to pesticides increases the susceptibility of hares to F. tularensis and modulates the course of the infection. METHODS: Experimental hares were allocated to a) control, b) paraoxon-treated, c) F. tularensis-treated, and d) paraoxon-and-F. tularensis-treated groups of five specimens on a random basis and subcutaneously inoculated with a wild F. tularensis subsp. holarctica strain (a single dose of 9 × 108 CFU pro toto) and/or injected a sublethal dose of paraoxon (100 μg/kg). Group differences were evaluated using survival curves, oxidative stress responses as well as caspase-3 and acetylcholinesterase activities in whole blood samples collected on day 2 post exposure. RESULTS: The paraoxon-and-F. tularensis-treated group showed a rapid onset of clinical signs and all deaths occurred on days 2 and 3 post exposure. F. tularensis-inoculated hares survived from 3 to 10 days, while only one hare died on day 12 in the paraoxon-treated group. Survival curves in the three exposed groups were significantly different from the control and median survival in F. tularensis-inoculated and paraoxon-and-F. tularensis-treated hares amounted to 7 and 2 days, respectively. Compared with controls, significant responses included an eight- and seven-fold activation of caspase-3 in F. tularensis-inoculated and paraoxon-and-F. tularensis-treated hares, respectively, and a 1.5-fold decrease of blood acetylcholinesterase activities in the paraoxon-treated and paraoxon-and-F. tularensis-treated groups. There was a 1.3- to 1.4-fold decrease of the ferric reducing antioxidant power in blood of F. tularensis-inoculated hares and the paraoxon-and-F. tularensis-treated group, respectively. The blood lipid peroxidation levels were of no differences among the four experimental groups. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study can help understand the pathogenesis of tularemia and mortality of hares in agricultural habitats. Use of anticholinesterase agents in agriculture can pose a threat of infectious disease outbreaks and higher mortality in wildlife populations.
- MeSH
- acetylcholinesterasa krev metabolismus MeSH
- analýza přežití MeSH
- antioxidancia metabolismus MeSH
- cholinesterasové inhibitory toxicita MeSH
- Francisella tularensis patogenita fyziologie MeSH
- insekticidy toxicita MeSH
- kaspasa 3 krev metabolismus MeSH
- náhodné rozdělení MeSH
- paraoxon toxicita MeSH
- tularemie krev mortalita patologie MeSH
- vystavení vlivu životního prostředí MeSH
- zajíci MeSH
- zdroje nemoci MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- hodnotící studie MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- srovnávací studie MeSH
To resolve the problem of the insufficient availability of seed cells and to provide seed cells for tissue engineering research, an immortalized human bone marrow stromal stem cell line (MSCxj cells) was established in our department to investigate the ectopic osteogenesis of MSCxj cells. MSCxjs were grown with a heterogeneous bone scaffold for 48 h. Three groups were included: A: MSCxjs of 35 PDs were maintained with heterogeneous bone; B: MSCxjs of 128 PDs were maintained with heterogeneous bone; and C: heterogeneous bone alone. Tetracycline fluorescence staining, H&E staining, and ponceau staining, immunohistochemistry and bone histomorphometry were performed. At the same time, scanning electron microscopy was conducted to detect the growth of MSCxjs and heterogeneous bone. Scanning electron microscopy showed favorable adherence of MSCxjs to heterogeneous bone. A large number of newly generated filamentous extracellular matrix and fine granular materials were found to cover the cells. The results from staining showed that the osteogenesis was not obvious in group A/B 4 weeks after transplantation. Eight weeks after implantation, osteoid matrix deposition was noted in and around the heterogeneous bone in group A/B. Twelve weeks after implantation, osteogenesis was increased in group A/B. There were no significant differences in the time course for bone formation and the amount of newly generated bone between group A/B. Like primary hBMSCs, MSCxj cells have favourable ectopic osteogenesis and can be applied as seeded cells in bone tissue engineering.
- MeSH
- antioxidancia chemie metabolismus MeSH
- biochemie metody MeSH
- biosenzitivní techniky přístrojové vybavení využití MeSH
- elektrochemie metody MeSH
- financování organizované MeSH
- glutathion chemie krev MeSH
- krev MeSH
- kyselina askorbová chemie krev MeSH
- kyselina močová chemie krev MeSH
- modely u zvířat MeSH
- oxidační stres fyziologie imunologie účinky léků MeSH
- ptáci krev MeSH
- reaktivní formy kyslíku chemie metabolismus MeSH
BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate biochemical and oxidative stress responses to experimental F. tularensis infection in European brown hares, an important source of human tularemia infections. METHODS: For these purposes we compared the development of an array of biochemical parameters measured in blood plasma using standard procedures of dry chemistry as well as electrochemical devices following a subcutaneous infection with a wild Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica strain (a single dose of 2.6 × 10⁹ CFU pro toto). RESULTS: Subcutaneous inoculation of a single dose with 2.6 × 10⁹ colony forming units of a wild F. tularensis strain pro toto resulted in the death of two out of five hares. Plasma chemistry profiles were examined on days 2 to 35 post-infection. When compared to controls, the total protein, urea, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were increased, while albumin, glucose and amylase were decreased. Both uric and ascorbic acids and glutathione dropped on day 2 and then increased significantly on days 6 to 12 and 6 to 14 post-inoculation, respectively. There was a two-fold increase in lipid peroxidation on days 4 to 8 post-inoculation. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to all expectations, the present study demonstrates that the European brown hare shows relatively low susceptibility to tularemia. Therefore, the circumstances of tularemia in hares under natural conditions should be further studied.
- MeSH
- časové faktory MeSH
- Francisella tularensis MeSH
- látky reagující s kyselinou thiobarbiturovou MeSH
- oxidační stres MeSH
- sérový albumin metabolismus MeSH
- tularemie metabolismus patologie veterinární MeSH
- zajíci MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
OBJECTIVES: HI-6 is an antidotum suitable for treatment of intoxication by nerve agents. The recent investigation appointed its modulation of inflammatory response as well as vegetative nervous system activity. However, the present experiments were carried out in order to assess the antioxidant effect of HI-6 in irradiated animals. METHODS: male Wistar rats were irradiated by ionizing radiation (7.5 Gy, LD50/30). Animals were divided into four groups: i.e. controls (A), irradiated (B), treated with HI-6 (C), and both irradiated and treated with HI-6 (D). Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and glutathione reductase activity were assayed in liver, spleen, plasma, and whole blood. Clinical biochemistry markers were determined in plasma samples. RESULTS: We found significantly increased FRAP levels in liver, while its levels decreased in the spleen of B group animals. Ionising radiation (B group) also significantly elevated TBARS values in spleen. HI-6 reversed FRAP and TBARS values to control levels. Glutathione reductase activity was significantly elevated in spleen and liver of animals exposed to HI-6 (C and D groups). Clinical biochemistry markers were shifted only slightly. The in vitro test confirmed the inhibitory effect of HI-6 towards acetylcholinesterase. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, HI-6 is potent in suppressing oxidative stress and might be a promising drug in the field of radiation protection.
- MeSH
- antidota farmakologie MeSH
- antioxidancia farmakologie MeSH
- glutathionreduktasa metabolismus MeSH
- ionizující záření MeSH
- játra účinky léků metabolismus účinky záření MeSH
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- látky reagující s kyselinou thiobarbiturovou metabolismus MeSH
- modely u zvířat MeSH
- oxidační stres účinky léků účinky záření MeSH
- oximy farmakologie MeSH
- potkani Wistar MeSH
- pyridinové sloučeniny farmakologie MeSH
- slezina účinky léků metabolismus účinky záření MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- hodnotící studie MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
