Lysosomal perturbations in fish liver as indicators for toxic effects of environmental pollution

The present study investigates the change of the specific isoenzyme pattern of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) in the livers of sheep and fish after their exposure to metal pollutants (predominantly Cu, Hg, and Fe) in industrial areas. Moreover, the influence of mercury on the activities of antioxidant enzymes of rumen bacteria Streptococcus bovis and Selenomonas ruminantium have been studied. In the liver of sheep, the new SOD isoforms (pI 5.7, 5.3 and 5.1) were seen in polluted animals as well as in the liver of fish (pI 5.2, 5.1 and 4.45). With regard to GST isoenzymes, in the liver of sheep, subunit 1 was induced in polluted sheep, and subunit 3 was induced in both polluted sheep and fish liver. Subunit 7 was inactivated in sheep and fish liver. The SOD activity of S. bovis which was considered as Mn-SOD, increased when incubated with HgCl2 in both anaerobic and aerobic conditions. S. ruminantium showed no SOD activity. The differences in antioxidant activity between polluted and reference animals led us to propose that the induction of some isoenzymes of SOD and GSTs could provide useful biomarkers for monitoring environmental pollution.

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Ultrastructure of the effect of T-514 obtained from Karwinskia humboldtiana on assembly and integrity of yeast's peroxisomes

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100084983 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 49 ◽

pp. 136-137

Author(s):

J. Sepulveda-Saavedra ◽

I. Vander-Klei ◽

M. Venhuis ◽

Y. Piñeyro-Lopez

Keyword(s):

Culture Conditions ◽

Toxic Effects ◽

Candida Boidinii ◽

Central Mexico ◽

Poisonous Plant ◽

Biological Behaviour ◽

Enzyme Content ◽

Fat Deposits ◽

Yeast Model

Karwinskia humboldtiana is a poisonous plant that grows in semi desertic areas in north and central México. It produces several substances with different toxic effects. One of them designated T-514 damages severely the lung, kidney and liver, producing in the hepatoeyte large intracellular fat deposits and necrosis. Preliminary observations demonstrated that three is a decrease in the amount of peroxisomes in the hepatocytes of experimentally intoxicated rats and monkeys. To study the effect exerted by the T-514 on peroxisomes, a yeast model was selected, thus, three species: Saccha romices cerevisiae, Ilansenula polymorpha and Candida boidinii were used, because there is information concerning their peroxisome's morphology, enzyme content, biological behaviour under different culture conditions and biogenesis.

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Identification of Pulmonary Deposits from a Sandpaper Worker: A Study by Electron Microscopy and X-Ray Microanalysis

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100053061 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 40 ◽

pp. 52-53

Author(s):

S. K. Peng ◽

M.A. Egy ◽

J. K. Singh ◽

M.B. Bishop

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Environmental Pollution ◽

Rare Case ◽

Interstitial Fibrosis ◽

X Ray ◽

Documented Case ◽

Etiologic Agents ◽

Pulmonary Interstitial Fibrosis ◽

Gold Miners ◽

Pulmonary Changes

Electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis (EDXA) are found to be very useful tools for identification of etiologic agents in pneumoconiosis or interstitial pulmonary disorders. Pulmonary interstitial fibrosis and granulomatosis are frequently associated with occupational and environmental pollution. Numerous reports of pneumoconiosis in various occupations such as coal and gold miners are presented in the literature. However, there is no known documented case of pulmonary changes in workers in the sandpaper industry. This study reports a rare case of pulmonary granulomatosis containing deposits from abrasives of sandpaper diagnosed by using EDXA.

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Some Conditions Necessary for Pinocytosis

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100100457 ◽

1968 ◽

Vol 26 ◽

pp. 142-143

Author(s):

M. W. Brightman

Keyword(s):

Smooth Muscle ◽

Cell Membrane ◽

Toxic Effects ◽

Cytological Evidence ◽

Cell Processes

The cytological evidence for pinocytosis is the focal infolding of the cell membrane to form surface pits that eventually pinch off and move into the cytoplasm. This activity, which can be inhibited by oxidative and glycolytic poisons, is performed only by cell processes that are at least 300A wide. However, the interpretation of such toxic effects becomes equivocal if the membrane invaginations do not normally lead to the formation of migratory vesicles, as in some endothelia and in smooth muscle. The present study is an attempt to set forth some conditions under which pinocytosis, as distinct from the mere inclusion of material in surface invaginations, can take place.

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