Atrazine exposure increases time until cannibalistic response in the widow skimmer dragonfly (Libellula luctuosa)

2014 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.R. St. Clair ◽  
C.A. Fuller

Agricultural runoff containing herbicide is known to have adverse effects on freshwater organisms. Aquatic insects are particularly susceptible, and herbicide runoff has the potential to affect behavior in this group. Here we examine the effects of short-term exposure to the herbicide atrazine on cannibalistic behavior in larvae of the widow skimmer dragonfly (Libellula luctuosa Burmeister, 1839). Large larvae (>12 mm length) were exposed to concentrations of 0, 1, 10, or 100 μg/L atrazine for 96 h. A smaller (<8 mm) conspecific was then placed with the large larva and the behavior of the large larvae was observed for 30 min. Time until initiation of stalking and time until strike were determined. After the initial 30 min, each pair was checked at 2, 4, 6, 24, and 48 h. Time of consumption and amount consumed were determined. The number of larvae that engaged in cannibalistic activity within the initial 30 min observation period was significantly higher for controls compared with all experimental treatments. When stalking, striking, and consumption times were examined together (a measure of overall response time), concentration had a significant effect with the 10 μg/L group taking significantly longer to cannibalize than the control group. Cannibalism is a particularly important behavior in dragonfly larvae populations, and this study confirms that this interaction is altered by exposure to atrazine, with the potential to affect ecological relationships.

1996 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 746-749 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. STRÖMBERG ◽  
G. LUNDBORG ◽  
B. HOLMQUIST ◽  
L. B. DAHLIN

We have studied the effects of vibration on the regeneration capacity of the peripheral nerve. A rat model was used where one hind limb was subjected to vibration of defined magnitude and duration while the contralateral hind limb was not exposed to vibration. Seven days later, the sciatic nerves were transected bilaterally and cross-joined giving the following groups: group A, a proximal vibrated nerve end sutured to a non-vibrated distal nerve end; group B, a non-vibrated proximal nerve end sutured to a distal vibrated nerve end, and group C, non-vibrated proximal nerve end sutured to a non-vibrated distal nerve end. The regeneration distances were measured 3, 6 and 8 days after surgery. The control group showed a normal linear outgrowth. The outgrowth in the two experimental groups was initially not different to controls but later became significantly different, indicating a retardation of outgrowth in these groups. It is concluded that short-term exposure to vibration can impair nerve regeneration after transection and nerve repair.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mário Araújo ◽  
Amadeu Soares ◽  
Marta Monteiro

Abstract Many personal care products integrate UV-filters, such as 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC) which has been detected in aquatic habitats. Possible effects of 4-MBC to aquatic organisms have been poorly studied. Therefore, the main objective of this work is to study the effects of 4-MBC exposure to Solea senegalensis during metamorphosis, a sensitive life stage of this flatfish. To achieve this, at the beginning of metamorphosis (13 days after hatching, dah) fish were exposed to 4-MBC (0.2–2.0 mg L− 1) for 48 h. After this period, fish were transferred to clean medium and were fed and maintained until more than 80% of fish in control group completed the metamorphosis (24 dah). Mortality, malformations and metamorphosis progression were studied on a daily basis. In addition, growth, behavior and biochemical markers of neurotransmission (acetylcholinesterase, AChE), oxidative stress (catalase, CAT; glutathione S-transferase, GST, and lipid peroxidation, LPO) and anaerobic metabolism (lactate dehydrogenase, LDH) were determined at the end of the experiment. An acceleration of metamorphosis progression was observed during and 2 days after the 4-MBC exposure in all concentrations tested. In addition, decreased length, inhibition of CAT activity and induction of oxidative damage (LOEC = 0.928 mg L− 1 4-MBC for length, CAT and LPO) were observed. A short-term exposure to 4-MBC at the onset of metamorphosis, a critical period of development, affected S. senegalensis at several levels of organization, even after nine days in clean medium, including growth and metamorphosis progression, suggesting possible long-term adverse effects to this species.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Billy ◽  
Zuzana Lhotská ◽  
Milan Jirků ◽  
Oldřiška Kadlecová ◽  
Lucia Frgelecová ◽  
...  

Protists are a normal component of mammalian intestinal ecosystems that live alongside, and interact with, bacterial microbiota. Blastocystis, one of the most common intestinal eukaryotes, is reported as a pathogen that causes inflammation and disease, though health consequences likely vary depending on host health, the gut ecosystem, and genetic diversity. Accumulating evidence suggests that Blastocystis is by and large commensal. Blastocystis is more common in healthy individuals than those with immune mediated diseases such as Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). Blastocystis presence is also associated with altered composition and higher richness of the bacterial gut microbiota. It is not clear whether Blastocystis directly promotes a healthy gut and microbiome or is more likely to colonize and persist in a healthy gut environment. We test this hypothesis by measuring the effect of Blastocystis ST3 colonization on the health and microbiota in a rat experimental model of intestinal inflammation using the haptenizing agent dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS). We experimentally colonized rats with Blastocystis ST3 obtained from a healthy, asymptomatic human donor and then induced colitis after 3 weeks (short term exposure experiment) or after 13 weeks (long term exposure experiment) and compared these colonized rats to a colitis-only control group. Across experiments Blastocystis ST3 colonization alters microbiome composition, but not richness, and induces only mild gut inflammation but no clinical symptoms. Our results showed no effect of short-term exposure to Blastocystis ST3 on gut inflammation following colitis induction. In contrast, long-term Blastocystis exposure appears to promote a faster recovery from colitis. There was a significant reduction in inflammatory markers, pathology 2 days after colitis induction in the colonized group, and clinical scores also improved in this group. Blastocystis colonization resulted in a significant reduction in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and IL-1β relative gene expression, while expression of IFNγ and IL17re/17C were elevated. We obtained similar results in a previous pilot study. We further found that bacterial richness rebounded in rats colonized by Blastocystis ST3. These results suggest that Blastocystis sp. may alter the gut ecosystem in a protective manner and promote faster recovery from disturbance.


2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 587-593 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Dobrakowski ◽  
A Kasperczyk ◽  
ZP Czuba ◽  
A Machoń-Grecka ◽  
Z Szlacheta ◽  
...  

This study was designed to determine the levels of prolactin, leptin, osteopontin, and follistatin in workers chronically and subacutely exposed to lead compounds. The examined population consisted of three groups. The first group was composed of 56 male workers who were chronically exposed to lead for 13.38 ± 10.38 years. The second group served as a control group and consisted of 24 male administrative workers, while the third group included 32 male workers exposed to lead for 40 ± 3 days. The levels of leptin, osteopontin, and prolactin were significantly lower in the group of workers chronically exposed to lead than in the control group by 42%, 26%, and 41%, respectively. The levels of follistatin did not differ between those groups. The levels of all measured hormones did not change after a short-term exposure to lead compared to baseline. Chronic lead exposure is associated with significantly decreased level of prolactin, leptin, and osteopontin. Lead-induced changes in the levels of these hormones may disturb many functions of the human body, including the immune response, metabolism, reproduction, and bone turnover.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinesh Babu Jestadi ◽  
Alugoju Phaniendra ◽  
Undru Babji ◽  
Thupakula Srinu ◽  
Bhavatharini Shanmuganathan ◽  
...  

The present study evaluates the effects of short term (15 days) exposure of low dose (300 μg kg−1) of atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-1,3,5-triazine) on antioxidant status and markers of liver and kidney damage in normal (nondiabetic) and diabetic male Wistar rats. Rats were divided into four groups: Group I as normal control, Group II as atrazine treated, Group III as diabetic control, and Group IV as atrazine treated diabetic rats. Atrazine administration resulted in increased MDA concentration as well as increased activities of SOD, CAT, and GPx in both liver and kidney of atrazine treated and atrazine treated diabetic rats. However, GSH level was decreased in both liver and kidney of atrazine treated and atrazine treated diabetic rats. Atrazine administration led to significant increase in liver damage biomarkers such as AST, ALT, and ALP as well as kidney damage biomarkers such as creatinine and urea in both normal and diabetic rats, but this increase was more pronounced in diabetic rats when compared to normal rats. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrate that short term exposure of atrazine at a dose of 300 μg kg−1could potentially induce oxidative damage in liver and kidney of both normal and diabetic rats.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Zhang

Prosocial cartoon is characterized by helping others solve difficulties, including helping, donating, sharing, comforting, and cooperating. The current study examined whether viewing a prosocial cartoon decreases aggression immediately upon exposure and the potential mediating role of aggressive motivation. Participants involve 168 children (Mage = 5.87 years, SD = 0.41) nominated by teachers as aggressive from three Chinese kindergartens. Children in the treatment group watched a prosocial cartoon (American cartoon “Handy Manny”), while children in the control group watched a nonprosocial cartoon (Chinese cartoon “Fruity Robo”). Afterward, the Hot Sauce Task (HST) was employed to assess aggressive behavior, and Aggressive Motivation Questionnaire (AMQ) was employed to assess aggressive motivation. Results revealed that viewing a prosocial cartoon (vs. a nonprosocial cartoon) did reduce children’s aggression immediately upon exposure. Specifically, males showed less aggressive behavior than females upon prosocial cartoon exposure, while males showed more aggressive behavior than females upon nonprosocial cartoon exposure. Mediational analysis suggested that the prosocial cartoon effect on aggression was partially mediated by aggressive motivation, especially for males. Consistent with general aggression model (GAM), findings of the study indicated that short-term exposure to a prosocial cartoon decreased children’s aggression by reducing aggressive motivation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta García-Arévalo ◽  
Estela Lorza-Gil ◽  
Leandro Cardoso ◽  
Thiago Martins Batista ◽  
Thiago Reis Araujo ◽  
...  

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor associated with higher risk of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases especially in susceptible populations. Because malnutrition is a nutritional disorder associated with high cardiovascular risk, we sought to compare the effects of short-term BPA exposure on cardiovascular parameters of healthy and protein-malnourished mice. Postweaned male mice were fed a normo- (control) or low-protein (LP) diet for 8 weeks and then exposed or not to BPA (50 μg kg−1 day−1) for the last 9 days. Systolic blood pressure was higher in BPA or LP groups compared with the control group. However, diastolic blood pressure was enhanced by BPA only in malnourished mice. Left ventricle (LV) end diastolic pressure (EDP), collagen deposition, and CTGF mRNA expression were higher in the control or malnourished mice exposed to BPA than in the respective nonexposed groups. Nevertheless, mice fed LP diet exposed to BPA exhibited higher angiotensinogen and cardiac TGF-β1 mRNA expression than mice treated with LP or BPA alone. Wall:lumen ratio and cross-sectional area of intramyocardial arteries were higher either in the LP or BPA group compared with the control mice. Taken together, our data suggest that short-term BPA exposure results in LV diastolic dysfunction and fibrosis, and intramyocardial arteries inward remodeling, besides potentiate protein malnutrition-induced hypertension and cardiovascular risk.


2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 204
Author(s):  
C. Cheuquemán ◽  
P. Loren ◽  
M. Arias ◽  
J. Risopatrón ◽  
R. Felmer ◽  
...  

Recent studies have shown that short-term exposure of oocytes to stressors such as hydrostatic pressure, osmotic stress, and oxidative stress might induce stress tolerance in embryos. In this research we studied the effect of short-term exposure of bovine in vitro-matured cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) with a nitric oxide donor (SNP) on IVF, embryo development, embryo quality, and relative gene expression related to cell redox state regulation. The COC were selected and matured in TCM 199 supplemented with 10% inactivated FBS, 6 mg mL–1 of LH, 6 mg mL–1 of FSH, 1 mg mL–1 of oestradiol, and 0.2 mmol of pyruvate and then incubated for 22 to 24 h at 38.5°C in 5% CO2 in a humidified atmosphere (n = 12). Before IVF, mature COC were incubated during 1 h with different concentration of sodium nitroprusside, SNP (control without SNP, 10–6 M, 10–5 M, and 10–4 M SNP) in maturation media at 38.5°C and 5% CO2 in a humidified atmosphere. For IVF procedure, oocytes of each treatment and sperm of one bull were co-incubated for 18 to 20 h at 38.5°C and 5% CO2. Presumptive zygotes were separately cultured until Day 7 under mineral oil at 38.5°C and 5% CO2, 5%O2, and 90% N2 in a humidified atmosphere. Embryo quality was analysed by staining with CDX2 antibody for trophectoderm cells and compared with total embryo cells stained with Hoechst 33342. Relative gene expression for each treatment were evaluated after RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis in Stratagene MX 3000P real-time equipment with Agilent qPCR software MX pro 4.1 version. Differences between experimental groups (n = 12) were measured using a one-way ANOVA test in the STATGRAPHICS plus 5.1 version software. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Cleavage percentage at 72 h post-insemination was significantly different between the control and 10–4 M SNP group (82 ± 8.4% v. 77 ± 7.1%, respectively) and between 10–5 M and 10–4 M SNP group (84.9 ± 4.1% v. 77 ± 7.1%, respectively). Blastocyst percentage at 7 days of culture was significantly different between control and 10–4 M SNP group (34.1 ± 7.8% v. 26.2 ± 4.9%, respectively). Embryo development between control group and treatments was similar within early, expanded, and hatched blastocyst percentage. Embryo quality of expanded blastocyst was similar between control group and treatments (ICM: TE). No significant differences in gene expression after SNP exposure was observed (iNOS, eNOS, nNOS, PRDX5, HSP70, HSP90, HIF1A, BCL2A). Oocytes incubated with a high concentration of SNP showed lower cleavage and blastocyst rates, showing that this treatment was deleterious for in vitro embryo production in bovine. However, there were no significant differences on embryo quality assessed by ICM : TE ratio and/or in gene expression pattern of 7-day cultured expanded blastocysts.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
N. Fatima ◽  
N. Sheikh ◽  
A. R. Satoskar ◽  
T. Akhtar ◽  
A. Tayyeb ◽  
...  

Tacrolimus (TAC) is an immunosuppressive drug, optimally used for liver, kidney, and heart transplant to avoid immune rejection. In retrospect, a multitude of studies have reported effects of TAC, such as nephrotoxicity, diabetes, and other complications. However, limited information is available regarding short-term exposure of TAC on the liver. Therefore, the present study was designed to unravel the effects of short-term exposure of TAC on a rat model. The animal model was established by TAC administration for 6, 12, 24, and 48 h time points. Liver histopathological changes were observed with PAS-D, reticulin stain, and immunostaining of PCNA and CK-7 coupled with glycogen quantification in a liver homogenate. TUNEL assay was performed to evaluate the DNA damage in the liver. Concentration of GSH and activities of SOD and CAT in the serum were measured to assess the antioxidant status, whereas liver tissue MDA level was measured as a biomarker of oxidative stress. Hepatic gene expression analysis of IL-10, IL-13, SOCS-2, and SOCS-3 was performed by RT-PCR. Results revealed marked changes in liver architecture of all TAC-treated groups, as evidenced by sinusoid dilation, hepatocyte derangement, glycogen deposition, and collapsed reticulin fibers. Significant increase in PCNA and CK-7 immunostaining along with the presence of TUNEL-positive cells was revealed in treatment groups as compared to the control group. Serum antioxidant enzyme status was markedly decreased, whereas the liver MDA level was increased in TAC treatment groups indicating oxidative stress induction. The gene expression profile of cytokines was significantly upregulated in treatment groups highlighting an inflammatory response. In conclusion, results of the current study propose that even a short-term TAC exposure can induce change in antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation. Therefore, these factors should be considered to avoid and minimize immunosuppression-related issues in a prolonged course of treatment.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 19-26
Author(s):  
Kingsley Chukwuemeka Kanu ◽  
◽  
Solomon Nnah Ijioma ◽  
Anthony Chukwubueze Okoboshi ◽  
◽  
...  

Background: Vinyl acetate monomer is a commodity chemical widely used in the manufacturing of various products. The chemical is hazardous and exposure to it may occur in both occupational and non-occupational settings. The aim of this study was to characterize the effects of short-term exposure to Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) vapour on the liver and lungs of Wistar rats. Methods: Mice weighing 25-30g were used to determine the acute lethal dose, while Wistar rats weighing 120-140g were randomly assigned to a control group and two experimental groups, which were exposed daily to VAM vapour for 2 or 4 hours. On the 5th day, rats were sacrificed, the blood was collected for biochemical analysis while liver and lungs were examined for histological alterations. Results: The acute lethal dose of VAM vapour was estimated to be 173.21 mg/kg body weight. A significant decline in total protein (6.725±0.10 g/dl; p<0.05) and increases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT; 33±1.47 u/l), aspartate aminotransferase (AST; 44±1.08 u/l), alkaline phosphatase (ALP u/l; 76.42±1.43), urea (22.89±0.93 mg/l), bilirubin (0.84±0.03 mg/dl) and creatinine (1.04±0.07 mg/dl) occurred in the experimental rats compared to the controls. Portal inflammation, fibrosis, and hepatitis were observed in the liver, while collapsed air spaces, thickened alveolar walls and haemorrhage were demonstrated in the lungs of the experimental rats. The extent of these lesions increased with rising exposure time to VAM vapour. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that VAM liquid was moderately toxic, while short-term exposure to VAM vapour was injurious to the lungs and liver of Wistar rats.


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