Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J L Mattsson

Publications and source records attributed to J L Mattsson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

An in vitro screening paradigm for extracts of whole foods for detection of potential toxicants.

The application of organic, conventional and biotechnology techniques can alter the intrinsic levels of natural toxicants in crop foods and methods are needed to screen for unexpected changes in toxicant levels. We evaluated crude, aqueous preparations of 37 foods purchased from a local market in a battery of four in vitro mammalian toxicity screens. The foods were evaluated in one or more of the following tests: (1) cytotoxicity (37 foods) and (2) chromosomal aberration test (nine foods), both in Chinese hamster ovary cells, (3) limb bud micromass assay (nine foods) using 11-day old CD-1 mouse embryos and (4) estrogenicity (MCF-7 cells transfected with estrogen receptor and lucerifase reporter constructs, 12 foods). IC50s for cellular proliferation ranged from < 1% (v/v, garlic) to > 10% (v/v, 18 foods), the maximal concentration tested. Five of nine preparations (soybeans, broccoli, garlic, snow peas and corn) were clastogenic and two (soybeans and snow peas) inhibited chrondrogenesis in the limb bud micromass assay. Five of nine preparations (soybeans, snow peas, cumin, asparagus and bean sprouts) produced significant estrogenic responses. Overall, the 12 foods evaluated in two or more of the tests showed different patterns of response. These preliminary data indicate that screening for potential toxicants is possible with fast, relatively inexpensive in vitro tests. These in vitro tests, while potentially useful to detect unexpected toxicants in plants that may signal the need for further evaluation, are not directly useful to predict human or animal risk from eating these plants.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

A Physiologically based pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PBPK/PD) model for the organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos in rats and humans.

A PBPK/PD model was developed for the organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) (O,O-diethyl-O-[3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl]-phosphorothioate), and the major metabolites CPF-oxon and 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP) in rats and humans. This model integrates target tissue dosimetry and dynamic response (i.e., esterase inhibition) describing uptake, metabolism, and disposition of CPF, CPF-oxon, and TCP and the associated cholinesterase (ChE) inhibition kinetics in blood and tissues following acute and chronic oral and dermal exposure. To facilitate model development, single oral-dose pharmacokinetic studies were conducted in rats (0.5-100 mg/kg) and humans (0.5-2 mg/kg), and the kinetics of CPF, CPF-oxon, and TCP were determined, as well as the extent of blood (plasma/RBC) and brain (rats only) ChE inhibition. In blood, the concentration of analytes followed the order TCP >> CPF >> CPF-oxon; in humans CPF-oxon was not quantifiable. Simulations were compared against experimental data and previously published studies in rats and humans. The model was utilized to quantitatively compare dosimetry and dynamic response between rats and humans over a range of CPF doses. The time course of CPF and TCP in both species was linear over the dose range evaluated, and the model reasonably simulated the dose-dependent inhibition of plasma ChE, RBC acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and brain (rat only) AChE. Model simulations suggest that rats exhibit greater metabolism of CPF to CPF-oxon than humans do, and that the depletion of nontarget B-esterase is associated with a nonlinear, dose-dependent increase in CPF-oxon blood and brain concentration. This CPF PBPK/PD model quantitatively estimates target tissue dosimetry and AChE inhibition and is a strong framework for further organophosphate (OP) model development and for refining a biologically based risk assessment for exposure to CPF under a variety of scenarios.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Reanalysis with optimized power of red blood cell acetylcholinesterase activity from a 1-year dietary treatment of dogs to chlorpyrifos.

A no-observed-effect level (NOEL) of 0.1 mg/kg/day was reported for inhibition of red blood cell (RBC) acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in two groups of Beagle dogs fed chlorpyrifos (0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 1 or 3 mg/kg/day) in the diet for 1 or 2 years (McCollister et al., Food Cosmet. Toxicol. 12 (1974) 45-61). The statistical analyses were by t-test that had low statistical power due to small sample sizes. Common time points for blood samples in both phases allowed a reanalysis of the grouped data over a 1-year time period. The reanalysis increased statistical power by increasing the sample size to n=14 from n=3 or 4, and decreasing the variance, by statistical step-by-step aggregation of the data from both phases, both sexes, and four sample periods. Factors retained in the ANOVA were dose, sex, and phase (sex-by-dose was not significant). Contrasts with one-sided t-tests indicated the 1 and 3 mg/kg/day groups had significantly inhibited RBC AChE (P<0.0001). At alpha=0.05, the uncorrected one-sided model had 80% power to detect a 12% decrease, 93% power for a 15% decrease, and 99.5% power for a 20% decrease in AChE activity. Overall, the reanalysis had high power to detect a clinically significant decrease in RBC AChE activity, and substantiated the original NOEL for chronic treatment of dogs to dietary chlorpyrifos at 0.1 mg/kg/day.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Lack of carcinogenicity of chlorpyrifos insecticide in a high-dose, 2-year dietary toxicity study in Fischer 344 rats.

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) was administered daily in the feed to evaluate toxicity and oncogenicity potential in male and female Fischer 344 rats, according to U.S. EPA guidelines. Doses for the 2-year study were based on findings in a 13-week feeding study in which lower body weights, urinary perineal staining, adrenal cortical vacuolization, and inhibition (slightly more than 60%) of brain cholinesterase (ChE) occurred at 15 mg/kg/day. The high dose in the subsequent 2-year study was 10 mg/kg/day, with lower doses of 0, 0.05, 0.1, or 1.0 mg/kg/day chosen to define dose-response patterns. Rats given 10 mg/kg/day for 2 years were healthy and there was no evidence of premature deaths. Mild toxicity occurred only in rats given 10 mg/kg/day and consisted of perineal urine soiling in females and a 6-8% body-weight decrease in males. Males given 10 mg/kg/day also had increased adrenal weights and vacuolation of the adrenal zona fasciculata. ChE was considered a measure of exposure. Plasma, RBC, and brain ChE activities were inhibited in rats given 10 mg/kg/day, and the plasma and RBC ChE activities were inhibited in rats given 1.0 mg/kg/day. Chronic exposure to 0.1 mg/kg/day was considered a threshold exposure level for inhibition of plasma ChE. Rats given 10 mg/kg/day, considered a maximum-tolerated dose, had approximately 60% chronic inhibition of brain ChE. This group had similar numbers and types of neoplasms as control rats. Consequently, CPF was not carcinogenic at dose levels up to 10 mg/kg/day.

Administration, Oral↗

Lack of differential sensitivity to cholinesterase inhibition in fetuses and neonates compared to dams treated perinatally with chlorpyrifos.

Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to chlorpyrifos (CPF; O,O-diethyl-O-[3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinyl] phosphorothioate) by gavage (in corn oil) from gestation day (GD) 6 to postnatal day (PND) 10. Dosages to the dams were 0 (control), 0.3 (low), 1.0 (middle) or 5.0 mg/kg/day (high). On GD 20 (4 h post gavage), the blood CPF concentration in fetuses was about one half the level found in their dams (high-dose fetuses 46 ng/g; high-dose dams 109 ng/g). CPF-oxon was detected only once; high-dose fetuses had a blood level of about 1 ng/g. Although no blood CPF could be detected (limit of quantitation 0.7 ng/g) in dams given 0.3 mg/kg/ day, these dams had significant inhibition of plasma and red blood cell (RBC) ChE. In contrast, fetuses of dams given 1 mg/kg/day had a blood CPF level of about 1.1 ng/g, but had no inhibition of ChE of any tissue. Thus, based on blood CPF levels, fetuses had less cholinesterase (ChE) inhibition than dams. Inhibition of ChE occurred at all dosage levels in dams, but only at the high-dose level in pups. At the high dosage, ChE inhibition was greater in dams than in pups, and the relative degree of inhibition was RBC approximately plasma > or = heart > brain (least inhibited). Milk CPF concentrations were up to 200 times those in blood, and pup exposure via milk from dams given 5 mg/kg/day was estimated to be 0.12 mg/kg/day. Therefore, the dosage to nursing pups was much reduced compared to the dams exposure. In spite of exposure via milk, the ChE levels of all tissues of high-dosage pups rapidly returned to near control levels by PND 5.

Age Factors↗

Human red blood cell acetylcholinesterase inhibition as the appropriate and conservative surrogate endpoint for establishing chlorpyrifos reference dose.

Chlorpyrifos (O,O-diethyl O-(3,5, 6-trichloro-2-pyridinyl)- phosphorothioate) is an organophosphorus (OP) insecticide used for controlling insect pests. Currently, the reference dose (RfD) used by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish acceptable human exposure tolerances for chlorpyrifos is based upon inhibition of blood butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), which is not the target enzyme of chlorpyrifos, and does not play any role in cholinergic transmission. Data are presented showing that inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) associated with red blood cells (RBC), an enzyme similar to or identical with that in the nervous system, is a more appropriate endpoint on which to base the RfD. Basing an acceptable level of human exposure (e.g., RfD) on inhibition of RBC AChE provides a significant margin of safety, since it is 12- to 14-fold more sensitive as an indicator of chlorpyrifos exposure than the AChE in the most sensitive relevant neurological tissues (brain or retina). Inhibition of RBC AChE activity is consistently exhibited at lower dosages of chlorpyrifos than those required to result in clinical symptoms of OP toxicity, or alterations in cognitive functional responses. There is no unique sensitivity of the fetus or neonates to chlorpyrifos when administered by an appropriate oral dose. Thus, inhibition of RBC AChE activity is an appropriate surrogate measurement of chlorpyrifos exposure and provides a conservative endpoint for establishing appropriate margins of safety for both adults and infants.

Adult↗

Expanded clinical observations in toxicity studies: historical perspectives and contemporary issues.

Recent or proposed changes in major testing guidelines require expanded clinical observations (ECOs) for a wide variety of toxicity studies in animals. ECOs supplement the simple cageside and hand-held observations traditionally employed during such studies. The new guidelines specify out-of-cage observations [e.g., posture, gait, and reactivity to various stimuli (e.g., auditory, tactile, noxious)] using defined scales and are intended as a Tier 1 screen for neurotoxicity. These new guidelines imply an elevation in the status of clinical observations to equivalency with other major categories of toxicity end points, such as anatomic and clinical pathology. The increased importance of neurological end points in routine studies indicates that there will be a need for many trained professionals to generate and interpret the results of ECOs. However, currently there is wide variation in the training and experience of individuals who conduct and interpret ECOs. The value of ECO data will be increased when industry standards for conducting and interpreting ECOs are systematized and elevated to the level of those for anatomic and clinical pathology.

Animals↗

Single-dose and chronic dietary neurotoxicity screening studies on 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in rats.

Forms of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (collectively known as 2,4-D) are herbicides used to control a wide variety of broadleaf and woody plants. Single-dose acute and 1-year chronic neurotoxicity screening studies in male and female Fischer 344 rats (10/sex/dose) were conducted on 2,4-D according to the U.S. EPA 1991 guidelines. The studies emphasized a Functional Observational Battery (which included grip performance and hindlimb splay tests), automated motor activity testing, and comprehensive neurohistopathology of perfused tissues. Dosages were up to 250 mg/kg by gavage for the single-dose study, and up to 150 mg/kg/day in the diet for 52 weeks in the repeated-dose study. In the acute study, gavage with 250 mg/kg test material caused slight transient gait and coordination changes and clearly decreased motor activity at the time of maximal effect on the day of treatment (day 1). Mild locomotor effects occurred in one mid-dose rat (75 mg/kg), on Day 1 only. No gait, coordination, or motor activity effects were noted by day 8. In the chronic study, the only finding of neurotoxicologic significance was retinal degeneration in females in the high-dose group (150 mg/kg/day). Body weights of both sexes were slightly less than controls in the mid-dose group, and 10% less than controls in the high-dose group. In summary, the findings of these studies indicated a mild, transient locomotor effect from high-level acute exposure, and retinal degeneration in female rats from high-level chronic exposure. Based on the results from these two studies, the no-observed-adverse-effect level for acute neurotoxicity was 15 mg/kg/day and for chronic neurotoxicity was 75 mg/kg/day.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗

Single-dose and 13-week repeated-dose neurotoxicity screening studies of chlorpyrifos insecticide.

Chlorpyrifos (CPF), a widely used organophosphate insecticide, was screened for neurotoxic effects in Fischer 344 rats using United States Environmental Protection Agency 1991 guidelines for single-dose and 13-wk repeated dose studies. The studies emphasized a functional observational battery (which included grip performance and hindlimb splay tests), automated motor activity testing and comprehensive neurohistopathology of perfused tissues. Doses of up to 100 mg/kg body weight in corn oil by gavage in the single-dose study and up to 15 mg/kg body weight/day in diet for 13 wk in the repeated dose study were administered. It is known that CPF and other phosphorothionates can be activated to the oxon in local (extrahepatic) tissues. Local activation could possibly cause different effects in different tissues with cholinergic innervation, and thereby create syndromes unique to each phosphorothionate according to their structure. Consequently, the conduct of CPF neurotoxicity screening studies by contemporary guidelines offered opportunity to characterize the CPF over-exposure syndrome in rats. Single-dose high levels of oral exposure to CPF caused a range of clinical signs characteristic of cholinergic overstimulation. Although there was no clinical evidence of wide differences in sensitivity of one cholinergic response versus another, motor dysfunction (incoordination etc.) was more prominent than other signs, for example soiling. Effects were much more apparent in females and regressed over several days. Effects were minimal in the 13-wk study, and there was no evidence of accumulation of toxicity during the 13 wk of daily dietary exposure. Motor activity was decreased at the high dose in males and females at wk 4, but was not significantly different from controls in subsequent weeks. The 'normalization' of motor activity later in the study was interpreted as tolerance to repeated administration of CPF. Comprehensive neuropathological examination revealed no treatment-related lesions in either study.

Administration, Oral↗

Neurotoxicity screening methods are sensitive to experimental history.

Toxicity studies commonly include unavoidable environmental differences (experimental history) among test groups, such as chemical taste, odor and irritation. The influence of environmental variables on USEPA guideline neurotoxicity tests was evaluated using an environmental enrichment model. 6-week-old male Fischer 344 rats were housed for 13 weeks in pairs with access to an exercise wheel, trained to run on a rotating rod and handled frequently. Control animals were housed singly, lacked the exercise wheel and rotating rod training, and had only routine interaction with caretakers. At the end of 13 weeks, flash evoked potentials (FEPs), somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), auditory brainstem responses (ABRs), grip performance, motor activity (MA), elements of the functional observational battery (activity and reactivity to handling/restraint) and brain histopathology with glial fibrillary acidic protein immunohistochemistry (GFAP IHC) were evaluated. Animals from the enriched group demonstrated changes (P < 0.05) in FEPs, SEPs and grip performance. Enriched animals were more active and reactive to their surroundings, and were highly reactive to physical restraint. Control (unenriched) animals showed little to no exploratory behavior and were more tolerant of restraint. Differences in experimental history can be detected using elements of standard guideline tests and may confound interpretation of such data if not taken into consideration.

Analysis of Variance↗

Abnormal auditory brainstem responses and cochlear pathology in rats induced by an exaggerated styrene exposure regimen.

Groups of 12 male 42-day-old rats were exposed to 0 or 800 ppm styrene vapors for 14 hr/day, 5 days/week for 3 weeks. Tone-pip auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) at 4, 8, 16, and 30 kHz were obtained after the last exposure. ABRs were minimally affected at 4 kHz and moderately to severely affected at 8, 16, and 30 kHz as indicated by waveforms which had a decreased amplitude and increased latency as compared to the controls. Missing outer hair cell(s) were evident in the basal and lower middle turns of the organ of Corti. Outer hair cell loss was least in the first row and greatest in the second and third rows. Occasional inner hair cells were also missing in regions of severe outer hair cell loss. The distribution of hair cell loss within the cochlea was consistent with the pattern of ABR alterations. These data document mid-frequency auditory dysfunction in styrene-exposed young adult rats with significant damage to the organ of Corti following an exaggerated styrene exposure regimen.

Animals↗

Neurotoxicologic evaluation of rats after 13 weeks of inhalation exposure to dichloromethane or carbon monoxide.

Male and female Fischer 344 rats were exposed to dichloromethane (methylene chloride, DCM) or carbon monoxide (CO) for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week, for 13 weeks. Since oxidative metabolism of DCM to CO and CO2 is a saturable process, DCM exposure concentrations were selected clearly below saturation (50 ppm), just below saturation (200 ppm), and well above saturation (2000 ppm). At saturation of metabolism, metabolic CO causes about 10% carboxyhemoglobinemia (COHb). Therefore, as a control for CO effects, a separate group of rats was exposed to 135 ppm CO to induce approximately 10% COHb. Postexposure functional tests included an observational battery, hindlimb grip strength, and a battery of evoked potentials (flash, auditory brainstem, somatosensory, caudal nerve). After functional tests were completed, rats from all groups were perfused with fixative and a comprehensive set of nervous tissues from the high DCM exposure group and from controls were examined by light microscopy. Although some miscellaneous functional and morphologic variations were recorded, none were related to treatment. Thus, subchronic exposures as high as 2000 ppm DCM or 135 ppm CO had no deleterious effects on any of the measures of this study.

Action Potentials↗

Evoked potential changes from 13 weeks of simulated toluene abuse in rats.

Fischer 344 rats were exposed to 8000 ppm toluene vapor in an 'abuse' paradigm for 13 weeks to develop an animal model for 'solvent neurotoxicity.' Exposures to toluene were multiple and short (15 to 35 min), adjusted according to tolerance. Although body weight was reduced 23% from controls, the toluene-exposed rats appeared healthy. Evoked potentials taken postexposure were, however, mildly to severely affected. Flash-evoked potentials were slow and topographically disorganized; 10 kHz tone-pip auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) had severe loss of power and loss of detail. Click and 30 kHz ABRs, somatosensory-evoked potentials, and caudal nerve action potentials were less affected. No neuropathologic changes were detected by light microscopy (perfusion fixation, special stains). Thus, postexposure multimodal functional effects were readily detected after subchronic, severe episodic exposures to toluene.

Action Potentials↗

Screening for neurotoxicity: complementarity of functional and morphologic techniques.

Our philosophy is that screening tests should be applicable across species and emphasize complementarity to neuropathology. Within this context, electrophysiological tests comparable to those in human clinical neurology are powerful screening tools. For example, while histopathologic evaluation of the cochlea for ototoxicity is difficult, evoked potential audiometry is fast and easy. In this instance, one might routinely screen for deficits in auditory function, and reserve morphologic techniques for a characterization role rather than one of discovery. Lesions of neurons, axons and myelin are, however, readily assessed by light microscopy. A suitable combination of functional and morphologic screening tests, therefore, enhances the ability to discover neurotoxicity, and these data often are ideal for generation of refined hypotheses for subsequent characterization studies.

Animals↗

Spontaneous lesions in subchronic neurotoxicity testing of rats.

Male and female Fischer 344 rats, 30 weeks of age, were examined for neuropathologic changes after a 13-week inhalation neurotoxicologic study. Tissues were preserved by whole-body perfusion with 1.5% glutaraldehyde/4% formaldehyde solution. An extensive set of neural tissues was embedded in paraffin, sectioned, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, luxol fast blue/periodic acid-Schiff/hematoxylin, Sevier-Munger silver, and cresyl echt violet. Lesions in the central and peripheral nervous system were comparable between sexes and between control and treated animals. Bilateral swollen axons were present in the medial aspect of the nucleus gracilis adjacent to the area postrema. Occasional swollen axons also were observed in the dorsal and ventral funiculi of the spinal cord. Degeneration of individual nerve fibers was present in the trapezoid body, vestibular nerve root, trigeminal nerve, cerebellar peduncles, and the funiculi of the spinal cord. Individual nerve fiber degeneration also was present in the spinal nerve roots, sciatic and tibial nerves. Nerve fiber degeneration was characterized by myelin disruption and degeneration, vacuoles and axonal fragmentation. Similar spontaneous neuropathology may be encountered in rats from other subchronic neurotoxicologic studies and must be differentiated from treatment-related toxicity.

Administration, Inhalation↗

The improbable association between the herbicide 2,4-D and polyneuropathy.

Isolated case reports have circumstantially linked the use of the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) to polyneuropathy. However, a critical review of the literature reveals numerous reasons for doubting a relationship of 2,4-D to polyneuropathy: (1) too few cases given the wide use of the chemical; (2) no valid toxicologic or epidemiologic evidence; (3) the diversity of antecedent illness; (4) an unlikely time sequence of antecedent illness to exposure (pharmacokinetics); (5) the lack of polyneuropathy in medical patients given repetitive doses of 2,4-D; (6) the lack of polyneuropathy in heavily exposed military personnel involved in operation Ranch Hand; (7) the biological properties of 2,4-D which minimize penetration of 2,4-D into the nervous system under normal exposure conditions; and (8) the lack of polyneuropathy in a variety of experimental animal species given 2,4-D by several routes of exposure and at dose levels and durations of exposure many times greater than human applicator exposure. Thus, the weight of evidence indicates that 2,4-D is an unlikely cause of polyneuropathy.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗

Critical assessment of motor activity as a screen for neurotoxicity.

Motor activity consists of a large number of motor behaviors not placed under stimulus control. The Environmental Protection Agency defines motor activity in terms of "activity counts," and has incorporated it in the guidelines for the assessment of neurotoxicity. While motor activity testing has some enticing operating characteristics, a dose-related change in activity counts can reflect an effect on the nervous system only in the absence of systemic toxicity. Furthermore, when a motor activity effect has been documented, ancillary data or further testing is needed to determine whether this effect is indeed adverse. In addition, the results of a motor activity test do not usually provide information about either the origin of the problem, or the follow-up tests that need to be conducted.

Animals↗

Incapacitation and treatment of rats exposed to a lethal dose of sulfuryl fluoride.

Rats exposed to 4000 ppm sulfuryl fluoride (VIKANE gas fumigant, SO2F2) were incapacitated within 45 min and died within several hours after exposure. Exposure to higher concentrations resulted in a shorter time to incapacitation and death occurred within minutes. Treatment with calcium gluconate before exposure to 4000 ppm SO2F2 for 45 min resulted in 80% survival. However, calcium gluconate did not alleviate SO2F2-induced convulsions. Administration of phenobarbital before or after exposure to 4000 ppm SO2F2 for 45 min effectively reduced the frequency and severity of convulsions and resulted in survival of all animals. Exposure of rats to 10,000 ppm SO2F2 for 15 min followed by treatment with phenobarbital reduced the frequency of convulsions and delayed death, but did not prevent death. Diazepam was less effective than phenobarbital while diphenylhydantoin had no beneficial effect and, in fact, made the convulsions more severe and longer in duration. The results of this study indicate that phenobarbital was effective in ameliorating the acute toxic effects of an overexposure to SO2F2 in rats.

Animals↗