Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Ehrich

Publications and source records attributed to M Ehrich.

99 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Effect of laundering on ability of glove fabrics to decrease the penetration of organophosphate insecticides through in vitro epidermal systems.

Two knit glove fabrics, one of 100% cotton and one of 100% polypropylene, were examined for their capability to decrease the penetration of the organophosphate insecticides (OPs), azinphos-methyl and paraoxon after 4 h at field concentrations (3000 and 15 ppm, respectively) through an in vitro epidermal system (Skin2, Advanced Tissue Systems, LaJolla, CA). The glove fabrics were examined under three different conditions of use: new, after they had been abraded and after they had been abraded and then laundered. New and laundered cotton fabric was also examined for its capability to decrease the penetration of azinphos-methyl through another in vitro epidermal system (Epiderm, MatTek Corp., Ashland, MA), after 4 and 24 h of exposure. Capability of the media under the in vitro epidermal systems to inhibit brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was used as the indicator of penetration. Results were compared to OP-caused inhibitions seen in media under the fabric alone and in media under the in vitro epidermal systems alone. Incubations of azinphos-methyl suspensions and the in vitro epidermal systems covered with fabric indicated that both the epidermal cells and fabric provided protection against AChE inhibition caused by this OP and that the protective effects were additive, whether measured after 4 or 24 h of exposure. Therefore, neither laundering nor abrasion followed by laundering altered the capability of the in vitro epidermal systems to absorb azinphos-methyl suspension. For paraoxon solution, however, new cotton glove fabric prevented absorption, and this protective effect, noted after 4 h of exposure, was lost when the fabric was laundered. Abrading the fabric did not cause a greater effect than laundering alone. These results suggest that the pesticide as well as its formulation may be factors of consideration when protective fabrics are chosen, and that, for cotton glove fabric, the protection against some OPs may best be provided before the fabric is laundered.

Absorption↗

Neurotoxicity of acrylamide and 2,5-hexanedione in rats evaluated using a functional observational battery and pathological examination.

The clinical effects of two neurotoxicants, acrylamide and 2,5-hexanedione, were compared in rats using a functional observational battery (FOB), which includes a series of home cage and open-field observations, sensorimotor measurements, and physiological parameters. Neurotoxicity was assessed weekly in adult male Long-Evans rats after initiation of IP administration of 9 doses of acrylamide (12, 15, or 50 mg/kg given 3 times a week) and 28 doses of 2,5-hexanedione (150, 225, and 350 mg/kg given daily). Using the FOB, it was possible to detect differences in neurotoxic effects of these two chemicals. Acrylamide significantly affected home cage posture, foot splay and time on the rotarod, whereas 2,5-hexanedione altered hindlimb grip strength and the approach response. Both compounds caused changes in ability to walk, right, and maintain agility on a rotarod within 21 days from initiation of toxicant administration. In addition, both compounds caused dose-dependent decreases in weight gain. Neuropathic changes were detectable at the highest dosages at 21 days in acrylamide-treated rats and at 28 days in rats treated with 2,5-hexanedione. Administration of acrylamide also decreased activities of neural esterases. This study indicated that the FOB could be used to detect evidence of neurotoxicity in rats treated with acrylamide and 2,5-hexanedione, with alterations evident even before pathological changes were induced by 2,5-hexanedione.

Acrylamide↗

Toxicosis associated with dual oral exposure of rats to lead and trichloroethylene.

To determine if additive or synergistic toxic effects would occur, adult male rats were exposed orally to lead carbonate (2,000 mg/kg) for 9 days before trichloroethylene (TCE), 2,000 mg/kg, was given concurrently for an additional 7 days. Comparisons were made with groups of vehicle-treated rats and rats given only lead or only TCE. Potential neurotoxicity was evaluated by using the Functional Observational Battery (FOB) recommended for neurotoxicity screening. Rats were sacrificed on day 16, and brain, testes, spleen, kidney/adrenals, heart, and liver weighed and observed for pathological changes. Results of the FOB indicated that lead carbonate was more responsible than TCE for changes observed. Additive or synergistic neurotoxicities were not noted. Histological examination of the kidney from lead-treated rats revealed inclusions, an increased incidence of coagulated proteins, and tubular dilation that was generally more severe in the medullary segments. Gastric and testicular necrosis were found in rats given lead carbonate both with and without TCE (15/20 and 6/20 treated, respectively). The results suggest that, even when given concurrently, the toxicities of lead carbonate and TCE are expressed only as though one toxicant was given.

Administration, Oral↗

Effects of social stress on the toxicity of malathion in young chickens.

Thirty-eight 7-week-old white leghorn chickens of two strains (high and low antibody response to sheep erythrocytes) were divided into groups for exposure to high and low levels of social stress. They were then challenged orally with a toxic dose of the organophosphate insecticide malathion (250 mg/kg body weight) and evaluated 60 min later for muscarinic signs (diarrhea, lacrimation, respiratory secretions), nicotinic signs (muscle weakness), plasma cholinesterase activity, and brain acetylcholinesterase activity. A significant correlation was shown between clinical and biochemical indices of organophosphate toxicity. The correlation between social stress and malathion toxicity was less well defined. Chickens with low antibody response preexposed to high social stress were most resistant to organophosphate toxicity.

Animals↗

Ability of ethoxyquin and butylated hydroxytoluene to counteract deleterious effects of dietary aflatoxin in chicks.

The antioxidants ethoxyquin and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were added to diets of chicks in concentrations three and eight times above that usually found in poultry feed beginning 15 days after hatch; the chicks had been placed on feed containing 1000 or 3000 ppb aflatoxin on the day of hatch. These diets were continued until chicks were 6 weeks of age. At that time, deleterious effects of aflatoxin on weight gain, feed efficiency, and organ weights (spleen, bursa) were evident. BHT alleviated these effects, but ethoxyquin did not. Pretreatment with ethoxyquin did not protect chicks either. Ethoxyquin was not able to induce the activities of chick liver enzymes that detoxify aflatoxin and other foreign compounds. Lack of effect of ethoxyquin on these enzymes may hinder ability of this antioxidant to protect chicks from aflatoxin.

Aflatoxins↗

Effect of dietary exposure to aflatoxin B1 on resistance of young chickens to organophosphate pesticide challenge.

White leghorn chickens were placed on a diet containing 0, 1000, or 3000 ppb aflatoxin B1 for 7 weeks. At the end of that time, the birds were challenged orally with the organophosphate pesticide malathion. A malathion dose of 215 mg/kg resulted in significant clinical signs of cholinergic poisoning in 4/10, 5/10, and 8/10 birds fed 0, 1000, and 3000 ppb aflatoxin B1, respectively, and the chickens required antidotal atropine 40 min later. Activity of brain cholinesterase was significantly lower than control levels in all birds given this dose of malathion, with activities being 28% +/- 6, 21% +/- 2, and 15% +/- 2 of control values (Mean +/- standard error, N = 5) if fed 0, 1000, and 3000 ppb aflatoxin B1, respectively. Plasma cholinesterase values paralleled those of brain, with significantly more inhibition in samples from birds given 1000 and 3000 ppb aflatoxins with malathion. Brain and plasma cholinesterase activities in birds fed aflatoxins and given a dose of malathion below the threshold for cholinergic signs (125 mg/kg) were also lower than activities in birds given malathion alone. Although aflatoxin alone had no direct effect on the activities of these enzymes, it appears that this mycotoxin may contribute to the esterase inhibition that is a manifestation of the acute toxic effects of malathion in chickens.

Aflatoxin B1↗