Increased incidence of spina bifida occulta in fluorosis prone areas.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R C Gupta.
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Male Sprague-Dawley rats receiving an acute dose of methomyl (5 mg/Kg, sc) developed overt signs of toxicity within 2 min. The maximum severity, including muscle fasciculations and convulsions, was attained within 7-10 min and lasted for about 30 min. A very rapid recovery followed and by 90 min rats were free from obvious toxicity. During intoxication, the body temperature was significantly below normal. In diaphragm, when the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was markedly depressed (82%), the levels of high-energy phosphates, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and phosphocreatine (PCr) were also significantly lowered (27% and 54%, respectively). Significant decreases in the levels of adenosine diphosphate (ADP, 19%), total adenine nucleotides (TAN, 27%), creatine (Cr, 27%), and total creatine compounds (TCrC, 29%) were noted at various intervals. The ratio of PCr/Cr was reduced by 53%. The adenylate energy charge [(ATP + 1/2 ADP)/(ATP + ADP + AMP)], an indicator of high-energy phosphate bond availability, remained unchanged throughout the time course. More than twofold elevation in the activity of Mg(2+)-facilitated creatine kinase (reverse Lohmann reaction) in diaphragm (CK-MM) and more than twofold increase in the levels of glucose in serum, were suggestive of greater synthesis of ATP. Higher activity of CK-MM was also noted in the serum. That high-energy phosphates were partially depleted suggested that the rate of ATP utilization was far greater than its synthesis. Methomyl intoxication also resulted in higher activity of LDH and its isoenzymes in muscle as a result of induced greater synthesis. Elevation of CK and LDH and their isoenzymes in the serum was probably a result of their leakage from the tissues due to loss of membrane permeability caused by significant depletion of ATP and PCr.
Compound 80/53 (I) is a new substance being developed as an antimalarial agent. It is unstable in acidic conditions where it is converted into primaquine. A high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for simultaneous determination in serum of I and primaquine has been developed. Conditions were optimized to minimize the conversion of I into primaquine. The method includes extraction of the unchanged compound and primaquine from serum samples with hexane-2-propanol (pH > 8). Separation was accomplished by reversed-phase chromatography on a C18 column with acetonitrile-tetrahydrofuran-phosphate buffer. The recoveries of I and primaquine were always greater than 70%. No interference was observed in extracts obtained from drug-free serum. The detector response was linear with concentrations of I and the metabolite in the ranges 25-400 and 10-180 ng/ml, respectively, and the within-day precision (coefficient of variation) remained less than 13.7% for I and 12.5% for primaquine. The method is suitable for the determination of concentration-time profiles of I and primaquine in human serum.
DNA adducts represent the putative initiating event in the chemical carcinogenesis process. 32P-Postlabeling is one of several assays which have been developed for the sensitive detection of DNA adducts. An integral part of the 32P-postlabeling assay is the separation of adducted nucleotides by multidirectional, multisolvent, anion-exchange polyethyleneimine-cellulose thin-layer chromatography. Standard since the introduction of this assay has been the use of high-salt, high-urea solvents for the resolution of adducts during the D3 and D4 phases of the chromatography. Urea solvents are able to separate adducts resulting from a number of chemicals, however, they are time-consuming, retain a lot of background noise, may push adducts into inadequately resolved diagonal radioactive zones, and may not separate adducts of similar structure. In this study we introduce the use of a dilute ammonium hydroxide solvent for D4 chromatography and compare it to other standard solvents such as lithium chloride-Tris.HCl-urea, sodium phosphate-Tris.HCl-urea, and isopropanol-4 M ammonium hydroxide for adduct separation, resolution, recovery, retention of background noise, and chromatography development time. We found that 0.2 M ammonium hydroxide worked well for the recovery, separation, and resolution of a wide array of adducts derived from highly lipophilic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and aromatic amines. In addition, this solvent required much less time (< 1/4) as compared to the other solvents and more importantly allowed the separation of adducts which otherwise comigrated and were not visible when using the other three D4 solvents.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The detection of adduct-forming metabolites in the serum of carcinogen treated animals by 32P-postlabeling was evaluated as a novel approach to overcome the stringent requirement of obtaining DNA from tissues in human biomonitoring assessments. Benzo[a]pyrene (BP) was given i.p. to B6C3F1, C57B1/6, ICR, and DBA/2 mouse strains as well as Sprague-Dawley rats. Three adducts related to BP were detected in the liver and/or lung of Sprague-Dawley rats or B6C3F1, C57B1/6, and ICR mice; a single adduct was detected in the liver and lung of the DBA/2 mouse strain. Adducts chromatographically similar to those found in these tissues were also detected when salmon sperm DNA was incubated with the serum of BP-treated animals. Benzidine treatment induced the formation of one adduct in the liver of B6C3F1 mice, which was chromatographically similar to dG-C8-N'-acetylbenzidine. An identical adduct was detected in the salmon sperm DNA incubated with the serum of these mice. Cyclopenta[cd]pyrene treatment produced four major and three minor adducts in the liver or lung of B6C3F1 mice, all but two of which were detected in DNA incubated with serum of cyclopenta[cd]pyrene-treated animals. Large interstrain differences in the serum level of BP adduct-forming metabolites as well as tissue DNA adducts were found which correlated with previously observed strain-specific trends in sensitivity to PAH-mediated carcinogenesis. Thus, levels of BP adduct-forming metabolites were found in the following descending order: B6C3F1, C57B1/6, ICR, and DBA/2. BP-derived adduct-forming metabolites were detectable as late as 2 d and 5 d post-treatment in the serum of C57B1/6 mice or Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively, which seems to coincide well with the reported species-specific turnover of serum albumin; a protein know to be involved in the transport of reactive metabolites throughout the systemic circulation. The results obtained clearly indicate the presence of adduct-forming carcinogen metabolites in the serum of treated animals, which seemingly irrespective of their chemical nature, can be intercepted with exogenous DNA and detected by 32P-postlabeling. Successful application of a serum-based approach coupled with the use of the generally applicable, ultrasensitive 32P-postlabeling assay could evade the need for obtaining DNA from tissues, currently the major impediment in human biomonitoring studies.
Pretreatment of rats with iso-OMPA one hour prior to each of the N-methylcarbamate insecticides, carbofuran, propoxur, or aldicarb, potentiated the toxicity of these carbamates threefold. None of these compounds alone in the dosage used produced toxic signs; however, carboxylesterase (CarbE) activity in a variety of organs including brain, muscle, liver, and plasma was significantly reduced, while acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was unchanged. Significant inhibition of AChE was observed after the combination of tetraisopropylpyrophosphoramide (iso-OMPA) with each one of these N-methylcarbamates. It is suggested that CarbEs are more sensitive than AChE to these N-methylcarbamates and inhibition of CarbE by iso-OMPA raises the concentration of N-methylcarbamates available to inhibit AChE resulting in increased toxicity. Other N-methylcarbamates such as physostigmine do not inhibit CarbE, nor are their toxicities potentiated by iso-OMPA.
Cyclopenta[c,d]pyrene (CPP) is a widespread polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with potent mutagenic and carcinogenic activity. The trans isomer of 3,4-dihydro-3,4-dihydroxy-cyclopenta[c,d]pyrene has been shown to be the major metabolic product of CPP in rat, mouse or human microsomal systems, as well as in peroxyl radical-generating systems, indicating the preferential formation of its obligatory precursor, CPP-3,4-epoxide. The direct mutagenicity of CPP-3,4-epoxide, the inactivity of 3,4-dihydro-CPP and the DNA adduct forming capacity of CPP in vivo has prompted analysis of the DNA adducts produced by CPP-3,4-epoxide to provide information pertaining to: (i) the role this postulated major ultimate mutagenic metabolite may play in the formation of DNA adducts in vivo; (ii) the base selectivity of CPP-3,4-epoxide DNA adducts; and (iii) the role of CPP-3,4-epoxide in the mutagenicity/carcinogenicity of CPP. CPP-3,4-epoxide was reacted with calf thymus DNA, dGp, dAp, dTp, dCp, poly dG-dC, poly dA-dT and poly dG. Adducts were analyzed by the butanol-enhanced version of 32P-postlabeling. Four major and at least three minor adducts formed with DNA in vitro, which were further analyzed for their base selectivity. A similar spectrum of adducts was exhibited by dGp, poly dG-dC and poly dG. dCp, dTp, and dAp formed one, two, and four adducts respectively. The relative binding in adducts per 10(7) nucleotides was in the following descending order: dGp (6000), poly dG-dC (5800), dTp (5300), dAp (4800), calf thymus DNA (3800), poly dA-dT (2300), poly dG (2600) and dCp (20). Adducts derived from either dGp, poly dG-dC or poly dG co-migrated with the DNA adducts in three solvent systems, indicating that CPP-3,4-epoxide forms DNA adducts almost exclusively with deoxyguanosine.
Okadaic acid exerts a positive inotropic effect in cardiac preparations. We studied whether the positive inotropic effect of okadaic acid in cardiac preparations could be due to phosphatase inhibition and whether this inhibition affects the phosphorylation of cardiac proteins. In papillary muscles from guinea pigs, 30 microM okadaic acid increased force of contraction to 175% of predrug value. In isolated guinea pig ventricular cardiomyocytes, okadaic acid augmented single Ca(2+)-channel currents by enhancing channel availability. In homogenates from ventricles, 1 microM okadaic acid completely inhibited phosphorylase a phosphatase activity. In isolated 32P-labeled ventricular cardiomyocytes, 30 microM okadaic acid increased phosphorylation of phospholamban (PLB) and troponin inhibitor (TnI) to 325 and 284% of control, respectively. Furthermore, 30 microM okadaic acid increased phosphorylation of a hitherto unknown 23-kDa protein to 352% of control. It is concluded that the effects of okadaic acid could be mediated by increasing the phosphorylation state of several proteins including PLB, a 23-kDa protein, and TnI.
cAMP content and protein phosphorylation were determined in unlabeled and 32P-labeled guinea pig ventricular myocytes. Isoproterenol (10 nM, 37 degrees C, 10 seconds) increased cAMP content (236%) and phospholamban (265%) and troponin I (135%) phosphorylation in ventricular myocytes. When isoproterenol (0-300 nM) and the A1-adenosine receptor agonist (-)-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA, 1 microM) or the A1- and A2-adenosine receptor agonist 5'-(N-ethylcarboxamido)-adenosine (NECA, 1 microM) were administered simultaneously, both adenosine receptor agonists attenuated phospholamban phosphorylation to approximately the same extent (40%). The EC50 value for isoproterenol to phosphorylate phospholamban was 8 +/- 1 nM (n = 3), which increased to 31 +/- 4 nM (n = 3) in the presence of PIA or NECA. IC50 values for PIA or NECA to decrease the phosphorylation of phospholamban were 30 or 32 nM in 10 nM isoproterenol-stimulated cells and 80 or 85 nM in 30 nM isoproterenol-stimulated cells. Both adenosine receptor agonists failed to inhibit the phosphorylation of troponin I. However, acetylcholine (2 microM) in the presence of 10 nM isoproterenol inhibited phosphorylation of phospholamban as well as troponin I in ventricular cells. These effects were antagonized by 10 microM atropine. The effects of PIA and NECA on phosphorylation were antagonized by the A1-selective adenosine receptor antagonist 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (1 microM) but not by the A2-selective adenosine receptor antagonist 9-chloro-2-(2-furanyl)-5,6-dihydro-1,2,4,triazolo(1,5-c)quinazolin -5-imine (1 microM). PIA and NECA did not reduce cAMP levels in isoproterenol-stimulated cells. We conclude that phospholamban phosphorylation was inhibited by A1-adenosine receptor activation and that these effects on phospholamban phosphorylation cannot be explained by a reduction in cAMP levels.
DNA-carcinogen adducts offer a potential dosimeter for environmental genotoxicants reaching the exposed individual. Because the target tissues for many chemical carcinogens are not readily accessible for monitoring adducts in humans, peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) have served as surrogate sources of exposed DNA. Both benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF) are widely distributed in the environment as components of complex mixtures, such as automobile exhaust, cigarette smoke, foods, water, and urban air. Thus, human exposure to these chemicals is widespread, and they probably contribute to overall human lung cancer risk. The interpretation of the results of such studies would be enhanced by an understanding of the pharmacokinetics of specific DNA adduct formation and persistence in both target and surrogate tissues. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were administered to male Sprague-Dawley rats IP at 100 mg PAH/kg body weight. Lung, liver, and PBL tissues were harvested 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, and 56 days after treatment. DNA was extracted from each tissue and 32P-postlabeling analysis of DNA adducts with nuclease P1 enhancement was conducted. In all three tissues, BaP-DNA adducts exhibit a similar pattern, reaching a maximum at 3-4 days, followed by a decrease to 56 days. For BbF, the maximum DNA adduct levels in each tissue were between 5 and 14 days after injection. By 56 days after administration, the total adducts remaining in all tissues were measurable. Correlation analyses of the amount of DNA adducts in lung or liver compared to those found in the PBL of the same animals suggest a range of correlations (R2 = 0.67-0.83).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), which is largely composed of the sidestream cigarette smoke, has been implicated in increased incidence of cancer among nonsmokers. The present study was conducted to compare the potential of mainstream and sidestream cigarette smoke to induce DNA adducts in mice. Groups of female C57Bl and DBA mice were exposed twice daily for 65-70 weeks to mainstream or sidestream smoke from the University of Kentucky reference cigarettes (2R1) in a nose-only exposure system. Animals received a total particulate matter dose of about 16 and 6 mg/kg body weight/exposure and exhibited blood carboxyhemoglobin levels of about 16 and 34%, for mainstream and sidestream smoke-exposed groups, respectively. Pulmonary aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity was induced by about 2- to 3-fold in both mainstream and sidestream groups of C57Bl and in mainstream smoke-exposed group of DBA mice, but not in sidestream smoke-exposed DBA mice. An analysis of total DNA adduct levels by the 32P-postlabeling assay showed a significant (12- to 25-fold) increase in the magnitude of preexisting lung DNA adducts in both mainstream and sidestream smoke-exposed C57Bl and DBA mice. Smoke exposures did not affect the total preexisting DNA adducts in liver of either strain. It is concluded that both mainstream and sidestream smoke are capable of enhancing preexisting DNA adducts in the lungs of chronically smoke-exposed mice.
The 32P-postlabelling assay has emerged as a major tool for detecting DNA adducts induced by structurally diverse carcinogens, particularly bulky aromatics. The assay comprises enzymatic degradation of DNA to 3'-mononucleotides, enrichment of adducts, 5'-32P-labelling, adduct separation by TLC, and detection and quantitation of adducts. This report describes (1) an improved solvent extraction procedure for isolating DNA from tissues and (2) an up-dated version of the assay that we consider optimal for bulky adducts. The use of a non-urea solvent mixture (isopropanol: 4 M ammonium hydroxide) has been found to improve adduct separation and signal-to-noise ratios issues and (2) an up-dated version of the assay that we consider optimal for bulky adducts. The use of a non-urea solvent mixture (isopropanol: 4 M ammonium hydroxide) has been found to improve adduct separation and signal-to-noise ratios.
Using DNA modified with [7-3H]styrene 7,8-oxide (SO) in vitro we have standardized the 32P-postlabelling assay for detecting SO-DNA adducts. Nuclease P1-enriched adducts were 32P-labelled and purified by high-salt (4.0 M ammonium formate, pH 6.1) C18 reverse-phase TLC. After elution from the layer with 2-butoxyethanol:H2O (4:6), adducts were separated by two-dimensional PEI cellulose TLC in non-urea solvents (2.0 M ammonium formate, pH 3.5, and 2.7 M sodium phosphate, pH 5.6). One major, three minor and several trace adducts were detected. The efficiency of the kinase reaction depended on the ATP concentration. Use of standard labelling conditions ([gamma-32P]ATP, < or = 3000 Ci/mmol; < or = 2 microM) resulted in poor (4-7%) adduct recovery. An ATP concentration of 40 microM, however, increased the labelling efficiency by a factor of 5-8 (35-55%) based on 3H-SO labelled DNA). The results indicate that the new separation technique is suitable for the relatively polar SO-DNA adducts and that high labelling efficiency can be achieved.
The 32P-postlabelling analysis provides a sensitive means for detecting pollution-related DNA adducts in aquatic organisms exposed to environmental carcinogens. However, the following factors need to be taken into consideration during the data interpretation: (1) species-specific, naturally occurring DNA modifications (or I-compounds) are found in aquatic organisms at levels which are highly season-dependent; and (2) many aquatic organisms, particularly lower invertebrates, cannot form DNA adducts from common pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The level of natural adducts is especially high in lower invertebrates, such as sponges and sea-urchins during their reproductive phase in the spring time (March/April): in subsequent months adducts were either undetectable or present at only trace levels. These invertebrates do not metabolize PAHs such as benzo[a]pyrene but readily biotransform aromatic amines such as 2-acetylaminofluorene to DNA-reactive forms. Pollution-related DNA adducts have been found in fish living in highly polluted rivers and marine sites and in carp exposed to an artificial Diesel-2/crude oil slick. In certain fish (English sole, brown bullheads, etc.) living in polluted environments, the formation of pollution-related DNA adducts has been correlated with an increased incidence of tumours. It is concluded that, while DNA adducts detected in aquatic organisms can be used for biomonitoring and detecting pollutants, there are several confounding factors that should be taken into consideration before one attempts to determine the type and concentration of carcinogenic pollutants present in aquatic environments.
Langendorff-perfused guinea pig ventricles were used to examine the effects of the adenosine agonists, (-)-N-6-phenylisopropyl-adenosine (PIA) and 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine and the muscarinic cholinergic agonist, acetylcholine, on the rate of tension development, protein phosphatase inhibitor-1 (PPI-1) activity, and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) activity ratio. Isoproterenol (10 nM) and forskolin (1 microM) stimulated rate of tension development, PKA activity ratio and PPI-1 activity each approximately 2-fold. Acetylcholine (1 microM) by itself was not effective, but when administered with isoproterenol for forskolin reduced the rate of tension development and PPI-1 activity without decreasing PKA activity ratio. Similarly, both PIA and 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine alone were ineffective, but when simultaneously applied with isoproterenol attenuated the isoproterenol-stimulated rate of tension development and PPI-1 activity. PIA reduced PKA activity ratio, whereas 5'-N-ethylcarboxyamidoadenosine failed to do so. However, the effect of PIA on PKA activity ratio was smaller than those seen on rate of tension development and PPI-1 activity. Hence, the present data do not support a cyclic AMP-dependent regulation of PPI-1 activity by adenosine and muscarinic agonists. It is tempting to speculate that adenosine and muscarinic agonists reduce PPI-1 activity by a cyclic AMP-independent mechanism.
Supplementation of sodium sulfate and DL-methionine along with the standard diet to guinea pigs nearly doubled the urinary calcium in 6 weeks. This was probably due to decreased tubular reabsorption of calcium which was complexed with sulfate in the tubular lumen. A mild calcium load didn't further enhance calcium excretion in sodium sulfate supplemented group, but did so in methionine supplemented group. It may be due to methionine which might have increased the intestinal absorption of calcium. Both of these compounds increased citric acid excretion and decreased magnesium excretion.
In attempts to mimic field exposure, oil slicks prepared from diesel-2 oil/water emulsions were poured onto the surface of water in tanks prepared fresh every day and liver DNA adducts were analyzed by 32P-postlabeling in carp free-swimming in these tanks. 'Clusters' of lipophilic DNA adducts were detected, with five major and numerous minor adducts. Essentially a similar adduct pattern was found in the liver DNA of carp exposed to crude oil-polluted water. Diesel-2 adduct induction was observed slowly with a steady increase to greater than 3000 amol/microgram DNA at day 12. After this time fish were transferred to clean water. Adduct levels continued to increase through day 17 (approximately 10,000 amol/microgram DNA) despite the cessation of exposure, but a 30% and 80% decline was evident at day 22 and day 27, respectively. All major adducts were distinct from the known benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide-dG. These results indicate that diesel-2 oil can cause extensive DNA damage in carp in vivo and the damage accumulates proportionately with time of exposure.
Exposure to chemical carcinogens can often be identified by detection of DNA adduct lesions. Primary cultures of isolated rat and human hepatocytes were exposed to 2-acetyl-aminofluorene (AAF), 4-aminobiphenyl (ABP), or benzo[a]pyrene (BP). The isolated DNA from the exposed cells was analyzed using the 32P-post-labeling assay. A greater total of carcinogen-DNA adducts, 2-12-fold, were observed in human hepatocytes than rat hepatocytes at the same concentrations. The predominant DNA adducts for each carcinogen were the same between rat and human cells. The N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-aminofluorene (dG-C8-AF) was the major AAF-DNA adduct. The N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-4-aminobiphenyl (dG-C8-ABP) was the major ABP-DNA adduct. In the rat N2-[10 beta-(7 beta, 8 alpha, 9 alpha-trihydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene)yl] deoxyguanosine (dG-N2-BP) and two unidentified adducts were nearly equivalent in amount, while the major BP-DNA adducts in the humans was the dG-N2-BP. The rat hepatocyte in vitro results are comparable to the predominant adducts found with rats exposed in vivo. The two different cultures of human hepatocytes demonstrated qualitative and quantitative differences in specific DNA adducts from rat hepatocytes. This study and others using human hepatocyte cultures demonstrate that this in vitro system can provide useful information for assessing human carcinogenic hazards.