Abnormalities in the microsomal oxidases of the WHO standard reference strain of Musca domestica.
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Observations made during biochemical and toxicological studies of the housefly, in which the WHO standard reference (SR) strain was used as a standard, indicated that this strain differs from other strains in certain physiological and toxicological aspects. Experiments are described in which microsomal oxidases prepared from the standard reference strain and several other housefly strains, both susceptible and resistant to insecticides, were compared for heat stability, sensitivity to ionic strength, pH optima, and the spectral characteristics of their cytochrome P-450. In a comparison with 8 strains the SR strain microsomes were more stable at high incubation temperatures (40-47.5 degrees C). Compared to two other strains (NAIDM, susceptible, and Isolan-B, resistant) SR was more stable at low pH and more sensitive to high ionic strength. In spectral comparisons with NAIDM and Isolan-B, SR was found to contain microsomal cytochrome P-450 that differed slightly in its carbon monoxide or octylamine binding spectra. The results suggest that this strain may not provide a suitable reference in studies involving the microsomal oxidases. However, these apparent differences should not reduce the value of the SR stain as a reference in insecticide resistance studies. (+info)
The effects of perinatal/juvenile heptachlor exposure on adult immune and reproductive system function in rats.
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This study was performed to determine if developmental exposure of rats to heptachlor (H) during the last half of gestation through puberty adversely affects adult functioning of the immune and reproductive systems. Time-bred pregnant female Sprague-Dawley rats were dosed by gavage with H (0, 30, 300, or 3000 microg/kg/day) from gestation day (GD) 12 to postnatal day (PND) 7, followed by direct dosing of the pups with H through PND 42. Separate groups of rats were evaluated with a battery of immune function tests, while other groups of rats were evaluated for reproductive development and function. Additional groups of rats were euthanized at the end of the dosing period for histological analyses of major organ systems. Some dams and PND 7 pups were euthanized; milk, plasma, fat and/or tissues were assayed for H and heptachlor epoxide B (HEB), a major metabolite of H. The amount of H and HEB found in milk, blood, fat, and tissues was proportional to the dose of H administered. There were no effects on the number or survival of pups born to H-exposed dams nor to pups exposed postnatally. There were no effects on the number of treated dams delivering litters or on litter size, nor were there any effects on any of the reproductive end points examined in the F(0) or F(1) rats. There were no effects of H exposure on lymphoid organ weights, splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity, and splenic lymphoproliferative (LP) responses to mitogens and allogeneic cells in a mixed lymphocyte response (MLR) assay at 8 weeks of age. H exposure did not alter delayed or contact hypersensitivity at 10 or 17 weeks of age, respectively. However, the primary IgM antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) was suppressed in a dose-dependent manner in males, but not females, at 8 weeks of age. The percentage of B lymphocytes (OX12(+)OX19(-)) in spleen was also reduced in the high-dose males. The anti-SRBC IgM response was reduced only in males exposed to 30 microg H/kg/day in a separate group of rats 21 weeks of age. In these same rats, at 26 weeks of age, the secondary IgG antibody response to SRBCs was suppressed in all of the H-exposed males, but not females. These data indicate that perinatal exposure of male rats to H results in suppression of the primary IgM and secondary IgG anti-SRBC responses. Suppression of these antibody responses persisted for up to 20 weeks after the last exposure to H, at a total exposure of approximately 1500 microg H/kg/rat. (+info)
Unusual effects of benzodiazepines and cyclodiene insecticides on an expressed invertebrate GABAA receptor.
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We have previously reported [(1991) EMBO J. 10, 3239-3245] the sequence of an invertebrate gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A (GABAA) receptor polypeptide which forms homo-oligomeric GABA-gated, bicuculline-sensitive, chloride-ion channels upon heterologous expression. We now demonstrate that the benzodiazepines Ro5-4864 (4'-chlorodiazepam) and diazepam, that are active at mammalian peripheral benzodiazepine sites, and not those benzodiazepines specific for central sites, directly active the homo-oligomeric receptor and evoke larger maximal responses than those elicited by GABA. In addition, members of the cyclodiene class of insecticides block the channel of the receptor in a manner indistinguishable from that of picrotoxin. (+info)
Maternal pregnancy serum level of heptachlor epoxide, hexachlorobenzene, and beta-hexachlorocyclohexane and risk of cryptorchidism in offspring.
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Prenatal exposure to environmental endocrine disrupters has been postulated to cause adverse effects on male reproductive health. Exposure to organochlorine pesticides with anti-androgenic and estrogenic potency has been shown to interfere with the sex-hormone-dependent process of testicular descent in animal models. We examined the relation between serum levels of the pesticides heptachlor epoxide (HCE), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCCH) in pregnant women, and the occurrence of cryptorchidism in their sons. These three pesticides were previously suggested as risk factors for cryptorchidism. In a nested case-control design, we compared serum levels between mothers of cases (n = 219) and controls (n = 564), selected from the Collaborative Perinatal Project, a US birth cohort study of pregnancies in 1959-1966. The offspring of mothers with HCE levels above the 90th percentile compared to those below the 10th percentile had an adjusted odds ratio of cryptorchidism of 1.2 (95% confidence interval 0.6-2.6); for beta-HCCH the odds ratio was 1.6 (0.7-3.6). For HCB the adjusted odds ratio was near one. These results provide little support for an association of cryptorchidism with exposure to low levels of HCE or HCB. For beta-HCCH the findings were somewhat suggestive of an association but were inconclusive. (+info)
Persistence and changes in bioavailability of dieldrin, DDE, and heptachlor epoxide in earthworms over 45 years.
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Degradation of the persistent organic pollutant [14C]heptachlor in Japanese field soils.
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The fate of [(14)C]heptachlor in Saitama soil and the degradation of [(14)C]heptachlor in four Japanese field soils over 112 d after application were investigated. Heptachlor was degraded mainly to cis-heptachlor epoxide by a biotic process and to 1-hydroxychlordene by an abiotic process in the field soils. Volatilization of heptachlor and cis-heptachlor epoxide from the soil was observed over the experimental period. The amount of 1-hydroxychlordene produced in the soils appeared to be related to the soil water contents. Because heptachlor and heptachlor epoxides are predicted to volatilize to the atmosphere and to persist in soils, these compounds are thought to spread among Japanese environmental compartments even after a ban on their use. (+info)
Residues and metabolites of selected persistent halogenated hydrocarbons in blood specimens from a general population survey.
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The National Center for Health Statistics collaborated with the National Human Monitoring Program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a four-year study to assess the exposure of the general population to selected pesticides through analysis of blood serum and urine specimens. Specimens were collected on a national probability half-sample of persons 12-74 years of age from 64 locations across the United States comprising the sample areas in the Second National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES II) and analyzed for selected organochlorine, carbamate, chlorophenoxy and organophosphorus pesticides. Medical, nutritional and pesticide usage data are also available for each sample person. Results of the blood serum analyses indicate that the general population is being exposed to some of these types of pesticides. For selected pesticide residues, the percent quantifiable positives and median serum levels by age group are presented for three regions of the United States. Since 1970, EPA has conducted a national probability sampling of human adipose tissue. Specimens obtained on a survey design representative of the general population were analyzed for selected organochlorine pesticides and toxic chemicals. Findings from the 1979 survey also indicate exposure of the general population to some of these chemicals. (+info)
Morphologic and cytochemical properties of mouse liver neoplasms induced by diethylnitrosamine and promoted by 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, chlordane, or heptachlor.
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The relationships between the gross appearance, histologic types, and cytochemical characteristics of hepatocellular neoplasms were studied in B6C3F1 mice given the liver carcinogen diethylnitrosamine either alone or followed by the organochlorine pesticides, 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, chlordane, or heptachlor as promoting agents. Hepatocellular neoplasms were categorized according to their cytoplasmic staining properties with hematoxylin and eosin. Acidophilic neoplasms more often displayed increased activity of alkaline phosphatase than did basophilic neoplasms. The activities of glucose-6-phosphatase and adenosine triphosphatase were decreased in both acidophilic and basophilic neoplasms. There was no difference in the activities of these enzymes or gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase between adenomas and carcinomas, although most neoplasms did not display gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase. Chlordane or heptachlor exposure increased the alkaline phosphatase activity in neoplastic cells, but not that of other enzymes. The majority of neoplasms displayed a deficiency of iron accumulation. The macroscopic appearance of neoplasms was closely related to their cytoplasmic staining properties and cytochemical characteristics. (+info)