ABSTRACT
This study goal to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of lead (Pb) and silver (Ag) on germination, initial growth and anatomical alterations of Lactuca sativa L. Plants use various mechanisms to reduce the impacts caused by anthropic action, such as xenobiotic elements of soils and water contaminated by heavy metals. These metals were supplied as lead nitrate and silver nitrate and the following treatments were established: control for both metals, maximum dose of heavy metals, for arable soils, allowed by the National Council of the Environment (Ag = 25 mg. Kg-¹, Pb = 180 mg. Kg-¹), double (Ag = 50 mg. Kg-¹, Pb = 360 mg. Kg-¹) and triple (Ag = 75 mg. Kg-¹, Pb = 540 mg. Kg-¹) of this dosage. Vigor and germination tests of the seeds and possible anatomical changes in the leaves and roots of lettuce plants were performed. The species showed a high capacity to germinate under Pb and Ag stress, and the germination was never completely inhibited; however, the germination decreased with increasing Pb concentrations, but not under Ag stress. The use of increasing doses of metals reduced seed vigor and increased chlorophyll content. An increase in biomass was also observed in plants from treatments submitted to Pb. The phytotoxic effects of metals were more pronounced at 15 days after sowing. Anatomically, L. sativa was influenced by metal concentrations, and had a reduction of up to 79.9% in root epidermis thickness at the highest Pb concentration, although some structures did not suffer significant changes. The results suggest that L. sativa presents tolerance to high concentrations of heavy metals, showing possible mechanisms to overcome the stress caused by these metals. In this research lettuce possibly used the mechanism of exclusion of metals retaining Pb and Ag in the roots preserving the photosynthetic apparatus in the aerial part of the plants. In general, the chemical element Pb was more toxic than Ag, in these experimental conditions.
Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos de diferentes concentrações de chumbo (Pb) e prata (Ag) na germinação, crescimento inicial e alterações anatômicas de Lactuca sativa L. As plantas utilizam vários mecanismos para reduzir os impactos causados pela ação antrópica, como elementos xenobióticos de solos e água contaminada por metais pesados. Esses metais foram fornecidos como nitrato de chumbo e nitrato de prata e foram estabelecidos os seguintes tratamentos:controle para ambos os metais, dose máxima de metais pesados, para solos cultiváveis, permitida pelo Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente (Ag = 25mg.Kg-¹, Pb = 180mg.Kg-¹), dobro (Ag = 50mg.Kg-¹, Pb = 360mg.Kg-¹) e triplo (Ag = 75mg.Kg-¹, Pb = 540 mg.Kg-¹) desta dosagem. Foram realizados testes de vigor e germinação das sementes e possíveis alterações anatômicas nas folhas e raízes das plantas de alface. A espécie apresentou alta capacidade de germinar sob estresse de Ag e Pb, e a germinação nunca foi completamente inibida; entretanto, a germinação diminuiu com o aumento das concentrações de Pb, mas não sob estresse de Ag. O uso de doses crescentes dos metais, reduziu o vigor das sementes e aumentou o teor de clorofila. Também foi observado aumento da biomassa nas plantas a partir dos tratamentos submetidos ao Pb. Os efeitos fitotóxicos dos metais foram mais acentuados aos 15 dias após a semeadura. Anatomicamente, L. sativa foi influenciada pelas concentrações de metais, e teve uma redução de até 79,9% na espessura da epiderme radicular na maior concentração de Pb, embora algumas estruturas não tenham sofrido alterações significativas. Os resultados sugerem que L. sativa apresenta tolerância a altas concentrações de metais pesados, mostrando possíveis mecanismos para superar o estresse causado por esses metais. Nesta pesquisa a alface possivelmente utilizou o mecanismo de exclusão de metais retendo Pb e Ag nas raízes preservando o aparato [...].
Subject(s)
Lettuce/growth & development , Lettuce/physiology , Lead/administration & dosage , Lead/toxicity , Silver/administration & dosage , Silver/toxicityABSTRACT
Silver nanoprticles (SNPs) are invested in medical, industrial and environmental applications. Little if any, is known about the morphometric alterations induced by the toxicity of SNPs. The aim of the present work is to find out the effect of variable size of SNPs on different morphometric parameters. Adult healthy male mice (BAL/C) were subjected to (10 nm, 20 nm, 40 nm 60 nm and 100 nm) SNPs for 35 days. Silver NPs caused non-significant decline on the average weight, significant decline in food consumption, increase in water intake, unilateral blindness, tanning fur color and cholestasis together with a decrease in the relative ratio of the liver, kidney and spleen weight to body weight. Mice subjected to 10 nm and 20 nm were more affected than mice receiving larger nanoparticles. These findings may indicate that SNPs could induce morphometric alterations that are size related wheresmaller SNPs have more impact than the larger ones.
Poco se sabe acerca de las alteraciones morfométricas inducidas por la toxicidad de las nanopartículas de plata (NPP). El objetivo fue investigar el efecto del tamaño variable de las NPP en diferentes parámetros morfométricos. Ratones machos adultos sanos (BAL/C) fueron sometidos a diferentes NPP de diferentes tamaños durante 35 días (10 nm, 20 nm, 40 nm 60 nm y 100 nm, respectivamente). Las NPP causaron una disminución no significativa del peso promedio, una disminución significativa en el consumo de alimentos, un aumento de la ingesta de agua, ceguera unilateral, cambios en el color de piel y colestasis junto con una disminución en el tamaño promedio del hígado, riñón y el peso del bazo, en relación al peso corporal. Los ratones sometidos a 10 nm y 20 nm fueron más afectados que los ratones que recibieron las nanopartículas más grandes. Estos resultados pueden indicar que las NPP podrían inducir alteraciones morfométricas que están relacionadas con el tamaño, en las cuales las NPP más pequeñas tienen un mayor impacto que las más grandes.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Mice , Silver/toxicity , Spleen/drug effects , Metal Nanoparticles/toxicity , Kidney/drug effects , Liver/drug effects , Organ Size/drug effects , Time Factors , Body Weight/drug effects , Mice, Inbred BALB CABSTRACT
A contaminação dos implantes e seus componentes protéticos por patógenos específicos, ainda é um problema a ser resolvido na Implantodontia. Nanoestruturas associadas à prata, aplicadas em superfície de titânio, têm sido investigadas e vêm demonstrando inibir significativamente a adesão, crescimento e colonização de uma vasta gama de microrganismos patogênicos, inclusive os resistentes a antibióticos. O objetivo deste experimento foi verificar a presença de toxicidade de nanoestruturas associadas à prata, aplicadas à superfície de titânio, frente a cultura de osteoblastos, visando desenvolver um material biocompatível, promissor na corrida pela prevenção da colonização bacteriana dos implantes. Discos de titânio comercialmente puro foram revestidos com três tipos diferentes filmes nanoestruturados. As amostras foram expostas a culturas de linhagens imortalizadas de osteoblastos (MC3T3-E1) e submetidas a ensaios de toxicidade direta (MTT), após 24h, 48h e 72h de incubação, a fim de determinar a taxa de proliferação e redução da viabilidade celular. Além disso, para verificar adesão e morfologia celular, foi realizada Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV) após 24h de incubação. No ensaio de toxicidade celular MTT, após 48h de incubação, as superfícies nanoestruturadas, nomeadas TiAg, TiAA e SiO2, comportaram-se de maneira muito similar ao grupo controle de titânio puro (Ti) (p<0,05). O grupo SiO2 registrou maior absorbância em 24h, com diferença relevante em relação a todos os outros grupos (testes e controles). Em MEV foram verificadas uma morfologia celular compatível com viabilidade e presença de adesão dos osteoblastos em todas as superfícies testadas, similar aos grupos controles. Dessa forma, verificou-se que os três filmes nanoestruturados demonstraram biocompatibilidade a osteoblastos.
Contamination of implants and their prosthetic components by specific pathogens is still a problem to be solved in Implantology. Nanostructures associated to silver applied on titanium surface have been investigating, and have showing to inhibit significantly the adhesion, and growth of a broad range of pathogenic microorganisms, including antibiotic-resistant ones. The aim of this experiment was to verify the presence of toxicity in nanostructures associated to silver applied to titanium surface against osteoblast culture, in order to develop a biocompatible promising material in the race for prevention on implants bacterial colonization. Each commercially pure titanium disk received one of three different nanostructured films: SiO2, TiAg, and TiAA. Samples have exposed to cultures of immortalized lines osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1), and submitted to direct toxicity assay (MTT) after 24h, 48h and 72h of incubation to determine the proliferation rate and cell viability reduction. Furthermore, to verify adhesion and cell morphology, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) has performed after 24h incubation. The 48h MTT cell toxicity assay showed similarity in results among test surfaces and pure titanium control group (Ti) (p <0.05). The SiO2 group registered higher absorbance in 24h, with significant difference regarding to all other groups (tests and controls). SEM exhibited cell morphology indicative of viability, and presence of osteoblast adhesion on all test surfaces, similar to control groups. Thus, it found of that three nanostructured films demonstrated osteoblasts compatibility.
Subject(s)
Biocompatible Materials , /methods , Nanotechnology , Silver/toxicityABSTRACT
Abstract. A 96 h acute silver toxicity test was performed in order to determine silver toxicity (LC50) to a local fish species (Cnesterodon decemmaculatus) in a river with extreme water-quality characteristics (Pilcomayo River, South America) and evaluate a cross-fish-species extrapolation of the Biotic Ligand Model. The dissolved silver concentrations tested were 0.095, 0.148, 0.175 and 0.285 mg Ag L−1. The 96 h Ag LC50 calculated for C. decemmaculatus was 0.14 mg L−1 (0.18 - 0.10) and the value predicted by BLM for Pimephales promelas was 0.051 mg Ag L−1. Test water elevated hardness may have exerted some protective effect. High mean water pH may have exerted a major protective effect by reducing silver free ion form and causing silver precipitation. The mortality pattern observed in this toxicity test may lend some support to a relationship between gill silver accumulation and mortality. A cross-fish-species extrapolation of Ag BLM for P. promelas was not valid in Pilcomayo River water and experimental conditions of this toxicity test.
Con el objeto de determinar la toxicidad de la plata en un pez nativo (Cnesterodon decemmaculatus), se llevó a cabo un ensayo estático de toxicidad aguda a 96 horas en un agua natural con características de calidad de agua, extremas (río Pilcomayo, Sudamérica). Asimismo, se evaluó una posible extrapolación inter-especie del Modelo del Ligando Biótico en el agua experimental. La concentración inicial de plata en solución en los distintos tratamientos fue de 0,095; 0,148; 0,175 y 0,285 mg Ag L −1 . La CL50 a las 96 horas calculada para C. decemmaculatus fue de 0,14 (0.18 - 0.10) mg Ag L−1 y el valor predicho por el BLM para Pimephales promelas fue de 0,051 mg Ag L−1. La elevada dureza del agua experimental pudo haber tenido algún efecto protector frente a la toxicidad de la plata. El valor medio de pH del ensayo fue elevado y posiblemente tuvo un gran efecto protector por reducción de la forma iónica libre y precipitación del metal. El patrón de mortalidad observado en este ensayo de toxicidad apoyaría la relación causa-efecto entre acumulación de plata en las branquias y mortalidad. La extrapolación inter-especie del BLM para P. promelas no resultó válida en el agua del río Pilcomayo y en las condiciones experimentales de este ensayo.
Subject(s)
Animals , Poecilia , Silver Nitrate/toxicity , Silver/toxicity , Toxicity Tests, Acute/methods , Argentina , River Pollution/analysisABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro effects of mercury [Hg[+2], lead [Pb[+2]], silver [Ag[+2]], tin [Sn[+2]], bismuth [Bi[+3]] and indium [In[+3] ions on sperm creatine kinase. creatine kinase was isolated from human sperm homogenates after chromatography on a DEAE cellulose column. At 60 microg ml[-1] metal concentration, 70% of the creatine kinase activity was inhibited by Hg[+2], while at the same concentration, Pb[+2], Ag[+2], Sn[+2], Bi[+3] and In[+3] caused 68%, 66.5%, 65.7%, 64.7% and 62.7% inhibition, respectively. All six metal ions displayed a competitive type of inhibition mechanism for the isolated creatine kinase as analyzed by Lineweaver-Burk plot. KA values of Hg[+2], Pb[+2], Ag[+2], Sn[+2], Bi[+3] and In[+3] were calculated and 8.34 mM, 5 mM, 4.54 mM, 3.45 mM, 3.12 mM and 2.63 mM values were obtained, respectively. All the studied metal ions, at levels of 60 micro g ml[-1], may reduce normal sperm metabolism by inhibition of sperm creatine kinase, which probably is an important cause of infertility in men. However, further investigations, as in vitro and in vivo, are needed to elucidate the exact mechanism of heavy metals on male reproductive functioning at the molecular level
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Spermatozoa/drug effects , Metals, Heavy/toxicity , Infertility, Male/enzymology , Creatine Kinase , Bismuth/toxicity , Indium/toxicity , Lead/toxicity , Mercury/toxicity , Silver/toxicity , Tin/toxicityABSTRACT
Presentamos el caso de una niña con argiria localizada en el lóbulo de la oreja, debida a la implantación de la tuerca de un aro de plata