Internet: a major resource for toxicologists.

Use of the Internet in developing countries is now growing faster. Internet has created a new conduit not only for communication but also in the access, sharing and exchange of information among scientists. The Internet is now viewed as the world's biggest library where retrieval of scientific literature and other information resources are possible within seconds. Large volumes of toxicological information resources are available on the Internet. This review outlines some sites that may be of great importance and useful to the toxicologist.

Effect of hexachlorocyclohexane on hsp26 expression in transgenic Drosophila melanogaster.

Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) at different concentrations (0.5 to 5.0 ng/ml) mixed with food was fed to third instar larvae of hsp26-lacZ transgenic Drosophila for 2 hr and hsp26 gene expression was examined by beta-galactosidase staining. Puffing in salivary gland polytene chromosomes was also studied. Brain and midgut of larvae showed dark blue staining at 2.0 and 5.0 ng/ml of HCH. Absence of induced puffing at 67B and 84D in the salivary gland polytene chromosomes indicated that these glands are not affected. The study suggests presence of the vulnerable sites in larvae to the higher concentrations of HCH.