ABSTRACT
Bt cotton plants are genetically engineered to produce insecticidal toxins from the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Berliner (Bacillales: Bacillaceae) bacterium and target key lepidopteran pests. In all previous strains of pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) selected in the laboratory for resistance to insecticidal Cry1Ac toxin using an artificial diet containing the toxin, resistance to Cry1Ac and to Bt cotton is linked to three cadherin alleles (r1, r2, and r3). In contrast, the BG(4) pink bollworm strain was selected for resistance to Bt cotton by feeding larvae for four days in each of 42 generations on bolls of 'NuCOTN33B(R)' that expressed Cry1Ac toxin. After additional selection for eleven generations on Cry1Ac-incorporated diet, the susceptibility to Cry1Ac, fecundity, egg viability, and mating of this strain (Bt4R) was compared with the unselected Cry1Ac-susceptible parent strain. Some larvae of the Bt4R strain survived on diet containing >or= 10 microg Cry1Ac per milliliter artificial diet, but none survived on transgenic cotton bolls. In contrast to strains selected exclusively on Cry1Ac diet, some survival of progeny of reciprocal moth crosses of Bt4R resistant and Bt-susceptible strains occurred on Cry1Ac-treated diet, suggesting differences in levels of dominance. The Bt4R resistant strain does not have the r1, r2, or r3 mutant cadherin genes as do all previous strains of pink bollworm selected on Cry1Ac-treated artificial diet. The combined results suggest a mechanism of resistance to Cry1Ac that is different from previously described cadherin mutations.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Proteins/toxicity , Endotoxins/toxicity , Hemolysin Proteins/toxicity , Insecticide Resistance , Moths/drug effects , Moths/physiology , Oviposition/drug effects , Sexual Behavior, Animal/drug effects , Alleles , Animals , Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins , Breeding , Cadherins/genetics , Female , Insecticide Resistance/genetics , Larva/drug effects , Male , Moths/growth & development , Plants, Genetically Modified , Survival AnalysisABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to confirm the possibility of detection of toxic polychlorinated biphenyls in blood and follicular fluid of infertile women undergoing IVF+ET program and determine the levels of some congeners. To confirm their cumulation in follicular fluid. DESIGN: Pilot study. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General Faculty Hospital, Prague, AXYS Varilab s.r.o., Vrané nad Vltavou, Institute of Hygieny and Epidemiology, 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University and General Faculty Hospital, Prague, Euromise Centrum, Charles University, Prague. METHODS: We detected the level of polychlorinated biphenyls in blood and follicular fluid of infertile women undergoing IVF+ET program. We recieved the follicular fluid by transvaginal punction of follicles under ultrasonography control. The blood was taken before begining of anestezia. The follicular fluid and blood were frozen and transported to the laboratory. The samples were examined there by methods of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. We were able to find all PCBs with 3-7 atoms of chlorine. RESULTS: We confirmed the possibility of detection of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in blood and follicular fluid of infertile women. We examineted the levels of PCB 77, 81, 105, 114, 118+123, 126, 156, 157, 167, 169, 189. The levels of PCBs were in ng/gram of fat. The levels of polychlorinated biphenyls differed from 0 to 400 ng/g of fat. Statistical analysis was made by t test a Wilcox test. All PCBs are cumulated in follicular fluid, except of PCB 126. CONCLUSION: The possibility of detection of PCBs in blood and follicular fluid of infertile women undergoing IVF+ET program was confirmed. The cumulation of these xenobiotics in follicular fluid was found. In the future we will analyse the relationship between the presence of these xenobiotics and achieving succesful pregnancy.
Subject(s)
Environmental Pollutants/analysis , Follicular Fluid/chemistry , Infertility, Female/metabolism , Polychlorinated Biphenyls/analysis , Adult , Female , Fertilization in Vitro , HumansABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To find the differences of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) levels in follicular fluid in different indications to treatment with IVF + ET program. DESIGN: Pilot study. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General Faculty Hospital, Prague, AXYS Varilab, s.r.o., Vrané nad Vltavou, Prague, Euromise Centrum, Charles University and Academy of Art, Prague. METHODS: We examinated 100 infertile women undergoing IVF + ET program in our pilot study. After ovarian pick-up, frozen follicular fluid were transported to the laboratory. We detected the levels of polychlorinated biphenyls in follicular fluid of infertile women. The levels were compared according to the different indications of treatment. The control group consist of patients with male factor of sterility. RESULTS: We confirmed the higher levels of PCB 114, 153, 156, 157, 180 and 189 in indication endometriosis compared with the others and with control group. The levels of PCBs were in ng/gram of fat. CONCLUSION: It has become apparent that higher levels of PCB 114, 153, 156, 157, 180 and 189 in endometriosis patients may be one of many factors participating in the origin of the disease.
Subject(s)
Endometriosis/complications , Endometriosis/metabolism , Environmental Pollutants/analysis , Infertility, Female/etiology , Polychlorinated Biphenyls/analysis , Adult , Embryo Transfer , Female , Fertilization in Vitro , Follicular Fluid/chemistry , Humans , Infertility, Female/metabolism , Infertility, Female/therapy , PregnancyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to detect DDT and its metabolites, lindane and its conformers (alfa, beta, gama and delta conformers of hexachlorocyklohexane - HCH) and hexacyclobenzene (HCB) in blood and follicular fluid of infertile women undergoing IVF+ET program. In the case if their detection, to confirm their cumulation in follicular fluid. DESIGN: Pilot study. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General Faculty Hospital, Prague, AXYS Varilab s.r.o., Vrané nad Vltavou, Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University and General Faculty Hospital, Prague, Euromise Centrum, Charles University and Academy of Arts, Prague, Czech republic. METHODS: We detected the level of DDT, DDE, DDD, lindane and its conformers (alfa, beta, gama and delta conformers of hexachlorocyklohexane - HCH) and hexacyclobenzene (HCB) in blood and folicular fluid of 30 infertile women undergoing IVF + ET program. We recieved the follicular fluid by transvaginal punction of follicular fluid under ultrasonography control. The venous blood was taken before begining of anestesia. The follicular fluid and blood were frozen and transported to the laboratory. There the samples were examinated by the methods of gass chromatography and mass spectrometry. RESULTS: We confirmed the possibility of detection of DDT, DDE, DDD, lindane and its conformers (alfa, beta, gama and delta conformers of hexachlorocyclohexane - HCH) and hexacyclobenzene (HCB) in blood and follicular fluid of infertile women. The differences in concentrations in blood and follicular fluid were statistically analysed. We confirmed the cumulation of DDT, DDE, DDD, lindane and its conformers (alfa, beta, gama and delta conformers of hexachlorocyclohexane - HCH) and hexacyclobenzene (HCB) in follicular fluid of infertile women. The levels of these compounds in blood differed from 2.8 to 6399.3 ng/g of fat, in follicular fluid from 1.4 to 4 099.8 ng/g of fat. CONCLUSION: It is possible to detect DDT, DDE, DDD, lindane and its conformers (alfa, beta, gama and delta conformers of hexachlorocyclohexane - HCH) and hexacyclobenzene (HCB) in blood and follicular fluid of infertile women. The cumulation of these xenobiotics in follicular fluid was found.
Subject(s)
Follicular Fluid/chemistry , Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated/analysis , Infertility, Female/metabolism , Pesticides/analysis , Adult , Female , Fertilization in Vitro , Humans , Infertility, Female/therapyABSTRACT
A simple technique has been developed for preconcentration of gaseous trace organic compounds on solid sorbents, followed by gas chromatography. The sorbent is packed in a cartridge from a syringe needle placed in the gas chromatographic injector and the analytes previously adsorbed are thermally desorbed at the injector temperature and then directly swept by the carrier gas into the column. The system has been tested for a charcoal-based adsorbent and silica gel, with pentane, methanol, ethanol and acetone as the model analytes. The procedure is rapid, the detection limits vary from a few nmol l(-1) to values below 0.1 nmol l(-1) (i.e., a few ppb), the linear dynamic range amounts to at least five concentration decades and a typical relative standard deviation is 10% at the nmol l(-1) concentrations. It has been shown that the method is readily applicable to determination of instantaneous concentrations of the analytes in natural and industrial atmosphere and to their monitoring in human breath which is important for medical and hygienic practice. In general, the procedure is applicable to low-molecular volatile organic compounds.
