ABSTRACT
Capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin contribute to pungency as well as having health-promoting properties, in peppers. Twenty-three genotypes (four spp.) of hot pepper from the USDA germplasm collection were grown in the field to identify accessions having increased concentrations of these two compounds and determine the concentrations of heavy metals, in mature fruits. Concentrations and relative proportions of capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, and seven heavy metals varied between and within pepper species. Plant Introduction 547069 (C. annuum) contained the greatest concentrations of the two pungent compounds. Fruits of PI-439381 and PI-267729 (C. baccatum) accumulated the greatest concentrations of Pb, while PI-246331 (C. annuum) accumulated the greatest concentration of Cd among accessions tested.
Subject(s)
Capsicum/metabolism , Fruit/metabolism , Metals, Heavy/analysis , Soil Pollutants/analysis , Capsaicin/analogs & derivatives , Capsaicin/analysis , Capsicum/chemistry , Capsicum/classification , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Fruit/chemistry , Metals, Heavy/metabolism , Metals, Heavy/toxicity , Soil Pollutants/metabolism , Soil Pollutants/toxicity , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
Sodium salts of trivalent and pentavalent arsenic were tested for their effect in inducing chromosome aberrations and sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) in cultured Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. It was discovered that arsenite (As 3) produced excessive endoreduplication of the chromosomes at higher levels. No endoreduplication was observed with arsenate (As 5) treatment. These agents also elevated the frequencies of SCE, but less so compared to aberrations. The results obtained indicate that arsenic may be carcinogenic in animal system.
Subject(s)
Arsenates/toxicity , Arsenites/toxicity , Chromosome Aberrations , Herbicides/toxicity , Sister Chromatid Exchange , Animals , CHO Cells , Cricetinae , Toxicity TestsABSTRACT
Four chromium salts with different oxidation states were tested for their influence in causing chromosome aberrations and sister-chromatid exchange in Chinese hamster ovary cells in vitro. Cell cultures were treated with CrO3, K2Cr2O7, CrCl2 and Cr(NO3)3.9H2O at concentrations of 10(-7), 10(-6), 10(-5) and 10(-4) M for the aberration assay, and 10(-8), 10(-7), 10(-6) and 10(-5) M for the sister-chromatid exchange assay. It was noticed that Cr (VI) compounds--CrO3 and K2Cr2O7--considerably enhanced the frequencies of aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges compared to the control cultures. CrCl2 and Cr(NO3)3.9H2O--Cr (II) and Cr (III) respectively--caused a slight increase in sister-chromatid exchange rates, but the frequencies of aberrations were almost unchanged compared to the controls. These investigations indicate a definite link between the metals and changes produced in the mammalian chromosomes, reaffirming the evidence of carcinogenic potential of Cr (VI) observed by other investigators.
Subject(s)
Chromium Compounds/chemistry , Chromosome Aberrations , Sister Chromatid Exchange/drug effects , Animals , CHO Cells , Cricetinae , Oxidation-ReductionSubject(s)
CHO Cells/drug effects , Chromates/toxicity , Micronucleus Tests , Animals , CHO Cells/ultrastructure , Cells, Cultured , CricetinaeABSTRACT
The effect of 4 metal salts on the induction of chromosome aberrations and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) in cultured Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells was investigated. It was observed that CdCl2, NiCl2, CrO3 and HgCl2 were effective in causing various types of chromosome aberrations. The percentages of abnormalities increased with increasing doses of the metals used. These metal compounds also raised the SCE rates compared to 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine controls. The importance of rapid screening of potentially hazardous metals is described.
Subject(s)
Cadmium/toxicity , Chromium Compounds , Chromium/toxicity , Chromosome Aberrations , Mercuric Chloride/toxicity , Nickel/toxicity , Sister Chromatid Exchange/drug effects , Animals , Cadmium Chloride , Cells, Cultured , Cricetinae , CricetulusABSTRACT
The influence of steroid hormones on the induction of sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) in cultured CHO cells was studied. It was observed that estradiol-17 beta, estriol, estrone and ethynyl estradiol treatments enhanced SCE rates compared to the controls. Overall, these compounds produced a dose response effect. The importance of a detailed study on the long-term genetic effects of steroids on mammalian cells is emphasized.
Subject(s)
Estrogens/pharmacology , Sister Chromatid Exchange/drug effects , Animals , Cell Line , Cricetinae , Estradiol/pharmacology , Estriol/pharmacology , Estrone/pharmacology , Ethinyl Estradiol/pharmacologyABSTRACT
The effect of steroid hormones on the chromosomes of cultured Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells was studied. It was noticed that estradiol-17 beta, estrone, estriol and ethynyl estradiol were effective in producing various types of chromosome aberrations. The percentage of these abnormalities increased with increasing concentrations of steroids used. The importance of detailed and long-term investigations on the influence of these compounds on mammalian chromosomes is discussed.
Subject(s)
Chromosome Aberrations , Estrogens/toxicity , Animals , Cells, Cultured , Contraceptives, Oral/toxicity , Cricetinae , Cricetulus , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Estradiol/toxicity , Female , Ovary , Sister Chromatid Exchange/drug effectsABSTRACT
Segments of hypocotyl and cotyledons of aseptically-grown seedlings of Pinus strobus L. (white pine) and P. echinata Mill (shortleaf pine) were used as explants for establishing tissue cultures. Growth and differentiation of callus were studied on a modified Murashige and Skoog's medium containing nutrients and plant growth regulators. Meristems below the surface of callus tissue of P. strobus could be induced on media supplemented with α-naphthaleneacetic acid alone or in combination with certain other plant growth regulators. Occasionally, differentiation of shoot buds also occurred on callus cultures. These shoot buds could be grown in vitro but roots did not develop.
Subject(s)
Chromosome Aberrations , Chromosomes/drug effects , Polycyclic Compounds/pharmacology , 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene/pharmacology , Animals , Benz(a)Anthracenes/pharmacology , Benzo(a)pyrene , Benzopyrenes/pharmacology , Cell Line , Cricetinae , Cricetulus , Methylcholanthrene/pharmacologyABSTRACT
Benz(a)anthracene induced vegetative buds on callus derived from stem tissue of haploid plants of Nicotiana tabacum a response similar to that obtained by a combination of kinetin and IAA.
