Involvement of dopamine signaling pathway in neurodevelopmental toxicity induced by isoniazid in zebrafish.

AIMS: This study evaluated the neurodevelopmental toxicity of isoniazid (INH) in zebrafish embryos and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Zebrafish embryos were exposed to different concentrations (2 mM, 4 mM, 8 mM, 16 mM, 32 mM) INH for 120 hpf. During the exposure period, the percentage of embryo/larva mortality, hatching, and morphological malformation were checked every 24 h until 120 hpf. The development of blood vessels in the brain was observed at 72 hpf and 120 hpf, and behavioral capacity and acridine orange (AO) staining were measured at 120 hpf. Alterations in the mRNA expression of apoptosis and dopamine signaling pathway related genes were assessed by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). RESULTS: INH considerably inhibited zebrafish embryo hatching and caused zebrafish larval malformation (such as brain malformation, delayed yolk sac absorption, spinal curvature, pericardial edema, and swim bladder defects). High concentration of INH (16 mM, 32 mM) even induced death of zebrafish. In addition, INH exposure markedly restrained the ability of the zebrafish autonomous movement, shortened the length of dopamine neurons and inhibited vascular development in the brain. No obvious apoptotic cells were observed in the control group, whereas considerable numbers of apoptotic cells appeared in the head of INH-treated larvae at 120 hpf. PCR results indicated that INH significantly raised the transcription levels of caspase-3, -8, -9, and bax and significantly decreased bcl-2 and bcl-2/bax in the zebrafish apoptotic signaling pathway. INH also markedly decreased the genes related to dopamine signaling pathway (th1, dat, drd1, drd2a, drd3, and drd4b). CONCLUSIONS: Experimental results indicated that INH had obvious neurodevelopmental toxicity in zebrafish. Persistent exposure to INH for 120 h caused apoptosis, decreased dopaminergic gene expression, altered vasculature, and reduced behaviors.

Development and characterization of corn starch/PVA active films incorporated with carvacrol nanoemulsions.

An active film was prepared by corn starch (CS), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and carvacrol nanoemulsions (CNE). The microstructure and properties of CNE/corn starch/PVA (CNE/CSP) films were characterized and investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the uniform distribution of CNE and discontinuity of the film matrix. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and rheological analysis indicated that CNE could weaken molecular interaction of the film matrix. X-ray diffraction (XRD) show that the films are amorphous and CNE has no effect on crystal structure of the films. Incorporation of CNE significantly increased the tensile strength, Young's modulus, elongation at break, barrier (water vapor and ultraviolet), antioxidant and antifungal activity. With the CNE incorporated, the optimal tensile strength, Young's modulus, elongation at break and antioxidant activity of the films can reach 12 MPa, 11 MPa, 133%, 81%, respectively. Minimum water vapor permeability was 3.1 × 10-12 gd-1m-1Pa-1. Notably, films incorporated with CNE (≥20%) had good DPPH free radical scavenging ability (>50%) when stored up to 6 days. Films with 25% CNE exhibited excellent antifungal activity against Trichoderma sp. and its inhibitory zone was 47 mm. Overall, the CSP films loaded with CNE (>15%) could be used as food packing materials with good antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.

Characterization and application of the microencapsulated carvacrol/sodium alginate films as food packaging materials.

The carvacrol (CAR) was microencapsulated by ß-cyclodextrin (ßCD). To extend the shelf-life of white mushrooms against Trichoderma sp., the microencapsulated CAR (ßCD-CARM)/sodium alginate (SA) films were prepared and characterized. The antifungal, physical, and mechanical properties of the films were investigated in this study. The results showed that the ßCD-CARM with a core-to-wall ratio of 1:10 had better encapsulation efficiency and antifungal activity against Trichoderma sp., which was isolated from postharvest white mushrooms stored at 4 °C. The optimum concentration of ßCD-CARM against Trichoderma sp. in vitro was 15 g/L. The water resistance, mechanical properties, light barrier property and heat aging of the film were enhanced after adding ßCD-CARM. The films with 30 g/L ßCD-CARM could efficiently against Trichoderma sp. The performance of ßCD-CARM/SA films was confirmed to control the release of CAR for enhanced antifungal activity. Besides, the ßCD-CARM/SA films increased the activities of active free-radical scavenging enzymes to alleviate oxidative damage and delay senescence of the postharvest white mushrooms.