Effects of Cadmium, Thallium, and Vanadium on Photosynthetic Parameters of Three Chili Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Varieties.

Photosynthesis is a crucial process supporting life on Earth. However, unfavorable environmental conditions including toxic metals may limit the photosynthetic efficiency of plants, and the responses to those challenges may vary among genotypes. In this study, we evaluated photosynthetic parameters of the chili pepper varieties Jalapeño, Poblano, and Serrano exposed to Cd (0, 5, 10 µM), Tl (0, 6, 12 nM), and V (0, 0.75, 1.5 µM). Metals were added to the nutrient solution for 60 days. Stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), instantaneous carboxylation efficiency (Pn/Ci), instantaneous water use efficiency (instWUE), and intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE) were recorded. Mean Pn increased with 12 nM Tl in Serrano and with 0.75 µM V in Poblano. Tl and V increased mean Tr in all three cultivars, while Cd reduced it in Jalapeño and Serrano. Gs was reduced in Jalapeño and Poblano with 5 µM Cd, and 0.75 µM V increased it in Serrano. Ci increased in Poblano with 6 nM Tl, while 12 nM Tl reduced it in Serrano. Mean instWUE increased in Poblano with 10 µM Cd and 0.75 µM V, and in Serrano with 12 nM Tl, while 6 nM Tl reduced it in Poblano and Serrano. Mean iWUE increased in Jalapeño and Poblano with 5 µM Cd, in Serrano with 12 nM Tl, and in Jalapeño with 1.5 µM V; it was reduced with 6 nM Tl in Poblano and Serrano. Pn/Ci increased in Serrano with 5 µM Cd, in Jalapeño with 6 nM Tl, and in Poblano with 0.75 µM V. Interestingly, Tl stimulated six and inhibited five of the seven photosynthetic variables measured, while Cd enhanced three and decreased two variables, and V stimulated five variables, with none inhibited, all as compared to the respective controls. We conclude that Cd, Tl, and V may inhibit or stimulate photosynthetic parameters depending on the genotype and the doses applied.

Cytogenetic damage by vanadium(IV) and vanadium(III) on the bone marrow of mice.

Vanadium is a strategic metal that has many important industrial applications and is generated by the use of burning fossil fuels, which inevitably leads to their release into the environment, mainly in the form of oxides. The wastes generated by their use represent a major health hazard. Furthermore, it has attracted attention because several genotoxicity studies have shown that some vanadium compounds can affect DNA; among the most studied compounds is vanadium pentoxide, but studies in vivo with oxidation states IV and III are scarce and controversial. In this study, the genotoxic and cytotoxic potential of vanadium oxides was investigated in mouse bone marrow cells using structural chromosomal aberration (SCA) and mitotic index (MI) test systems. Three groups were administered vanadium(IV) tetraoxide (V2O4) intraperitoneally at 4.7, 9.4 or 18.8 mg/kg, and three groups were administered vanadium(III) trioxide (V2O3) at 4.22, 8.46 or 16.93 mg/kg body weight. The control group was treated with sterile water, and the positive control group was treated with cadmium(II) chloride (CdCl2). After 24 h, all doses of vanadium compounds increased the percentage of cells with SCA and decreased the MI. Our results demonstrated that under the present experimental conditions and doses, treatment with V2O4 and V2O3 induces chromosomal aberrations and alters cell division in the bone marrow of mice.

Vanadium(IV) oxide affects embryonic development in mice.

Vanadium(V) and vanadium(IV) are the predominant redox forms present in the environment, and epidemiological studies have reported that prenatal vanadium exposure is associated with restricted fetal growth and adverse birth outcomes. However, data about the toxic effects of vanadium(IV) oxide (V2 O4 ) on the development of mammals are still limited. Therefore, in this work, 4.7, 9.4, or 18.7 mg/kg body weight/injection/day V2 O4 was administered through an intraperitoneal (ip) injection to pregnant mice from gestational days 6 to 16. The results showed that V2 O4 produced maternal and embryo-fetal toxicity and external abnormalities in the offspring, such as malrotated and malpositioned hind limbs, hematomas and head injuries. Moreover, the skeletons of the fetuses presented reduced ossification of the cranial bones, including the frontal and parietal bones, corresponding to head injuries observed in the external assessment of the fetuses. These results demonstrate that administration of V2 O4 to pregnant females in the organogenesis period adversely affects embryonic development.

Vanadium oxides modify the expression levels of the p21, p53, and Cdc25C proteins in human lymphocytes treated in vitro.

In vitro assays have demonstrated that vanadium compounds interact with biological molecules similar to protein kinases and phosphatases and have also shown that vanadium oxides decrease the proliferation of cells, including human lymphocytes; however, the mechanism, the phase in which the cell cycle is delayed and the proteins involved in this process are unknown. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of vanadium oxides (V2 O3 , V2 O4 and V2 O5 ) in human lymphocyte cultures (concentrations of 2, 4, 8, or 16 µg/ml) on cellular proliferation and the levels of the p53, p21 and Cdc25C proteins. After 24 h of treatment with the different concentrations of vanadium oxides, the cell cycle phases were determined by evaluating the DNA content using flow cytometry, and the levels of the p21, p53 and Cdc25C proteins were assessed by Western blot analysis. The results revealed that the DNA content remained unchanged in every phase of the cell cycle; however, only at high concentrations did protein levels increase. Although, according to previous reports, vanadium oxides induce a delay in proliferation, DNA analysis did not show this occurring in a specific cell cycle phase. Nevertheless, the increases in p53 protein levels may cause this delay.

Premature chromatid separation and altered proliferation of human leukocytes treated with vanadium (III) oxide.

Vanadium is a widely distributed metal in the Earth's surface and is released into the environment by either natural or anthropogenic causes. Vanadium (III) oxide (V2O3) is present in the environment, and many organisms are exposed to this compound; however, its effects at the cellular and genetic levels are still unknown. Therefore, in this study, the ability of V2O3 to induce chromosomal damage and impair cell proliferation was tested on human leukocytes in vitro. The cultures cells were treated for 48 h with different concentrations 2, 4, 8 or 16 µg/mL of V2O3, and we use the sister chromatid exchange's (SCE) test and the viability assay to evaluate the effects. In the results, no change was observed in either the viability or the frequency of SCE; however, a significant increase was observed in the incidence of premature chromatid separation (PCS), and a decrease was observed in both the mitotic index (MI) and the replication index (RI). Therefore, it can be suggested that V2O3 induces a genotoxic effect at the centromere level, indicating that it is a cause of aneuploidy that is capable of altering cell cycle progression.

[IN VIVO EFFECT OF RED WINE UNDILUTED, DILUTED (75%) AND ALCOHOL-FREE ON THE GENOTOXIC DAMAGE INDUCED BY POTENTIAL CARCINOGENIC METALS: CHROMIUM [VI]]. / EFECTO IN VIVO DEL VINO TINTO SIN DILUIR, DILUIDO (75%) Y SIN ALCOHOL SOBRE EL DAÑO GENOTÓXICO INDUCIDO POR METALES PESADOS CON POTENCIAL CANCERÍGENO: CROMO [VI].

INTRODUCTION: the carcinogenesis may be initiated and promoted by the oxidative DNA damage. The compounds of chrome (Cr [VI]) cause oxidative stress (EOx) and are recognized as carcinogens in humans. In this sense, it is proposed that drinks with a high antioxidative potential, such as red wine, may have protective or modulatory effects on the oxidative DNA damage. OBJECTIVE: to study the effects of the administration in vivo of undiluted, diluted (75%) and alcohol-free red wine on the genotoxic damage induced by carcinogenic metals (Cr [VI]), by evaluating the micronucleus (MN) in polychromatic erythrocytes (EPC) in mice (CD-1). MATERIAL AND METHOD: it was randomly organized the follow groups: (i) control, (ii) undiluted, diluted and alcohol-free red wine (free access), (iii) CrO3 (20 mg/kg by intraperitoneal route) and (iv) CrO3-red wine. The evaluations were made in blood samples obtained from the caudal vein, in which it was identified the MN and EPC before, during and after treatments. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: the red wine (diluted and alcohol-free) was capable of decreasing the averages of MN induced by CrO3, demonstrating its modular capacity in vivo in the oxidative DNA damage caused by EOx-induced carcinogens. The administration of only undiluted red wine presented toxic effects. CONCLUSIONS: our results raises expectations on the use of substances like the red wine for the protection or modulation of genotoxic damage, encouraging its application in the carcinogenic and mutagenic processes.

Introducción: la carcinogénesis puede ser iniciada y promovida por el daño oxidativo al ADN. Los compuestos de cromo (Cr) [VI] generan estrés oxidativo (EOx) y son reconocidos como cancerígenos en humanos. En este sentido, se plantea que bebidas que presentan un alto potencial antioxidante, como el vino tinto, pudieran tener efectos protectores o moduladores del daño oxidativo al ADN. Objetivo: estudiar los efectos de la administración in vivo de vino tinto sin diluir, diluido (75%) y sin alcohol, sobre el daño genotóxico inducido por metales cancerígenos (Cr [VI]), mediante la evaluación de micronúcleos (MN) en eritrocitos policromáticos (EPC) de ratones (CD-1). Material y método: se conformaron aleatoriamente los siguientes grupos: (i) testigo, (ii) vino tinto sin diluir, diluido o sin alcohol (libre acceso), (iii) CrO3 (20 mg/kg por vía intraperitoneal) y (iv) vino tinto-CrO3. Las evaluaciones se realizaron en muestras de sangre obtenidas de la vena caudal, en las que se identificaron los MN en EPC antes, durante y después de los tratamientos. Resultados y discusión: el vino tinto (diluido y sin alcohol) fue capaz de disminuir los promedios de MN inducidos por el CrO3, lo que muestra su capacidad para modular in vivo el daño oxidativo al ADN causado por cancerígenos inductores de EOx. La administración únicamente de vino tinto sin diluir presentó efectos tóxicos. Conclusiones: nuestros resultados generan expectativas sobre el empleo de sustancias como el vino tinto en la protección o modulación del daño genotóxico, lo que podría conducir a su aplicación en los procesos de carcinogénesis y mutagénesis.

Efecto in vivo del vino tinto sin diluir, diluido (75%) y sin alcohol sobre el daño genotóxico inducido por metales pesados con potencial cancerígeno: cromo [VI] / In vivo effect of red wine undiluted, diluted (75%) and alcohol-free on the genotoxic damage induced by potential carcinogenic metals: chromium [VI]

Introducción: la carcinogénesis puede ser iniciada y promovida por el daño oxidativo al ADN. Los compuestos de cromo (Cr) [VI] generan estrés oxidativo (EOx) y son reconocidos como cancerígenos en humanos. En este sentido, se plantea que bebidas que presentan un alto potencial antioxidante, como el vino tinto, pudieran tener efectos protectores o moduladores del daño oxidativo al ADN. Objetivo: estudiar los efectos de la administración in vivo de vino tinto sin diluir, diluido (75%) y sin alcohol, sobre el daño genotóxico inducido por metales cancerígenos (Cr [VI]), mediante la evaluación de micronúcleos (MN) en eritrocitos policromáticos (EPC) de ratones (CD-1). Material y método: se conformaron aleatoriamente los siguientes grupos: (i) testigo, (ii) vino tinto sin diluir, diluido o sin alcohol (libre acceso), (iii) CrO3 (20 mg/kg por vía intraperitoneal) y (iv) vino tinto-CrO3. Las evaluaciones se realizaron en muestras de sangre obtenidas de la vena caudal, en las que se identificaron los MN en EPC antes, durante y después de los tratamientos. Resultados y discusión: el vino tinto (diluido y sin alcohol) fue capaz de disminuir los promedios de MN inducidos por el CrO3, lo que muestra su capacidad para modular in vivo el daño oxidativo al ADN causado por cancerígenos inductores de EOx. La administración únicamente de vino tinto sin diluir presentó efectos tóxicos. Conclusiones: nuestros resultados generan expectativas sobre el empleo de sustancias como el vino tinto en la protección o modulación del daño genotóxico, lo que podría conducir a su aplicación en los procesos de carcinogénesis y mutagénesis (AU)

Introduction: the carcinogenesis may be initiated and promoted by the oxidative DNA damage. The compounds of chrome (Cr [VI]) cause oxidative stress (EOx) and are recognized as carcinogens in humans. In this sense, it is proposed that drinks with a high antioxidative potential, such as red wine, may have protective or modulatory effects on the oxidative DNA damage. Objective: to study the effects of the administration in vivo of undiluted, diluted (75%) and alcohol-free red wine on the genotoxic damage induced by carcinogenic metals (Cr [VI]), by evaluating the micronucleus (MN) in polychromatic erythrocytes (EPC) in mice (CD-1). Material and method: it was randomly organized the follow groups: (i) control, (ii) undiluted, diluted and alcohol-free red wine (free access), (iii) CrO3 (20 mg/kg by intraperitoneal route) and (iv) CrO3 -red wine. The evaluations were made in blood samples obtained from the caudal vein, in which it was identified the MN and EPC before, during and after treatments. Results and discussion: the red wine (diluted and alcohol-free) was capable of decreasing the averages of MN induced by CrO3, demonstrating its modular capacity in vivo in the oxidative DNA damage caused by EOx-induced carcinogens. The administration of only undiluted red wine presented toxic effects. Conclusions: our results raises expectations on the use of substances like the red wine for the protection or modulation of genotoxic damage, encouraging its application in the carcinogenic and mutagenic processes (AU)