Improving the efficiency of measurement procedures for assessing human exposure in the vicinity of mobile phone (GSM/DCS/UMTS) base stations.

Standards stipulate 6-min time interval of averaging for measurements of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to assess human exposure to non-ionising radiation. Having in mind the base stations of public land mobile systems, the time interval defined in such a way noticeably limits the number of measuring points in practical applications. In this paper, based on the results of measurements in the vicinity of a multisystem base station (Global System for Mobile Communications [GSM], Digital Communication System [DCS] and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System [UMTS]), it was shown that the measurement process can be significantly accelerated by using shorter time intervals of averaging--15 s, 30 s and 1 min. It was found that measurement results differed from the 6-min root-mean-square mean by 10.5 %, 15.9 and 19 %, respectively, while the uncertainty of the measurements was increased by 3.0 %, 3.8 and 4.4 %, respectively. Shorter time-averaging intervals would reduce the total duration of the exposure assessment survey, while not compromising too much on measurement quality.

Biochemical and histopathological effects of glyphosate on carp, Cyprinus carpio L.

Glyphosate, also known by the trade names Roundup and Rodeo for agricultural use, is a broad-spectrum, translocated herbicide, used primarily in agricultural applications, and for vegetation control in non-crop areas. It is used as non-selective herbicide and for aquatic weed control in fish-ponds, lakes, canals, slow running water, etc. (USDA 1984). Glyphosate is perhaps the most important herbicide ever developed. Literature of toxicological and ecotoxicological properties of glyphosate is extremely sparse, considering its importance as herbicide. Generally, glyphosate is slightly toxic to mammals and fish, but it may have an impact on the aquatic environment and also on the other aquatic organisms (USDA 1984). Due to this, its toxicity investigation is very important. The study of sublethal effects is of special importance for toxicological evaluation of compound. The objective of this study was to investigate acute and subacute toxic effects of sublethal glyphosate concentrations in water to carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), one of the commercially most important fish species populating freshwaters of Yugoslavia.

Serial assessment of left ventricular chamber stiffness after acute myocardial infarction.

Left ventricular (LV) systolic function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been the subject of detailed studies during the last decade, but diastolic phenomena during and after AMI are less well understood. Recently, it has been shown that early filling deceleration time accurately predicted LV chamber stiffness in an experimental model. To assess changes of LV stiffness after AMI, we studied 116 consecutive patients with 2-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic examinations 1, 2, 3, 7, 21, and 42 days after AMI. Coronary angiography was performed in 101 patients. For the entire study group, deceleration time decreased nonsignificantly on day 2 and subsequently increased on days 3 (p = 0.001) and 7 (p = 0.036), returning toward initial values afterward. Deceleration time was shorter in large (peak creatine kinase level >1,000 U/L) versus small infarcts (p = 0.0008) and in patients with anterior versus inferior AMI (p = 0.02); there was no difference between patients with good and poor (< or = 45%) ejection fraction. These data indicate that increased LV stiffness can be detected 24 to 48 hours after AMI, but returns to normal within several days. Chamber stiffness is higher in large and anterior infarcts, but appears to be independent of LV systolic function.

Acute and subacute toxicity of atrazine to carp (Cyprinus carpio L.).

Investigations of acute and subacute atrazine toxicity in carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) were carried out. Acute toxicity was investigated in a semi-static test during a 96-hr exposition. The estimated LC-50 value was 18.8 mg/l. Subacute toxicity was investigated by exposing fish (carp) to different atrazine concentrations (1.5, 3.0, and 6.0 mg/l) for 14 days. Biochemical and histopathological changes in certain organs and tissues were investigated. The results show that atrazine leads to changes of varying intensity depending on the parameter tested, the organs and tissues examined, as well as the atrazine concentration. Biochemical changes were most prominent in the alkaline phosphatase, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase activities whereas the most severe histopathological changes were observed in the gills.

Bioavailability and biological activity of wheat-bound chlorpyrifos-methyl residues in rats.

Wheat grain was treated with 14C-chlorpyrifos-methyl to generate bound residues for determining their bioavailability to rats. In a parallel experiment, bound residues were prepared with non-labelled chlorpyrifos-methyl to determine possible adverse effects in rats fed the grain-bound residue for 28 and 90 days. Two dose levels of 10 and 50 ppm were initially used on the grain. The 10 ppm led to the formation of 25.1% bound residues (2.51 ppm) after 6 months as determined by radiomeasurement. The higher dose was assumed to form 12.55 ppm bound residues. When 14C-bound residues were fed to male rats for 24 hours, the animals eliminated 75% of the radioactivity in urine, 7% in expired air and 8% in faeces after 3 days, indicating that the bound residues were highly bioavailable. A further "bioavailable" amount (4%) was found in selected organs.

[Biological activity of bound pesticide residues]. / Bioloska aktivnost vezanih ostataka pesticida.

Investigations of bound pesticide residues carried out to date involved the detection of residues in commodities, their identification, determination, bioavailability and possible biological effects. The results obtained in this research and the results of other authors who have shown an increasing concern about the levels, bioavailability and biological effects of bound pesticide residues since the late 1980' are presented in this paper. Based on the results obtained, bound pesticide residues were detected in some commodities ranging from trace amounts to over 50% of the dose level applied. The residue content was influenced by the biochemical structure of the commodity, the compound and its application rate, the length of time from the application to residue analysis as well as on some environmental parameters (primarily temperature and humidity). It was also established that the bioavailability to experimental animals may range from medium to significant provoking adverse biological effects. These effects depended on the compound, its application rate and length of administration. Based on the results obtained so far it was established that bound pesticide residues need to be taken into account when determining maximum residue limits (MRL) as well as when assessing the toxicological risks of pesticide application.

Toxic effects of bound malathion residues in rats.

The level of bound malathion residues in treated wheat grain and its toxic effects on rats were investigated. Wheat grain was treated with [14C] malathion (specific activity: 2.76 MBq/mg) to determine the bioavailability of bound residues in rats. At the same time, grain was treated with nonlabeled malathion to test for possible toxic effects of bound residues in a subchronic (90 days) feeding study in rats at two dose levels, 10 and 100 ppm. It was observed that the level of malathion-bound residues amounted to 11.28% of the applied dose (for six months). Also, it was noted that the main route of [14C]-malathion excretion was through the urine. This signifies that grain-bound malathion was bioavailable. In subchronic test on rats bound malathion residues (both dose levels) induced effects to some extent in organ weight (spleen and adrenals), and blood ChE activity. In both, males and females, there was an increase in SGPT activity (lower dose), and in alkaline phosphatase in females (higher dose). Hematological data showed changes only in hemoglobin concentration in males (both dose levels).

Toxic effects of pirimiphos-methyl residues on rats.

This study analyzes the level of total and bound pirimiphos-methyl residues in treated wheat grain and its toxic effects on rats. Wheat grain was treated with [14C]pirimiphos-methyl of 16.36 mCi/mmol specific activity to determine the bioavailability of bound residues in rats. At the same time, grain was treated with nonlabeled pirimiphos-methyl as required to determine any possible toxic effects of bound residues in a subacute feeding study in rats. Two dose levels were used: 10 and 100 ppm (the former being the recommended dose level in practical treatment). Estimation of the type of residues was performed at intervals of 0, 30, 90, 120, 150, and 180 days. During and after the animal feeding study, changes in body weight gain, organ weight, cholinesterase activity, serum enzyme activity, and hematology were investigated. There is an indication that bound residues of the pesticide pirimiphos-methyl provoke toxic effects to some extent.

A chemically defined medium for the culture of mature oligodendrocytes.

A new chemically defined medium consisting of equal parts of Dulbecco modified Eagle's and Ham's F-12 media supplemented with insulin, sodium selenite, putrescine, and D+ galactose, which allows the long-term survival of mature oligodendrocyte pure cultures, is described. Immunohistochemical staining has shown that over 90% of the cells become positive for myelin proteins shortly following subculture. Contaminating astrocytes (2%) do not survive in this medium. Biochemical data have indicated that these purified oligodendrocytes express 2'3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase and UDP-galactose ceramide galactosyltransferase activities. Electron microscopical examination revealed that the oligodendrocytes were mostly of medium-dark type and appeared to be identical to cells cultured in serum-containing medium. The ability to maintain pure oligodendrocyte cultures in such a defined medium will allow investigations concerning exogenous and endogenous factors involved in oligodendrocyte metabolism.

A morphological and biochemical study of the myelin-like membrane structures formed in cultures of pure oligodendrocytes.

This study reports the production of myelin-like membranes in oligodendrocyte subcultures derived from 20-day-old primary glial cell cultures of newborn rat brain. These multi-layered structures show a variable number of membrane turns; up to 10 concentric lamellae are found in 3- to 4-week-old subcultures. When they are compacted, alternate dense and intraperiodic lines with a periodicity of 11.2 nm are noticeable. The most typical myelin proteins were detected straight on the multi-lammellar structures by a gold immunocytochemical method. Subcellular fractions containing these myelin-like structures were isolated by ultracentrifugation on a discontinuous sucrose gradient. They were analysed by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting; UDP-galactose: ceramide galactosyltransferase and 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase activities were also measured. The results indicate that the multi-layered membrane profiles have many characteristics of the myelin found in vivo; nevertheless some differences were still apparent. Our data support the concept of the cultured oligodendrocytes expressing the intrinsic myelinogenic properties and possessing a basic developmental program of myelination, apparently in the absence of stimuli coming from other brain cells.

UDPgalactose:ceramide galactosyltransferase in cultured oligodendrocytes: an enzymological and immunological study.

The developmental expression of UDPgalactose:ceramide galactosyltransferase (CGalT), an enzyme marker of one myelinogenic activity in nervous tissue, was studied in cultured oligodendrocytes. The activity of CGalT in cultures followed a characteristic pattern of developmental changes. In the primary cultures these changes could be represented by a biphasic curve with a maximum of enzymatic activity at about the 25th day in culture. After purifying the oligodendrocytes from the primary cultures and replating them in culture dishes, similar developmental changes of CGalT were observed. In the subcultures prepared from 20-day-old primary cultures the activity of CGalT per oligodendrocyte increased from 1.3 x 10(-6) nmol/hr on day 4 to 3.7 x -6 nmol/hr on day 21. Immunocytochemical studies with the antiserum against rat brain CGalT showed the presence of CGalT+ oligodendrocytes after 7 days in the primary culture (earliest time studied), later on the number of CGalT+ oligodendrocytes increased until 28 days (latest time examined). In the subcultures of purified oligodendrocytes the bulk of oligodendrocytes was stained by the anti-CGalT antibodies after 15 days. These results suggest that the initial expression of CGalT in oligodendroglial cultures involves an increase of the number of CGalT+ oligodendrocytes and of the amount of enzyme protein per cell.

Arrest of proteolipid transport through the Golgi apparatus in Jimpy brain.

Immunocytochemical investigations were performed on Jimpy and control mouse brains using three specific anti-myelin proteolipids antisera: immunoaffinity purified multivalent anti-(PLP + DM-20) proteolipid antibodies, anti-C-terminal hexapeptide 271-276 and anti-tridecapeptide 117-129 antisera. The results show that oligodendrocytes and myelin sheaths in normal mouse brain are labelled to the same extent by the three specific antisera; in contrast, in Jimpy brain these cellular structures are only stained by the multivalent antibodies and the site-specific, anti-tridecapeptide antiserum. The absence of labelling with C-terminal hexapeptide antiserum in mutant brain is interpreted as the result of either a large deletion or a point mutation producing a frameshift in the C-terminal part of the sequences of the proteolipids PLP and DM-20. Furthermore, we show that this mutation prevents the normal transport of proteolipid molecules through the Golgi apparatus. The existence of a minor, extra-Golgi apparatus metabolic route for proteolipids to myelin structures is also discussed.

Immunocytochemical localization of UDP-galactose: ceramide galactosyltransferase in myelin and oligodendroglial cells of rat brain.

Specific antibodies were prepared against rat-brain UDP-galactose:ceramide galactosyltransferase (CGalT) and used to study the localization of this enzyme at light and electron microscopic levels. Using an immunocytochemical technique the presence of CGalT was revealed in the cytoplasm and processes of oligodendrocytes and in myelin sheaths of developing and adult rat brain. No immunostaining was detected in neurons or astrocytes. At the ultrastructural level the immunostaining of oligodendrocytes was most intense at the periphery of cytoplasm and probably included plasma membrane. Among the intracellular organelles of oligodendrocytes, specific labelling was occasionally seen in the stacks of Golgi apparatus membranes. In myelin sheaths anti-CGalT staining seems to be restricted to the outermost and innermost lamellae. The finding of CGalT in distant portions of oligodendrocyte processes and in loosely wrapped myelin membranes might indicate that myelin galactocerebrosides are synthesized in the proximity of the site of their incorporation into the newly formed myelin.

UDPgalactose:ceramide galactosyltransferase of rat brain: a new method of purification and production of specific antibodies.

A new method for purification of UDPgalactose:ceramide galactosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.45) is described. The principal steps involved solvent extraction at -70 degrees C, Triton X-100 extraction, and DEAE-Sephadex and Blue Sepharose chromatography. The active configuration of the enzyme was stabilized by phospholipids and a rapid loss of enzymatic activity was observed after removal of these lipids. The inactive enzyme could be fully reactivated in the presence of brain phospholipids dispersed in a Triton X-100-containing buffer. The purified enzyme preparation showed two major components by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate with apparent molecular weights of 50-70,000. The 53,000-dalton protein was isolated by preparative gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and used to produce antibodies against UDPgalactose:ceramide galactosyltransferase.

UDPgalactose:ceramide galactosyltransferase and 2',3'-cyclic-nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase activities in rat brain after long-term exposure to methylmercury or triethyllead.

Methylmercury (MeHg) and triethyllead (Et3Pb) are known to cause neurologic impairment in human and in several animal models. In the developing central nervous system the formation of myelin is particularly vulnerable. To obtain more information on the toxic mechanisms related to dysmyelination, the effects of MeHg and Et3Pb on two marker enzymes of myelination was assessed in developing rats. From the 5th day of life intraperitoneal injections of MeHgCl or Et3PbCl at doses of 0.05 to 5 mg/kg body weight were administered to the rats three times a week. They were decapitated at the 21 to 23rd (group A) or at the 28 to 31st postnatal day (group B). The animals treated with 2 mg/kg MeHg or Et3Pb appeared normal and the rate of growth was unchanged compared with that of control rats. A decreased activity of the enzymes UDP galactose:ceramide galactosyltransferase (CGalT) and 2',3'-cyclic-nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNP) was apparent already at doses of 0.1 mg/kg in group B rats. (MeHg, 18 and 16%, respectively; Et3Pb, 11 and 14%) and the values decreased further with increased toxic doses. In the MeHg-treated animals the exposure time was decisive for the effect; thus in group A of MeHg-treated animals the change in enzyme activities was minimal at doses which in group B had an inhibitor effect. The activities of brain acetylcholinesterase and succinate dehydrogenase were not affected. The results emphasize a common early effect of MeHg and Et3Pb on enzymes associated with myelination in the developing central nervous system.