Familiar and novel reproductive endocrine disruptors: xenoestrogens, dioxins and nanoparticles.

Environmental contaminants are known to exert endocrine-disrupting effects on the reproductive axis of animals. Many of these molecules can affect steroid biosynthesis or estrogen-receptor signaling by behaving as estrogen-like molecules ("xenoestrogens"), or by exerting estrogenmodulatory effects. Exposure to some compounds has been correlated with the skewing of sex ratios in aquatic species, feminization and demasculinization of male animals, declines in human sperm counts, and overall diminution in fertility of birds, fish, and mammals. We herein devote space to several classes of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), including estrogenic substances such as bisphenol A (BPA), molecules that can behave at times anti-estrogenically while activating the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), such as dioxins (a known human carcinogen), and novel, ubiquitous molecules such as nanoparticles, particularly gold nanoparticles (GNPs), that appear to alter the sexsteroid biosynthetic pathway.

Analytical electron microscopical investigations on the apoplastic pathways of lanthanum transport in barley roots.

In transmission electron microscopy studies, lanthanum ions have been used as electron-opaque tracers to delineate the apoplastic pathways for ion transport in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) roots. To localize La3+ on the subcellular level, e.g. in cell walls and on the surface of membranes, electron-energy-loss spectroscopy and electron-spectroscopic imaging were used. Seminal and nodal roots were exposed for 30 min to 1 mM LaCl3 and 10 mM LaCl3, respectively. In seminal roots, possessing no exodermis, La3+ diffusion through the apoplast was stopped by the Casparian bands of the endodermis. In nodal roots with an exodermis, however, La3+ diffusion through the cortical apoplast had already stopped at the tight junctions of the exodermal cell walls resembling the Casparian bands of the endodermis. Therefore, we conclude that in some specialized roots such as the nodal roots of barley, the physiological role of the endodermis is largely performed by the exodermis.

Trichinella pseudospiralis: X-ray analysis of the infected muscle cells and the muscle larva compartments after exponential growth of the larva in situ.

The distribution of nutrients such as Na, Cl, K, P, S, and Ca was investigated by energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDXA) on bulk-frozen mouse muscles infected with Trichinella pseudospiralis. In an attempt to gain information as to whether muscle larvae would modify the element status within muscles of their host. Significant increases in phosphorus concentrations within nurse cells and internal cells of the larva, e.g., the somatic muscle cells and the stichocytes, were shown. This could reflect changes in the energy metabolism and/or in the turnover of nucleic acids of the nurse cell. High phosphorus concentrations within the internal larva cells corresponded to high levels of expression of thymidylate synthase shown elsewhere in both T. pseudospiralis and T. spiralis muscle larvae, most likely reflecting more intensive DNA replication. Furthermore, the Na+-concentration gradient between the nurse cell and neighboring host muscle cells indicated the plasma membrane as a diffusion barrier for Na+. Moreover, the cuticle seemed to maintain the Cl--concentration gradient between the nurse cell and the internal cells of the larva. Nevertheless, the mechanisms involved in the transport of both ions, the collagen cuticle appeared, strong permeability that serves the transcuticular transport maintaining the Cl--concentration gradient.

Trichinella spiralis: X-ray analysis of the nurse cell-muscle larva complex after exponential growth of the larva.

The energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA) method was employed to determine how the exponential growth of the Trichinella spiralis larva affect the concentration of some metabolically active elements such as phosphorus, sulfur, sodium, chlorine, potassium, and calcium in host myocytes as well as inside the nurse cell-muscle larva complex. Two observations are noteworthy. First, the capsule of the complex reveals the highest Na+ and Cl-concentrations. We would suggest that these high Na+ and Cl-concentrations could be a part of the capsule-localized transport mechanisms covering the metabolic demands of the larva. Second, a substantial increase in the P concentration in the cells inside the complex, i.e., the nurse cell, somatic muscle of the larva, and larval stichosome was found. We postulate that energy metabolism in the nurse cell is entirely dependent on the metabolic requirements of the larva and that they remain together as one functional unit.

[Laser trabeculoplasty in low-tension glaucoma]. / Laser-Trabekuloplastik bei Glaukom ohne Hochdruck.

Eight patients suffering from bilateral low-tension glaucoma underwent laser trabeculoplasty on one eye; the contralateral eye was used as a control. Facility of outflow and the intraocular pressure in both eyes were measured before and after laser treatment. After laser trabeculoplasty a significant increase in outflow (means = 0.084 +/- 0.031) and a reduction in intraocular pressure (means = -4.13 +/- 1.25 mmHg) were observed.

Studies on the contractile vacuole of Poterioochromonas malhamensis Peterfi. II. Antimonate stains the contractile vacuole of Poterioochromonas.

Fixation of the chrysophycean flagellate Poterioochromonas malhamensis in the presence of potassium (pyro) antimonate have been carried out. Intense antimonate deposits are characteristic of the various elements of the contractile vacuole as well as a portion of the plasma membrane adjacent to the contractile vacuole. Neither pretreatment of the cells with EGTA or EDTA nor the treatment of sections with these chelators is successful in removing the antimonate precipitates. Despite this, X-ray microanalyses of these deposits indicate the presence of calcium.

Ion compartmentation in Porphyra umbilicalis determined by electron-probe X-ray microanalysis.

The ion composition of cell compartments in the intertidal red alga Porphyra umbilicalis adapted for two weeks in 3.5 x artificial seawater was determined by X-ray microanalysis of unfixed, frozen, bulk specimens. A procedure is described for the calculation of ion concentrations in the main cell compartment, cytoplasm, vacuoles and plastid. The results indicate high K(+) and low Na(+) concentrations in cytoplasm and plastid. Sodium ions are preferentially localized in vacuoles. Both, vacuoles and plastid contain high Cl(-) concentrations.

[Extraction of cataract after goniotrepanation (author's transl)]. / Kataraktextraktion nach Goniotrepanation.

The author reports on the results of cataract extraction after fistulating operations in 20 patients with observation periods of between 3 and 71/2 years. The intraocular tension remained normal in 16 eyes; in 4 cases (one after epidemic keratoconjunctivitis) conservative antiglaucomatous treatment was recently necessary.

Ion distribution in roots of barley seedlings measured by electron probe x-ray microanalysis.

The distribution of ions, particularly K and Na, was studied in roots of barley seedlings grown on various ionic solutions. Analyses were made by means of electron probe x-ray microanalysis using frozen, fractured bulk specimens. By this technique, it was demonstrated that there can be variability in the ratio K/Na measured in the vacuoles of cortical cells, with this ratio often being lower in epidermal cells of the root than in the inner cortex. A sharp difference in the K/Na ratio was also found between cells of the endodermis and those of the adjacent cortex, and generally higher ratios of K/Na occurred in the stele than in the cortex. Estimation of the concentrations in the cytoplasm was at the limit of resolution of this technique, but it can be shown that the K/Na ratio in the cytoplasm was higher than that in the vacuole. In low salt roots, the K concentration in the cytoplasm was higher than that in the vacuoles. The results with the x-ray microprobe confirm other measurements based on flux analysis or analysis of small samples of the root.

[Anticholinergic drugs in open-angle glaucoma (author's transl)]. / Anticholinergische Arzneimittel bei Glaucoma simplex.

The widespread uncertainty as to whether anticholinergic drugs are contra-indicated in cases of open-angle glaucoma led us to investigate the influence of such a drug on intraocular pressure. In an earlier publication we stated that Pizotifen may be used in treated open-angle glaucoma, it does not crucially impair conservative local antiglaucoma treatment. We have now examined its influence on pressure in untreated glaucomatous eyes and have found that patients with untreated open-angle glaucoma may also be treated with 2.5 mg Pizotifen t.i.d. without any risk of complications.

[Influence of anticholinergic drugs on the intraocular tension of medicinally treated glaucoma simplex (author's transl)]. / Zum Einfluss anticholinergischer Arzneimittel auf den intraokularen Druck des medikamentös behandelten Glaucoma simplex.

In 10 patients the influence of pizotifen on the intraocular tension of their medicinally treated open-angle glaucoma was examined. The clinical results and their statistical evaluation showed that anticholinergic drugs behaving pharmacologically like pizotifen do not impair conservative antiglaucomatous local treatment. Therefore, they may be used in cases of open-angle glaucoma.

[Sedation and decreasing of tension in glaucomatous patients before the operation for cataract (author's transl)]. / Sedierung und Drucksenkung bei Glaukompatienten vor der Kataraktoperation

The increased operative risk of glaucomatous eyes in extraction of cataract is reduced by preoperative treatment of the patients with sedatives and diamox. The author reports on the results of 310 eyes and emphasizes the advantages of a peroral diamox therapy through several days in contrast to the solitary intravenous application of this drug.

The influence of moistening fluids on the measuring results of applanations-tonometry (author's transl). / Der Einfluss von Benetzungsflüssigheiten auf das Messresultat der Applanationstonometrie

The applanation tonometry is influenced by several factors not considered by the law of Imbert-Fick. For instance, a change in the conditions of moistening the cornea may falsify the result of measuring. This has been proved clinically and experimentally with Polyvinylpyrrolidon. The fault in measuring is larger with applanation tonometers producing variable applanation areas along with constant pressure than with those flattening small invariable corneal area. Aside of the difficulty of exact measurement of the applanation areas the latter tonometers are superior to the former ones because of this reason, too.