Histological and ultrastructural studies of rats exposed to carbaryl.

The aim of the study was to assess the general toxic effects of dermally applied carbaryl, based on histological and ultrastructural examinations of internal organs and to relate these effects to earlier own studies where 14C carbaryl was used for determining the pesticide penetration. The pesticide was applied in doses of 1/5 and 1/10 LD50, administered to the tail skin of male Wistar rats 4 hours daily, for 4 weeks except Saturdays and Sundays. After the experiment, the animals were anaesthetized and the following organs were taken for histological study: brain, lung, heart, liver, kidney, skin from the site of exposure and skin from a place at least 2 cm distant from the exposure site. Lung, liver, kidney, heart and skin were used for ultrastructural studies. Dermal application of carbaryl resulted only in slight histological changes in skin, liver, brain and lung. Even in brain and liver, where large amounts of 14C carbaryl, compared to other organs (lung, kidney, heart), where the intensity of histologic changes was earlier stated to below. Ultrastructural changes were observed in skin, liver, lung, heart and kidney.

Oral toxicity of deltamethrin and fenvalerate in Swiss mice.

The study was conducted on female and male Swiss mice with body mass of 20-30 g. The experimental animals were administered deltamethrin in concentrations of 5 mg/kg b.m. (1/10 LD50) and 25 mg/kg b.m. (1/2 LD50), or fenvalerate in the doses of 10 mg/kg b.m. (1/10 LD50) and 50 mg/kg b.m. (1/2 LD50). Pyrethroids were administered intragastrically once a day for 28 days. Parallel studies were conducted in two control groups. The following organs were taken for histologic examinations: liver, kidney, lung, heart and spleen. Blood was taken from the heart for hematologic tests. The total number of erythrocytes and leukocytes, the percentage of neutrophils and lymphocytes, as well as the level of hemoglobin and hematocrit were determined. Deltamethrin and fenvalerate caused degenerative changes in the liver and kidneys in Swiss mice. Changes were more intense in male mice which were administered deltamethrin, and in female mice which received fenvalerate. Irrespective of the dose, the pyrethroids examined stimulated erythropoiesis and synthesis of hemoglobin in male Swiss mice, while in female mice the administration of deltamethrin in the dose of 1/10 LD50 resulted in the suppression of erythropoiesis and hemoglobin synthesis. Both in male and female mice, deltamethrin and fenvalerate--irrespective of the dose--caused a general increase in the number of leukocytes.

Dermal absorption and distribution of (14)C carbaryl in Wistar rats.

The level of (14)C carbaryl was determined in blood (leukocytes, erythrocytes, all blood cells, plasma) and organs (brain, heart, lungs, liver, spleen, skin at the site of exposure) of male Wistar rats after dermal administration. The application liquid was (14)C carbaryl solution in 96% ethyl alcohol. This preparation, possessing an activity of 670 kBq/ml, containing 1.67 mg of carbaryl, was applied to the skin of the tail according to Massmann's method in own modification. The amount of the preparation per 1 cm(2) of the tail skin was 0.19 mg of carbaryl (74.4 kBq). The tails of experimental rats were exposed to (14)C carbaryl by soaking for 4 h daily: once, twice or three times. Beta radiation from (14)C was measured in homogenized organs (brain, heart, lungs, liver, skin) and in blood by computer controlled Wallac scintillation counter Model 1409, using Multi Calc software. The dermal absorption of carbaryl at the site of exposure and in the surrounding area of about 2 cm was observed already during 4 hour exposure. Carbaryl reached plasma within 4 h of a single dermal exposure and penetrated into leukocytes, erythrocytes, heart, liver, lung, kidney and brain. The largest amount of (14)C carbaryl, about 2% of absorbed dose, was detected in liver

Immunomodulatory effect of selenosemicarbazides and selenium inorganic compounds, distribution in organs after selenium supplementation.

Antioxidant properties of selenium producing a protective barrier against free radicals play an important role in numerous metabolic and immunologic processes associated with oxidation-reduction reactions which take place during intracellular digestion of phagocyted bacteria. The aim of our study was to examine the properties of an organic compound of selenium, 4-(o-tolilo)-selenosemicarbazide of p-chlorobenzoic acid in terms of its retention in organs, effect on erythropoesis and phagocytic abilities of neutrophiles as well as antioxidant properties in neutrophiles tested with NBT test. This compound as well as inorganic sodium selenate was given to Swiss mice at the dose of 10(-3) g Se/kg for the period of 10 days. The concentrations of selenium in livers of mice treated with sodium selenate and selenosemicarbazide were found to be higher than in controls (18.7 micrograms lg-1 and 23.2 micrograms lg-1 vs. 12 micrograms lg-1, respectively). Analysis of blood cells count has shown a significant decrease in neutrophile levels in both groups treated with selenium. The influence of selenium compounds on phagocytosis and especially NBT test has been determined (3.8% of positive cells in the controls vs. 2.2% and 0.9% in the groups treated with sodium selenate and selenosemicarbazide, respectively). Our preliminary investigations suggest that selenosemicarbazides are biologically active compounds and can modify neutrophile functions.

Influence of some immune factors on the IL-6 and soluble IL-2 receptors in haemodialysed patients.

In respect to the immune deficiency state of long-term haemodialysed patients, both cytokines and their receptor disturbances have been taken into consideration. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effect of uraemic and haemodialysis factors on the interleukin-6 and interleukin-2 soluble receptor levels and the reactivity after influenza vaccination. We have found that IL-6 and IL-2 receptor levels were statistically significantly elevated (98.8 +/- 39 pg/ml and 1557 +/- 544 U/ml, respectively) in serum of haemodialysed patients. The fact that increased immune complexes statistically correlated with soluble IL-2 receptor levels (p < 0.01) was very interesting for us. In order to study the immunological response after vaccination, 10 patients have been investigated after influenza vaccination. Plasma samples were collected before, as well as 1 and 4 weeks after vaccine administration. Antibody titres measured by haemagglutinin inhibition showed decreased antibody levels in haemodialysed patients. We conclude that the interleukin disturbance and the elevated interleukin-2 receptor levels together with the presence of circulating immune complexes can influence in some way the immune response of haemodialysed patients.