An ultrastructural, morphometric and autoradiographic study of the effects of 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene on the rat adrenal cortex

Mechanisms of adrenal damage induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz (alpha) anthrancene in female Sprague--Dawley rats

The mechanisms of adrenal damage induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz (alpha) anthrancene (DMBA) in 50-day-old female Sprague--Dawley rats were investigated. A single dose of DMBA, either fed (30 mg) per os or injected (6 mg) in a caudal vein, caused inner cortical cell death (cells of the zonae fasciculata and reticularis) by an apoptotic mechanism. Apoptotic cells were identified by cell morphology, and terminal dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells were seen at 12 hrs post-DMBA, reached a maximum at 36 h, and were accompanied by blood congestion followed by massive hemorrhage leading to post-apoptotic necrosis at 48 and 72 h. The apoptotic cascade involved the up-regulation of Bax, the down-regulation of Bcl-2, and the activation of caspase-3. At 72 h, regeneration as evidenced by the appearance of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine-positive cells began to occur in the damaged inner cortical zones, with the cells proliferating toward the medulla thereafter. Regenerative cells expressed cytochrome P450 11 beta hydroxylase. The damage was repaired but calcification appeared at 2 weeks post-DMBA, leaving bow-shaped lesions in some adrenals.

Effect of 7-hydroxymethyl-12-methylbenz[a]anthracene and 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea on enzyme activities and oxidation of glutathione in cultured rat adrenal cells

1. The activities of enzymes participating in the regeneration of reduced glutathione (GSH), and their subcellular distribution were studied in cultured rat adrenal cells. 2. It has previously been shown that the adrenocorticolytic agent 7-hydroxymethyl-12-methylbenz[a]anthracene (7-hydroxymethyl-12-MBA) causes a drastic and selective oxidation of mitochondrial GSH in rat adrenal cells. Treatment of the adrenal cells with 7-hydroxymethyl-12-MBA, resulted in a minor decrease in the content of cytochrome c oxidase, nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase and cytosolic GSH reductase, whereas the activity of lactate dehydrogenase and citrate synthase was unaffected. None of these effects were considered to be responsible for the massive oxidation of mitochondrial GSH induced by 7-hydroxymethyl-12-MBA. 3. 1,3-Bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) was used to obtain rat adrenal cells cultures with inactivated cytosolic and mitochondrial GSH reductase. The oxidation of mitochondrial GSH, induced by 7-hydroxymethyl-12-MBA, was not dramatically enhanced by the inactivation of GSH reductase, indicating that this enzyme was not rate-limiting in the regeneration of GSH. 4. Fractionation of rat adrenal cells with increasing concentrations of digitonin resulted in an earlier release of citrate synthase in cells treated with 7-hydroxymethyl-12-MBA compared with controls. These results may indicate damage to mitochondrial membranes as a result of 7-hydroxymethyl-12-MBA treatment.

Normal versus abnormal structure: considerations in morphologic responses of teleosts to pollutants

Consideration of newer more quantitative morphologic approaches to the study of aquatic pollutants can provide opportunity for collaborative/integrated studies with other subdisciplines in toxicology. Current commonly employed morphologic approaches result largely in subjective findings difficult to analyze statistically and often are directed at levels of structural organization inconsistent with biochemical and physiological approaches. We review some of the methods and approaches available for correlated structure/function studies and present examples from normal and altered skin, gill, and liver of teleosts.

Determination of the numerical density of spherical and ellipsoidal particles in the zona glomerulosa, based on distribution measurements. II. Application of the methods

Stereologic investigations of the adrenal zona glomerulosa of rats were carried out in control, potassium loaded and heparin treated animals. The nuclei of the cells were considered as spheres, and the mitochondria as prolate (= elongated) ellipsoids of revolution. Size and shape distribution, numerical densities and mean volumes of particles were calculated. Control measurements were performed in order to test the acceptability of estimation errors. These stereologic methods proved to be suitable in experimental studies.