Pharmacokinetic evidence for the occurrence of extrahepatic conjugative metabolism of p-nitrophenol in rats

Association of Prenatal Exposure to Organophosphate, Pyrethroid, and Neonicotinoid Insecticides with Child Neurodevelopment at 2 Years of Age: A Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Widespread insecticide exposure might be a risk factor for neurodevelopment of our children, but few studies examined the mixture effect of maternal coexposure to organophosphate insecticides (OPPs), pyrethroids (PYRs), and neonicotinoid insecticides (NNIs) during pregnancy on child neurodevelopment, and critical windows of exposure are unknown.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to evaluate the association of prenatal exposure to multiple insecticides with children's neurodevelopment and to identify critical windows of the exposure.

METHODS

Pregnant women were recruited into a prospective birth cohort study in Wuhan, China, from 2014-2017. Eight metabolites of OPPs (mOPPs), three metabolites of PYRs (mPYRs), and nine metabolites of NNIs (mNNIs) were measured in 3,123 urine samples collected at their first, second, and third trimesters. Children's neurodevelopment [mental development index (MDI) and psychomotor development index (PDI)] was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development at 2 years of age (N = 1,041 ). Multivariate linear regression models, generalized estimating equation models, and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression were used to estimate the association between the insecticide metabolites and Bayley scores. Potential sex-specific associations were also examined.

RESULTS

Single chemical analysis suggested higher urinary concentrations of some insecticide metabolites at the first trimester were significantly associated with lower MDI and PDI scores, and the associations were more prominent among boys. Each 1-unit increase in ln-transformed urinary concentrations of two mOPPs, 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol and 4-nitrophenol, was associated with a decrease of 3.16 points [95% confidence interval (CI): - 5.59 , - 0.74 ] and 3.06 points (95% CI: - 5.45 , - 0.68 ) respectively in boys' MDI scores. Each 1-unit increase in that of trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid (trans-DCCA; an mPYR) was significantly associated with a decrease of 2.24 points (95% CI: - 3.89 , - 0.58 ) in boys' MDI scores and 1.90 points (95% CI: - 3.16 , - 0.64 ) in boys' PDI scores, respectively. Significantly positive associations of maternal urinary biomarker concentrations [e.g., dimethyl phosphate (a nonspecific mOPP) and desmethyl-clothianidin (a relatively specific mNNI)] with child neurodevelopment were also observed. Using repeated holdout validation, a 1-quartile increase in the WQS index of the insecticide mixture (in the negative direction) at the first trimester was significantly associated with a decrease of 3.02 points (95% CI: - 5.47 , - 0.57 ) in MDI scores among the boys, and trans-DCCA contributed the most to the association (18%).

CONCLUSIONS

Prenatal exposure to higher levels of certain insecticides and their mixture were associated with lower Bayley scores in children, particularly in boys. Early pregnancy may be a sensitive window for such an effect. Future studies are needed to confirm our findings. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12097.

Long-term exposure to p-Nitrophenol induces hepatotoxicity via accelerating apoptosis and glycogen accumulation in male Japanese quails

p-Nitrophenol (PNP) is the main end product of organophosphorus insecticides and a derivative of diesel exhaust particles. In addition to its unfavorable impact on reproductive functions in both genders, it also has various harmful physiological effects including lung cancer and allergic rhinitis. The identification of the cellular readout that functions in metabolic pathway perpetuation is still far from clear. This research aimed to study the impact of chronic PNP exposure on the health condition of the liver in Japanese quails. Quails were exposed to different concentrations of PNP as follows: 0.0 (control), 0.01mg (PNP/0.01), 0.1mg (PNP/0.1), and 1mg (PNP/1) per kg of body weight for 2.5 months through oral administration. Liver and plasma samples were collected at 1.5, 2, and 2.5 months post-treatment for biochemical, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry assessment. The plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level was assessed enzymatically. The livers were collected for histopathology, glycogen accumulation, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and apoptosis assessment. Our results revealed an irregularity in body weight due to the long-term exposure of PNP with a significant reduction in liver weight. PNP treatment caused histopathological alterations in the hepatic tissues which increased in severity by the long-term exposure. The low dose led to mild degeneration with lymphocytic infiltration, while the moderate dose has a congestion effect with some necrosis; meanwhile severe hepatocyte degeneration and RBCs hemolysis were noticed due to high dose of PNP. Glycogen accumulation increased in hepatocytes by prolonged exposure to p-Nitrophenol with the highest intensity in the group treated by the high dose. Moderate and high doses of PNP resulted in a significant increase in apoptosis and hepatocytes' proliferation at the different time points after treatment. This increase is markedly notable and maximized at 2.5 months post-treatment. The damage occurred in a time-dependent manner. These changes reflected on the plasma hepatic enzyme AST that was clearly increased at 2.5 months of exposure. Therefore, it could be concluded that PNP has profound toxic effects on the liver in cellular level. Taking into consideration the time and dose factors, both have a synergistic effect on the accumulation of glycogen, apoptosis, and cellular proliferation, highlighting the power of cellular investigation which will potentially open the door for earlier medical intervention to counteract this toxicity. Collectively, PNP could have critical hurtful effects on the health of human beings, wild animals as well as livestock.

Suppressive effects of long-term exposure to P-nitrophenol on gonadal development, hormonal profile with disruption of tissue integrity, and activation of caspase-3 in male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

P-Nitrophenol (PNP) is considered to be one of nitrophenol derivatives of diesel exhaust particles. PNP is a major metabolite of some organophosphorus compounds. PNP is a persistent organic pollutant as well as one of endocrine-disrupting compounds. Consequently, bioaccumulation of PNP potentiates toxicity. The objectives of the current study were to assess in vivo adverse effects of long-term low doses of PNP exposure on reproductive system during development stage. Twenty-eight-day-old male Japanese quails were orally administered different doses of PNP (0, 0.01, 0.1, 1 mg/kg body weight) daily for 2.5 months. Testicular histopathology, hormones, caspase-3 (CASP3), and claudin-1 (CLDN1) tight junction protein, as well as plasma hormones were analyzed. The results revealed that long-term PNP exposure caused testicular histopathological changes such as vacuolation of spermatogenic cell and spermatocyte with significant testicular and cloacal gland atrophy. PNP activated CASP3 enzyme that is an apoptosis-related cysteine peptidase. Besides, it disrupted the expression of CLDN1. Furthermore, a substantial decrease in plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone was observed after 2 and 2.5 months in the PNP-treated groups. Meanwhile, the pituitary LH did not significantly change. Site of action of PNP may be peripheral on testicular development and/or centrally on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis through reduction of pulsatile secretion of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone. Consequently, it may reduce the sensitivity of the anterior pituitary gland to secrete LH. In conclusion, PNP induced profound endocrine disruption in the form of hormonal imbalance, induction of CASP3, and disruption of CLDN1 expression in the testis. Hence, it may hinder the reproductive processes.

A simple and rapid ion-pair HPLC method for simultaneous quantitation of 4-nitrophenol and its glucuronide and sulfate conjugates

Because of its simple and well characterized metabolic profile, 4-nitrophenol is widely used as a model substrate to investigate the influence of drug therapy, disease, nutrient deficiencies and other physiologically altered conditions on conjugative drug metabolism in animal studies. For simultaneous determination of 4-nitrophenol (PNP), 4-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucuronide (PNP-G) and 4-nitrophenyl-sulfate (PNP-S) in samples generated in rat small intestine luminal perfusion experiments, an ion-pair HPLC assay coupled with UV detection was set up. The RP-HPLC separation was achieved with a methanol-water mixture (50:50, v/v) containing 0.01 M tetrabutyl-ammonium-bromide with UV detection of the analytes at 290 nm. The isocratic system was operated at ambient temperature and required less than 7 min of chromatographic time. The method provided good enough within-day precision, between-day precision and linearity in the target concentration ranges of 6-1200 microM (PNP) and 2.5-100 microM (PNP-G and PNP-S). The instrumental limit of quantification for PNP-G and PNP-S was found to be 2.7 microM and 2.1 microM, respectively. The assay was applied for determination of PNP, PNP-G and PNP-S in rat small intestine perfusates.

Endotoxin impairs biliary transport of sparfloxacin and its glucuronide in rats

The effect of endotoxin on glucuronidation and hepatobiliary transport of quinolone antimicrobial agents was investigated in rats using sparfloxacin and p-nitrophenyl glucuronide as model drugs. The biliary clearance experiments were performed 24 h after a single intraperitoneal injection of endotoxin (1 mg/kg). Endotoxin significantly delayed the disappearance of sparfloxacin from plasma and increased plasma concentration of its glucuronide after intravenous injection of sparfloxacin (10 mg/kg). Significant decreases in the systemic clearance of sparfloxacin and the biliary clearance of sparfloxacin and the glucuronide were observed. Endotoxin had no effect on in vitro glucuronidation activity using p-nitrophenol as a substrate. When p-nitrophenyl glucuronide (8 mg/kg) was administered in endotoxin-pretreated rats, significant decreases in the systemic clearance, biliary clearance and renal clearance of p-nitrophenyl glucuronide were observed. These findings suggest that endotoxin decreases the biliary excretion of sparfloxacin and its glucuronide probably due to impairment of their hepatobiliary transport systems and renal handling.

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of p-nitrophenol and its conjugates in biological samples

p-Nitrophenol (pNP) and its conjugated metabolites, generated in a perfused rat liver preparation, are readily separated and quantitated in serum perfusate and bile samples using a reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method. Serum perfusate samples can be analyzed following protein precipitation with acetonitrile: following protein precipitation with 1.5 M perchloric acid (1 part to 2 parts serum) there was degradation of pNP sulfate to pNP when samples were stored at room temperature. pNP can also be analyzed in blood perfusate samples following extraction with a number of organic solvents including ethyl acetate or isobutanol-methylene chloride (4:1, v/v). Rat liver perfusions at a constant input concentration of 40 microM demonstrated a high hepatic extraction ratio of pNP (mean of 0.90) due to the formation of the sulfate and glucuronide conjugates; no pNP glucoside was detected in perfusate or bile samples.

Metabolism of drugs and other xenobiotics in the gut lumen and wall

Metabolism in the gut lumen and wall can decrease the bioavailability and the pharmacological effects of a wide variety of drugs. Bacterial flora in the gut, the environmental pH and oxidative or conjugative enzymes present in the intestinal epithelial cells can all contribute to the process. Bacterial biotransformation is greatest in the colon, while gut wall metabolism is generally highest in the jejunum and decreases distally. Gut wall metabolism may be induced or inhibited by dietary or environmental xenobiotics or by co-administered drugs. Recent evidence suggests that some drugs, food-derived mutagens and other xenobiotics can be metabolized by gut flora and/or gut wall enzymes to reactive species which may cause tumors.

Gastrointestinal, liver, and lung extraction ratio of acetaminophen in the rat after high dose administration

The pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen was examined in rats after administration of a single dose of 200 mg kg-1 by the intra-arterial, intravenous, portal vein, and oral routes. Levels of acetaminophen and its two major metabolites, acetaminophen-glucuronide and acetaminophen-sulfate, were quantitated in plasma at various time points for about 5 h after drug administration. The relative contribution of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and lung to the oral extraction ratio (first-pass effect after oral absorption) was determined. A mean oral extraction ratio of 0.49 was obtained. The mean relative extraction ratio of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and lung were 0.52, 0.07, and 0, respectively, indicating a major contribution due to the gastrointestinal tract. This is in contrast to earlier studies which have indicated negligible contribution by the gastrointestinal tract to the oral first-pass effect when lower doses were utilized. These results suggest that the relative contribution of the gastrointestinal tract and liver to the oral first-pass effect of acetaminophen may be dose-dependent.

Kinetic analysis of in vivo receptor-dependent binding of human epidermal growth factor by rat tissues

Kinetic analysis of the tissue distribution of human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) in rats was performed in vivo. The plasma disappearance half-life of [125I]hEGF was prolonged by coadministration of unlabeled hEGF, indicating saturation of the mechanism for hEGF removal from the systemic circulation. To analyze the contribution of each tissue to the uptake of hEGF, the amount of [125I]hEGF taken up by each tissue was determined after coadministration of various amounts of unlabeled hEGF. Kinetic analysis of the data yielded the following results. (1) Among the tissues examined, the distribution of [125I]hEGF to the liver, kidney, small intestine, stomach, and spleen was much greater than that accounted for by the distribution to the extracellular space of each tissue. (2) The binding (or uptake) of hEGF by these tissues showed remarkable saturation, which may represent the receptor-dependent binding (or uptake) mechanism. (3) The apparent binding (or uptake) clearance per gram of tissue at the low dose (in the range of first-order kinetics), defined with regard to the arterial plasma concentration, was greatest in the kidney, followed by the liver and small intestine. The larger binding (or uptake) clearance of the kidney compared with that of the liver can be attributed to the higher plasma flow rate (per gram of tissue) in the kidney. However, the intrinsic ability to take up hEGF was much greater in the liver than that in the kidney. The hepatic binding (or uptake) of hEGF at the low dose was almost limited by the hepatic plasma flow rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The activity of 1-naphthol-UDP-glucuronosyltransferase in the brain

Cerebral microsomes catalysed efficiently the glucuronidation of 1-naphthol, this formation of glucuronide being activated by treatment with Triton X-100 or digitonin. Activated microsomes from the brain of the rat conjugated 1-naphthol with an apparent Km of 95 microM and a Vmax of 5.47 nmol/hr mg protein at 30 degrees C. Microsomal uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glucuronosyltransferase activity in brain towards 1-naphthol was not significantly induced by pretreatment of animals with 3-methylcholanthrene or phenobarbital. These data suggest that UDP-glucuronosyltransferases in brain are different from the hepatic enzymes with regard to biochemical parameters and in response to inducers of drug metabolism. The hepatic UDP-glucuronosyltransferase deficiency in Gunn rats was also observed in the brain.

Time-dependent variations in the organ extraction ratios of acetaminophen in rat

The pharmacokinetics of a single 40 mg/kg dose of acetaminophen was investigated at 09h00 and 21h00 in Sprague-Dawley rats synchronized to a 12-h light-dark cycle. Acetaminophen was administered by the intraarterial, intravenous, intraperitoneal, and oral routes in order to determine the contribution of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and lung to the oral extraction ratio of the drug. A mean oral extraction ratio of 0.46 was obtained at 21h00 as compared to 0.39 at 09h00. The mean extraction ratios of the gastrointestine, liver, and lung were 0.05, 0.41, and 0 at 09h00 and 0.18, 0.24, and 0.13 at 21h00, respectively. These results indicate that the extrahepatic metabolism of acetaminophen is important at 21h00, but is barely detectable at 09h00, whereas the hepatic extraction ratio is higher at 09h00 than at 21h00. Thus, there are temporal variations in the disposition of acetaminophen in the rat.

Glucuronidation and sulfation in the rat in vivo. The role of the liver and the intestine in the in vivo clearance of 4-methylumbelliferone

The role of the liver in the conjugation of 4-methylumbelliferone (4MU), mainly glucuronidation, was investigated in the rat in vivo. The liver extracted 4MU almost completely (97%) during steady-state infusion, as measured by the difference between 4MU concentration in portal and hepatic venous blood. Previously, it was shown that the intestinal region extracts 40% of the 4MU of the incoming arterial blood. The liver and the gastrointestinal region are so efficient that their conjugation activity can account for total body clearance of 4MU (50-60 ml/min per kg). These results and other evidence on extrahepatic conjugation of phenolic substrates suggest that glucuronidation may be limited to the liver, (the kidney) and the gastrointestinal region, while sulfation may occur more widespread throughout the body. Protein binding studies showed the sulfate conjugate to be even more protein-bound than unconjugated 4MU, while 4MU glucuronide was much less bound to rat plasma proteins.

Extrahepatic sulfation and glucuronidation in the rat in vivo. Determination of the hepatic extraction ratio of harmol and the extrahepatic contribution to harmol conjugation

The phenolic compound, harmol, is metabolized by sulfation and glucuronidation in the rat in vivo. In the present study, various harmol infusion rates into the jugular vein were used to delineate first-order conditions whereby total body clearance was maximal and constant; at low infusion rates the steady state harmol concentration in blood varied proportionally with the infusion rate. At infusion rates of 167 nmole/min and below, the steady state clearance of harmol was 60 ml/min or 200 ml/min/kg. Because this value for total body clearance greatly exceeded the value for hepatic blood flow rate (20 ml/min for a 300 g rat), considerable extrahepatic conjugation of harmol was suggested. At higher harmol infusion rates the total clearance decreased. Since an intraportal infusion of 167 nmole/min to the rat yielded, during steady state, the same arterial harmol blood concentration as a 52 nmole/min jugular infusion, the hepatic extraction ratio of harmol in vivo was 0.7. Extrahepatic clearance, therefore, constituted about 77% of total body clearance (after taking the difference between total body clearance and hepatic clearance). Total sulfation clearance was 52 ml/min, and greatly exceed the value for hepatic clearance (14 ml/min). Extrahepatic clearance for sulfation (at least 38 ml/min) therefore accounted for a major proportion of the sulfation activity. Blood platelets did not seem to contribute to sulfation or glucuronidation in vivo.

Characteristics of renal UDP-glucuronyltransferase

Rat renal microsomes catalyzed the glucuronidation of l-naphthol, 4-methylumbelliferone and p-nitrophenol, whereas morphine and testosterone conjugation were not detected. In contrast, all five substrates were conjugated by hepatic microsomes; the activity was typically 5-10 times greater than with renal microsomes. Renal microsomal UDP-glucuronyltransferase toward l-naphthol was fully activated (six-fold) by 0.03% deoxycholate while the hepatic enzyme was fully activated (eight-fold) by 0.05% deoxycholate. Full activation of hepatic UDP-glucuronyltransferase occurred when microsomes had been preincubated at 0 C with deoxycholate for 20 min. This effect of preincubation was not observed with renal microsomes. The presence of 0.25M sucrose in the buffers during renal microsomal preparation resulted in a two-fold greater rate of l-naphthol conjugation in both unactivated and activated microsomes than renal microsomes prepared in phosphate buffers alone. Preparation of hepatic microsomes with or without 0.25M sucrose had no effect on UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity. Unactivated (-deoxycholate) renal enzyme was activated when incubations were done at a low pH (5.7), whereas fully activated (0.03% deoxycholate) renal microsomal UDP-glucuronyltransferase displayed a pH optimum at 6.5. Renal microsomal UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity toward l-naphthol, p-nitrophenol and 4-methylumbelliferone was induced by pretreatment of rats with beta-naphthoflavone and trans-stilbene oxide but not by phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene. These data demonstrate that renal UDP-glucuronyltransferases are different from the hepatic enzymes with regard to biochemical properties, substrate specificity and in response to chemical inducers of xenobiotic metabolism.

Determination of p-nitrophenol in serum and urine by enzymatic and non-enzymatic conjugate hydrolysis and HPLC. Application after parathion intoxication

In connection with the toxicologic analysis of a number of parathion intoxications a method for determination of free and conjugated forms of p-nitrophenol (p-NP) as the main metabolite of parathion in blood and urine was established. Quantification of conjugates is based on their hydrolysis followed by detection of p-NP using a sensitive HPLC method. Hydrolysis of both p-NP-glucuronide and p-NP-sulfate is performed by specific enzymes and also by mineral acid, the latter is also found to be highly selective under definite conditions. The two hydrolysis methods applied showed a good correlation. The levels of free and conjugated p-NP in series of blood and urine samples were established after survival from two parathion intoxications. The individual levels of p-NP-sulfate and p-NP-glucuronide in both cases are discussed in respect of results made by other authors in this field.

In vivo quantification of renal glucuronide and sulfate conjugation of 1-naphthol and p-nitrophenol in the rat

The simultaneous in vivo renal sulfate and glucuronide conjugations of 1-naphthol (1-N) and p-nitrophenol (PNP) were determined in the rat. In mammals, 1-N and PNP are excreted almost entirely in the urine, mainly as the glucuronide and sulfate conjugates. In male Sprague-Dawley rats, greater than 98% of the infused [14C]1-N (1.0 mumole X min-1 X kg-1) or [14C]PNP (2.0 mumoles X min-1 X kg-1) recovered in urine was identified as the sulfate and glucuronide conjugates. Renal metabolism accounted for a minimum of 20% of the endogenously formed conjugates of either substrate excreted in the urine. The rat kidney formed the glucuronide and sulfate conjugates of PNP at equal rates, whereas the glucuronide: sulfate conjugate ratio for renally formed 1-N conjugates was 3:1. When the conjugates of either 1-N or PNP were infused systemically, in vivo hydrolysis contributed significantly to the amount of circulating parent phenol.