Environmental exposure to 17β-trenbolone during adolescence inhibits social interaction in male mice

Effects of fluorene-9-bisphenol exposure on anxiety-like and social behavior in mice and protective potential of exogenous melatonin

Fluorene-9-bisphenol (BHPF) is widely used in the manufacture of plastic products and potentially disrupts several physiological processes, but its biological effects on social behavior remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of BHPF exposure on anxiety-like and social behavior in female mice and the potential mechanisms, thereby proposing a potential therapy strategy. We exposed female Balb/c mice to BHPF by oral gavage at different doses (0.5, 50 mg/kg bw/2-day) for 28 days, which were found BHPF (50 mg/kg) exposure affected motor activity in the open field test (OFT) and elevated cross maze (EPM), resulting in anxiety-like behaviors, as well as abnormal social behavioral deficits in the Social Interaction Test (SIT). Analysis of histopathological staining results showed that BHPF exposure caused damage to hippocampal neurons in the CA1/CA3/DG region and decreased Nissl pyramidal neurons in the CA1/CA3 regions of the hippocampus, as well as a decrease in parvalbumin neuron expression. In addition, BHPF exposure upregulated the expression of excitatory and inhibitory (E/I) vesicle transporter genes (Vglut1, Vglut2, VGAT, GAD67, Gabra) and axon growth gene (Dcc) in the mouse hippocampus. Interestingly, behavioral disturbances and E/I balance could be alleviated by exogenous melatonin (15 mg/kg bw/2-day) therapy. Our findings suggest that exogenous melatonin may be a potential therapy with protective potential for ameliorating or preventing BHPF-induced hippocampal neuronal damage and behavioral disturbances. This study provided new insight into the neurotoxicological effects on organisms exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and aroused our vigilance in current environmental safety about chemical use.

Zinc-Based Metal-Organic Framework with MLCT Properties as an Efficient Electrochemiluminescence Probe for Trace Detection of Trenbolone

In this work, we utilized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) derivatives as ligands to develop a zinc-based metal-organic framework (Zn-MOF) as an effective detection probe to construct an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor for trenbolone detection. As traditional ECL emitters, PAHs and their derivatives have limited luminescence efficiency because of the aggregation-induced quenching (ACQ) effect. Therefore, Zn-PTC was designed by the coordination of 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic (PTC) in the MOF to eliminate the ACQ effect. Meanwhile, Zn-PTC formed based on an aromatic ligand possessed the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) effect, which could transfer the energy of Zn²⁺ to the aromatic ligand for strong luminescence. The ECL efficiency of Zn-PTC was calculated to be approximately 2.2 times that of the ligand (K₄PTC). Second, the Ag@Fe core-shell bimetallic nanocrystal was prepared for efficient activation of persulfate (S₂O₈^2-), thereby generating more sulfate radicals (SO₄^•-) to further promote ECL emission. According to ECL characterizations, UV-vis and fluorescence spectra, and density functional theory calculations, the luminescence and signal amplification mechanisms were investigated. In addition, NKFRGKYKC (NKF) was introduced as an affinity ligand to directionally immobilize the target antibodies, thus releasing specific sites in their Fab fragment to enhance binding activity. Based on the above strategies, the constructed biosensor exhibited high sensitivity, realizing trace detection of TBE with a wide detection range (10 fg/mL-100 ng/mL) and a low detection limit (3.28 fg/mL). This study provided an important reference for sensitive monitoring of steroid pollutants in the environment.

Rice Straw as Green Waste in a HTiO2@AC/SiO2 Nanocomposite Synthesized as an Adsorbent and Photocatalytic Material for Chlorpyrifos Removal from Aqueous Solution

A nano-HTiO2@activated carbon-amorphous silica nanocomposite catalyst (HTiO2@AC/SiO2) is utilized to photo breakdown catalytically and adsorb chlorpyrifos insecticide. SEM, TEM, and X-ray diffraction were used to examine HTiO2@AC/SiO2, synthesized through sol–gel synthesis. With an average size of 7–9 nm, the crystallized form of HTiO2 is the most common form found. At varied pH, catalyst doses, agitation speed, initial pesticide concentrations, contact periods, and temperatures, HTiO2@AC/SiO2 was examined for efficiency under visible light and in darkness. Because of the pseudo-second-order kinetics observed for chlorpyrifos, chemisorption is believed to dominate the adsorption process, as indicated by an estimated activation energy of 182.769 kJ/mol, which indicates that chemisorption dominates the adsorption process in this study. The maximal adsorption capacity of chlorpyrifos is 462.6 mg g−1, according to the Langmuir isotherms, which infer this value. When exposed to visible light, the adsorption capacity of HTiO2@AC/SiO2 increased somewhat as the temperature rose (283 k 323 k 373 k), indicating an exothermic change in Gibbs free energy during the process (−1.8 kJ/mol), enthalpy change (−6.02 kJ/mol), and entropy change (0.014 J/mol K), respectively, at 298.15 K. Negative (ΔS) describes a process with decreased unpredictability and suggests spontaneous adsorption. HTiO2@AC/SiO2 may be a promising material.

Removing the Oxamyl from Aqueous Solution by a Green Synthesized HTiO2@AC/SiO2 Nanocomposite: Combined Effects of Adsorption and Photocatalysis

The photocatalytic degradation and adsorption of the oxamyl pesticide utilizing a nano-HTiO2@activated carbon-amorphous silica nanocomposite catalyst (HTiO2@AC/SiO2). Sol-gel Synthesis was used to produce HTiO2@AC/SiO2, which was examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, and an X-ray diffractometer. The analyses confirmed that HTiO2 is mainly present in its crystalline form at a size of 7–9 nm. The efficiency of HTiO2@AC/SiO2 was assessed at various pHs, catalyst doses, agitating intensities, initial pesticide concentrations, contact times, and temperatures under visible light and in darkness. Oxamyl adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, suggesting that the adsorption process is dominated by chemisorption, as supported by a calculated activation energy of −182.769 kJ/mol. The oxamyl adsorption is compatible with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms, suggesting a maximum adsorption capacity of 312.76 mg g−1. The adsorption capacity increased slightly with increasing temperature (283 K < 323 K < 373 K), suggesting an exothermic process with the Gibbs free energy change ΔG, enthalpy change ΔH, and entropy change ΔS°, being –3.17 kJ/mol, −8.85 kJ/mol, and −0.019 J/mol K, respectively, at 310 K for HTiO2@AC/SiO2 under visible light. This indicates spontaneous adsorption, and negative (ΔS) explain a decreased randomness process. HTiO2@AC/SiO2 would be a promising material.