Comparison of the effect of Aminopielik D pesticide and its active components on human erythrocytes

Analysis of the binding interaction in uric acid - Human hemoglobin system by spectroscopic techniques

The binding interaction between human hemoglobin and uric acid has been studied for the first time, by UV-vis absorption and steady-state, synchronous and three-dimensional fluorescence techniques. Characteristic effects observed for human hemoglobin intrinsic fluorescence during interaction with uric acid at neutral pH point at the formation of stacking non-covalent and non-fluorescent complexes. All the calculated parameters, the binding, fluorescence quenching and bimolecular quenching rate constants, as well as Förster resonance energy transfer parameters confirm the existence of static quenching. The results of synchronous fluorescence measurements indicate that the fluorescence quenching of human hemoglobin originates both from Trp and Tyr residues and that the addition of uric acid could significantly hinder the physiological functions of human hemoglobin.

Effects of oral administration of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) on reproductive parameters in male Wistar rats

The 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is used worldwide in agriculture as a selective herbicide. It has been shown to produce a wide range of adverse effects on the health of both animals and humans from embryotoxicity and teratogenicity to neurotoxicity. In the present study, we have examined the effect of 2,4-D on male reproductive function of rats. Male Wistar rats received daily by force-feeding 100 or 200 mg of 2,4-D/kg body weight for 30 consecutive days. Rats exposed to 100 and 200 mg of 2,4-D/kg showed a significant decrease in body weights only after 24 days of treatment and in relative weights of testis, seminal vesicles and prostate at killing day, when compared with controls. Moreover, a decrease in testosterone and an increase in FSH and LH serum levels were detected in treated rats. Besides, exposure to this herbicide induced pronounced testicular histological alterations with enlarged intracellular spaces, tissue loosening and dramatic loss of gametes in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules. In addition, a decreased motility and a number of epididymal spermatozoa with an increased sperm abnormality rate were found in treated rats in comparison with control. With the highest dose, histological observations of seminal vesicles indicated a considerable decrease of secretions in the lumen, a thinness of the muscle layer surrounding the epithelium with branched mucosal crypts and reduced luminal space. In prostate, the heights of the cells decreased while acinar lumen were enlarged and they lost the typical invaginations. Our results suggest that a subacute treatment of 2,4-D promotes reproductive system toxicity.

The effect of alendronate sodium on human erythrocytes

Alendronate sodium is a medicine, which is commonly used in osteoporosis treatment. Nowadays, this substance is given to patients in tablets, but in future it is planned that it will be administrated into human organisms as intravenous infusions; therefore, significant interactions of this medicine with erythrocytes will be inevitable. It is the reason why we decided to investigate the interaction of alendronate sodium with human erythrocytes. The effect of this medicine on acetylcholinesterase activity, lipid and protein peroxidation, as well as cellular thiol content was examined. Moreover, the effect of alendronate sodium on alterations in erythrocytes morphology was assessed. Human erythrocytes were incubated with alendronate sodium in the concentrations ranging from 0.33 to 100 μM for 1 h and 24 h. No changes have been observed in the parameters examined after 1h of incubation of the erythrocytes with this medicine excluding the carbonyl groups level. Moreover, no alterations in the activity of acetylcholinesterase, the level of thiols as well as in morphology of the erythrocytes incubated with alendronate sodium for 24h have been observed. It was also proven that alendronate sodium increased the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) but only after 24h of incubation. We have not observed any severe changes in cells studied even at the highest dose of bisphosphonates examined, thus their usage should not be dangerous for the erythrocytes of people treated with these medicines.

Alterations in human red blood cell properties induced by 3-(dimethylamino)phenol (in vitro)

3-(Dimethylamino)phenol (3-DMAP) exists in the environment as a transformation product of ureic herbicides and may also be considered as a derivative of phenoxyherbicides. In this study, the activity of glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase, as well as the level of free radicals and changes in cell morphology were measured in human erythrocytes exposed (in vitro) to 3-(dimethylamino)phenol. Human erythrocytes were incubated for 1 h in 3-DMAP at concentrations of 10-500 microg per 1 ml erythrocytes of 5% haematocrit. The results show that 3-(dimethylamino)phenol increased the level of free radicals and changed the activity of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase and acetylcholinesterase. It also changed cell morphology. All these results corroborated the thesis that 3-DMAP induces oxidative stress in cells. 3-DMAP changed the properties of the cell membrane, caused strong oxidation of haemoglobin, inhibited the levels of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, which, in result, lead to generation of free radicals (ROS and semiquinones) that occurred in the exposed cells, predisposing them to oxidative damage.

Studies of the interaction between paraquat and bovine hemoglobin

The interaction between paraquat (PQ) and bovine hemoglobin (BHb) was investigated using fluorescence and UV/vis absorption spectroscopy. The reactivity of the heme centers with superoxide anions formed by PQ was judged on the basis of the decrease of the Soret band. The experimental results showed that the fluorescence quenching of BHb by PQ was a result of the formation of PQ-BHb complex; static quenching was confirmed to result in the fluorescence quenching. The binding site number n, apparent binding constant K(A) and corresponding thermodynamic parameters were measured at different temperatures. The process of binding PQ molecule on BHb was a spontaneous molecular interaction procedure in which entropy increased and Gibbs free energy decreased. Hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions played a major role in stabilizing the complex. The effect of PQ on the conformation of BHb was analyzed using synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy.