Effect of selected insecticides on rat brain synaptosomal adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase

Modulation of Calmodulin and Protein Kinase C Activities by Pencillium Mycotoxins

Calmodulin (CaM), a calcium-binding protein, is found in high concentrations in mammalian brain where it plays a pivotal role in a large number of cellular functions. Protein kinase C (PKC), a multifunctional cytosolic enzyme, in the presence of both Ca2+ and phospholipids, transduce extracellular signals into intracellu-lar events. Both CaM and PKC are partially involved in maintaining Ca2+ homeostasis in the cell. Any fluctuations in the intracel-lular Ca2+ can modulate cellular functions and may contribute to neuronal dysfunction. Hence, the present investigation was initiated to study the effects of some selected penicillium (naturally occurring tremorgenic) mycotoxins like secalonic acid, citreoviridin, and verruculogen on CaM activity, active conformation of CaM and PKC activity. Stimulation of CaM-deflcient bovine brain 3′-5′ phosphodieste rase (PDE) indicated CaM activity. The modification of CaM active conformation was studied by the binding of fluorescent probe N-phenyl-1-napthylamine (NPN) to CaM. Alterations in the fluorescence of dansyl-CaM was used to study the effect of these compounds on complex formation between CaM and PDE. Rat brain cytosolic PKC was studied using 32P-ATP as a measure of altered protein phosphorylation. The concentrations of mycotoxins used were in the range of 10 to 50 μM. All three mycotoxins inhibited CaM-stimulated PDE activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Citreoviridin and secalonic acid inhibited NPN fluorescence and Ca2+-dependent complex formation of dansyl-CaM and PDE. The IC50 values for NPN fluorescence of citreoviridin and secalonic acid were 13 μM and 19 μM respectively. However, verruculogen showed little effect on NPN fluorescence and the Ca2+-dependent complex formation of dansyl-CaM and PDE. These mycotoxins also inhibited PKC activity in a concentration-dependent manner with IC50 values of 19.8, 25.7, and 38.4 μM for secalonic acid, citreoviridin, and verruculogen, respectively. The results of our study suggest that these mycotoxins at very low concentrations are interacting with CaM and PKC. Such an effect could lead to impairment of neurotransmission and result in neurotoxicity.

ATSDR evaluation of health effects of chemicals. II. Mirex and chlordecone: health effects, toxicokinetics, human exposure, and environmental fate

This document provides public health officials, physicians, toxicologists, and other interested individuals and groups with an overall perspective of the toxicology of mirex and chlordecone. It contains descriptions and evaluations of toxicological studies and epidemiological investigations and provides conclusions, where possible, on the relevance of toxicity and toxicokinetic data to public health. Additional substances will be profiled in a series of manuscripts to follow.

In vitro effects of organophosphorus compounds on calmodulin activity

In vitro effects of organophosphorus compounds (OP), such as malathion (M), methyl parathion (MP) and ethyl parathion (EP), on calmodulin (CaM) activity and its active conformation were studied to understand the mechanism(s) of neurotoxicity, since CaM is known to regulate Ca2+ transport and the enzymes involved in signal transduction and nucleotide metabolism. The biological activity of CaM was assessed as a measure of phosphodiesterase (PDE) stimulation. The effect of OP compounds on the active conformation of CaM was determined by studying the binding of fluorescence probes, namely N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine (NPN), and changes in dansyl-calmodulin fluorescence. Dansylated calmodulin was also used to study the effect of OP compounds on complex formation between CaM and PDE. All three OP compounds inhibited the CaM activity and its active conformation in a concentration-dependent manner. Malathion was less effective in comparison to EP and MP, with IC50 values of 37 microM, 34.5 microM and 32 microM, respectively, for CaM activity. EP and MP significantly altered NPN and dansyl-calmodulin fluorescence (50 microM concentrations of OP compounds), whereas M did not show any significant effect on NPN fluorescence. All these compounds significantly affected complex formation between the dansylated CaM and PDE. These results suggest that OP compounds may be interacting with CaM, altering its active conformation, and thus may be inhibiting its biological activity.

Triorganotin inhibition of rat cardiac adenosine triphosphatases and catecholamine binding

Triorganotins have been reported to affect heme metabolism as well as the cardiovascular system. Our recent studies indicated that these organotins inhibit cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-transport and cAMP-stimulated phosphorylation of specific proteins involved in Ca2+ transport, suggesting their interference with cardiac adrenergic function. The present study determines the effect of three organotins--tributyltin bromide (TBT), triethyltin bromide (TET) and trimethyltin chloride (TMT)--on rat cardiac ATPases and catecholamine binding, since these phenomena are involved in cardiac function. Cardiac membrane fraction was prepared from heart ventricles of male Sprague-Dawley rats. All three organotins inhibited cardiac Na+,K(+)-ATPase, [3H]ouabain binding, K(+)-activated p-nitrophenyl phosphatase (K(+)-PNPPase) and oligomycin-sensitive (OS) and oligomycin-insensitive (OI) Mg(2+)-ATPase in a concentration-dependent manner. K(+)-PNPPase was less sensitive to these triorganotins when compared to Na+K(+)-ATPase, suggesting that triorganotins affect the Na(+)-pump activity by acting on the Na(+)-dependent phosphorylation process. OS Mg(2+)-ATPase was more sensitive to these organotins when compared to OI Mg(2+)-ATPase, confirming their potent effect on the enzymes of oxidative phosphorylation. The order of potency is TBT greater than TET greater than TMT. TET and TMT, but not TBT, inhibited [3H]norepinephrine and [3H]dopamine binding to cardiac membranes in a concentration-dependent manner, the effect being more with TET. These results suggest that triorganotins inhibit sodium pump activity as well as ATP synthesis. Since Na+,K(+)-ATPase is involved in the active transport of catecholamines, triorganotins not only inhibited the catecholamine transport but also to some extent affected catecholamine binding, thus interfering with cardiac function.

Inhibition of Ca2+ transport associated with cAMP-dependent protein phosphorylation in rat cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum by triorganotins

Organotin compounds have been shown to interfere with cardiovascular system. We have studied the in vitro and in vivo effects of tributyltin bromide (TBT), triethyltin bromide (TET) and trimethyltin chloride (TMT) on the cardiac SR Ca2+ pump, as well as on protein phosphorylation of SR proteins, in order to understand the relative potency of these tin compounds. All the three tin compounds inhibited cardiac SR 45Ca uptake and Ca(2+)-ATPase in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner. The order of potency for Ca(2+)-ATPase as determined by IC50, is TBT (2 microM) greater than TET (63 microM) greater than TMT (280 microM). For 45Ca uptake, it followed the same order i.e., TBT (0.35 microM) greater than TET (10 microM) greater than TMT (440 microM). In agreement with the in vitro results, both SR Ca(2+)-ATPase and 45Ca uptake were significantly inhibited in rats treated with these tin compounds, indicating that these tin compounds inhibit cardiac SR Ca2+ transport. cAMP significantly elevated (70-80%) the 32P-binding to SR proteins in vitro in the absence of any organotin. In the presence of organotins, cAMP-stimulated 32P-binding to proteins was significantly reduced, but the decrease was concentration dependent only at lower concentrations. The order of potency is TBT greater than TET greater than TMT. In agreement with in vitro studies, cAMP-dependent 32P bound to proteins was significantly reduced in rats treated with TBT, TET and TMT. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the cardiac SR revealed at least 30 Coomassie blue stainable bands ranging from 9 to 120 kDa.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of chlordecone (Kepone) on calcium transport mechanisms in rat heart sarcoplasmic reticulum

Previous studies from our laboratory have indicated that chlordecone (Kepone CD), an organochlorine insecticide, inhibited cardiac sodium pump activity and catecholamine uptake suggesting that CD may interfere with cardiac function. Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium pump has an important role in myocardial contraction and relaxation, besides Na+ transport. Since CD interferes with cardiac Na+ ion translocases, we have studied CD effects on cardiac SR calcium pump activity. Experiments were carried out both in vitro and in vivo. SR was isolated from heart ventricles of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Cardiac SR Ca2(+)-ATPase. 45Ca-uptake and cAMP as well as calmodulin (CaM) dependent protein phosphorylation were measured. Ca2(+)-ATPase was differentiated into low affinity and high affinity forms by measuring the activity using 50 and 0.7 microM free Ca2(+)-respectively. CD in vitro inhibited 45Ca-uptake by SR in a concentration dependent manner with an IC50 value of 7 microM and SR 45Ca-uptake was totally inhibited at 20-30 microM CD. In agreement with this, both high affinity and low affinity Ca2(+)-ATPases, which are involved in Ca2+ transport across membranes, were also inhibited by CD in a concentration dependent manner with IC50 values of 0.7 and 3.2 microM respectively. Both Ca2(+)-ATPase and 45Ca-uptake by cardiac SR were significantly lower in rats treated with CD (25, 50 or 75 mg/kg) when compared to control rats. cAMP as well as CaM significantly elevated the 32P-binding to SR proteins in vitro to about 70-80%. In the presence of CD, this 32P-binding was reduced, however, not concentration dependent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Chlordecone interaction of calmodulin binding with phosphodiesterase

The effects of organochlorine (O.C.) compounds, such as aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, isodrin, chlordecone and mirex, on calmodulin (CaM) activity were investigated. Changes induced by O.C. compounds on biological and physical properties of CaM were monitored in terms of phosphodiesterase stimulation and tyrosine fluorescence, respectively. None of the O.C. compounds altered tyrosine fluorescence of CaM in the presence of Ca2+. Except for chlordecone, none of the O.C. compounds inhibited CaM-activated phosphodiesterase (PDE). Chlordecone significantly decreased (P less than 0.05) CaM-activated PDE in a concentration-dependent manner without affecting the basal enzyme. Combination of chlordecone with W-7 (CaM antagonist) increased the inhibitory effect of W-7 on CaM activity. These results suggest that O.C. compounds may not be changing the tyrosine fluorescence of CaM. Among the O.C. compounds tested, chlordecone is a specific inhibitor of CaM-activated PDE.