Evaluation of oxidant-antioxidant status in oral toxicity of fish oil methyl esters and diesel fuel in male rats

Transformer mineral oil ingestion induces systemic sub-acute toxicity in Wistar rats

We investigated the potential toxicities associated with the sub-acute ingestion of transformer mineral oil (TMO) at a heated low dose (HLD-50 mg/kg), heated high dose (HHD-500 mg/kg) and unheated high dose (UHD-500 mg/kg) in Wistar rats. There were increases in red blood cells and haemoglobin levels in HHD females and UHD males respectively versus control. The serum total proteins, albumin, and creatinine of the HHD females showed a significant increase versus control. The HHD males and UHD groups showed significant increase in liver malondialdehyde versus control. The livers of HHD groups had bile duct proliferation while those of HLD females and UHD groups showed focal areas of periportal chronic inflammation. HHD groups had kidneys with mild chronic inflammation and the HHD and UHD groups showed small intestines with chronic inflammation. In conclusion, sub-acute oral administration of TMO induced various degrees of dermal, haematological, hepatic, renal and small-intestinal toxicities in rats.

Live-cell imaging approaches for the investigation of xenobiotic-induced oxidant stress

BACKGROUND

Oxidant stress is arguably a universal feature in toxicology. Research studies on the role of oxidant stress induced by xenobiotic exposures have typically relied on the identification of damaged biomolecules using a variety of conventional biochemical and molecular techniques. However, there is increasing evidence that low-level exposure to a variety of toxicants dysregulates cellular physiology by interfering with redox-dependent processes.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

The study of events involved in redox toxicology requires methodology capable of detecting transient modifications at relatively low signal strength. This article reviews the advantages of live-cell imaging for redox toxicology studies.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

Toxicological studies with xenobiotics of supra-physiological reactivity require careful consideration when using fluorogenic sensors in order to avoid potential artifacts and false negatives. Fortunately, experiments conducted for the purpose of validating the use of these sensors in toxicological applications often yield unexpected insights into the mechanisms through which xenobiotic exposure induces oxidant stress.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

Live-cell imaging using a new generation of small molecule and genetically encoded fluorophores with excellent sensitivity and specificity affords unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution that is optimal for redox toxicology studies. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Air Pollution, edited by Wenjun Ding, Andrew J. Ghio and Weidong Wu.