Environmental Toxicology最新文献

The global rise in obesity is closely associated with the increasing prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic syndromes, posing significant health challenges. This study explored the ameliorative effects of Ophiocordyceps sinensis mycelia (TCM-NA01 formula: 1.4 mg adenosine and 55.2 mg polysaccharide/capsule) on hepatosteatosis development in a high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. TCM-NA01 supplementation significantly reduced (p < 0.05) body weight, adipose tissue, serum triglyceride (TG)/cholesterol (TC), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), liver TG/TC levels in HFD-fed mice. Increased (p < 0.05) fecal-lipid and bile-acid outputs were observed. Apparent reductions in lipid-droplet and steatosis scores (p < 0.05) in the HFD-fed mice supplemented with TCM-NA01. Furthermore, TCM-NA01 modulated lipid metabolism by decreasing fatty acid synthesis and promoting fatty acid β-oxidation. TCM-NA01 also enhanced liver antioxidant capacity and decreased proinflammatory cytokines (p < 0.05). These findings underscore the potential of O. sinensis mycelia as a nutraceutical agent for alleviating hepatosteatosis, liver oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation, offering a promising strategy for the management of obesity and NAFLD.

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is a carcinogenic contaminant widely present in the environment. Recently, increasing studies have paid attention to the developmental neurotoxicity of B[a]P in offspring in their early life stages; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms have not been clearly elucidated. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of prenatal B[a]P exposure on neurobehavior of pups during their brain growth spurt (BGS) period and also explore the potential underlying mechanisms. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were intraperitoneally exposed to 0, 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg-bw B[a]P for three consecutive days during embryonic days 17-19. The physiological development index of pups was observed, and a series of neurobehavioral tests assessing sensory and motor maturation were performed. The complexity of dendritic branches and the basal dendritic spine density of CA1 pyramidal neurons were examined using Golgi-Cox staining during PND 1-14. In addition, the mRNA and protein expression levels of hippocampal BDNF, SYP, Arc, PSD-95, DNMT1, and DNMT3a, and the level of 5-mC were detected using RT-qPCR, Western blotting, or immunohistochemical staining, respectively. We noted that prenatal B[a]P exposure induced body weight loss and neurobehavioral impairments in the early life stages. Furthermore, this study firstly revealed that maternal exposure to B[a]P impaired the dendritic arborization and complexity of pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus CA1 subfield in offspring during the early postnatal period, and the damage of B[a]P to basal dendritic spine density was also observed in a dose-dependent manner. Correspondingly, maternal exposure to B[a]P markedly reduced BDNF, Arc, SYP, and PSD-95 mRNA and protein levels in the offspring hippocampus. Meanwhile, the levels of hippocampal DNMT1, DNMT3a, and 5-mC significantly increased in the offspring prenatally exposed to B[a]P. In summary, this study firstly demonstrated that maternal B[a]P exposure induced neurobehavioral deficits by destroying the hippocampal synaptic ultrastructure, which was possibly associated with the downregulation of BDNF, Arc, SYP, and PSD95 in the hippocampus through increased DNMTs-mediated DNA methylation in offspring during the BGS period.

Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as novel environmental pollutant. Their ubiquity in natural environments and the global dissemination of plastic particles through food and drink have led to the oral ingestion of these particles by all kinds of living organism. In this investigation, male mice were subjected to exposure to 2 μm virgin PS-MPs for 6 weeks. To accomplish this, 36 adult male NMRI mice were gavaged with PS-MPs at concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/kg body weight. A control group was also accounted for, which received 0.1 mL of distilled water. The results show that the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) decreased, while the level of malondialdehyde increased in colon and liver. Additionally, findings showed that PS-MPs can disrupt the integrity of the intestinal barrier and inhibit the secretion of intestinal mucus in mice, disrupt mucin secretion, and cause changes in the tissue structure of the colon and liver. Further information regarding the toxicity of MPs in a terrestrial organism was obtained through this study, which assist in the evaluation of the potential health hazards that PS-MPs may pose to living organisms.