In Utero and Lactational Exposure to an Environmentally Relevant Mixture of Phthalates Alters Hypothalamic Gene Expression and Sexual Preference in Rats.

Several phthalates, mainly used as plasticizers, are known for their adverse effects on the male genital system. Previously, we demonstrated that an environmentally relevant mixture of six antiandrogenic phthalates (PMix), derived from a biomonitoring study in pregnant Brazilian women, was able to disrupt the reproductive development in male rats. Experimental groups (control, 0.

Reproductive toxicity following in utero and lactational exposure to a human-relevant phthalate mixture in rats.

This rodent (Wistar rats) study examined reproductive effects of in utero/lactational exposure to a mixture of 6 antiandrogenic phthalates (PMix): diisobutyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, diisopentyl phthalate, butylbenzyl phthalate, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, and diisononyl phthalate. The PMix was defined based on exposure data from pregnant women in Brazil. Experimental groups were established by extrapolating the estimated human dose to rats (0.

The Analgesic Dipyrone Affects Pregnancy Outcomes and Endocrine-Sensitive Endpoints in Female and Male Offspring Rats.

Dipyrone is an analgesic and antipyretic drug commonly used in many countries. Although generally not recommended during pregnancy, it is known that many women use dipyrone during the gestational period. In this study, we investigated the endocrine and reproductive effects of dipyrone in female and male offspring rats exposed in utero from gestational days 10-21.

MicroRNA-30 and 145 as Targets for the Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases: Therapeutic Feasibility and Challenges.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a group of non-communicable disorders of the heart and blood vessels. Although lifestyle changes as well as pharmacological treatments and surgical interventions are available in many countries, CVDs are still considered the number one cause of mortality worldwide. Hence, considering that most CVDs are caused by genetic and environmental imbalances, micro-RNAs (miRNAs or miRs) appear as a plausible therapeutic option for CVDs as they are able to regulate a wide number of genes due to multiple target sites in different genes.

Prenatal diclofenac exposure delays pubertal development and induces behavioral changes in rats.

Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug widely used by the general population and, although generally contraindicated during pregnancy, it is also used by some pregnant women. This study investigated endocrine, reproductive and behavioral effects of diclofenac in male and female offspring rats exposed in utero from gestational days 10-20. Pregnant rats were treated with diclofenac at doses of 0.

Effects of (Jacq.) Gaertn. leaf extract on general toxicity and pubertal development of rats.

(Jacq.) Gaertn. (Talinaceae), popularly known as "major gomes," is a Brazilian Cerrado plant used in traditional medicine and as a food source.

From general toxicology to DNA disruption: A safety assessment of Plinia cauliflora (Mart.) Kausel.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Plinia cauliflora (Mart.) Kausel (Myrtaceae) is popularly known as "jaboticaba" or "jaboticaba". The fruit is appreciated for both fresh consumption and the manufacture of jelly, juice, ice cream, fermented beverages, and liqueurs.

In Utero and Lactational Exposure to Diisopentyl Phthalate Induces Fetal Toxicity and Antiandrogenic Effects in Rats.

A previous study has demonstrated exposure of Brazilian pregnant women to diisopentyl phthalate (DiPeP), which reduces fetal rat testosterone production in a dose-responsive manner. In this study, we examined gene expression of steroidogenic proteins in rat fetal testes and investigated the effects of in utero and lactational DiPeP exposure on male rat reproductive development and function. For the prenatal experiment, we orally exposed pregnant Wistar rats to DiPeP or di-n-butyl phthalate (reference phthalate) at 0, 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg/day from gestation day 14-18 and the fetal testis was evaluated for transcript expression of Star, Cyp11a1, Cyp17a1, Cyp19a1, Insl3, Ar, Esr1, Esr2, and Gper1 by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR).

Effects of ovariectomy on the secretory apparatus in the right atrial cardiomyocytes of middle-aged mice.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of ovariectomy on the secretory apparatus of natriuretic peptides in right atrial cardiomyocytes.

Methods: Nine-month-old mice underwent bilateral ovariectomy or sham surgery. The blood exam of the ovariectomized mice showed results consistent with castrated females.

Effect of docosahexaenoic acid-rich fish oil supplementation on human leukocyte function.

Background: The effect of a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich fish oil (FO) supplementation on human leukocyte function was investigated.

Methods: Ten male volunteers were supplemented with 3g/day FO containing 26% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5, n-3) and 54% DHA (22:6, n-3) for 2 months.

Results: FO supplementation changed the fatty acid (FA) composition of leukocytes resulting in an increase of n-3/n-6 ratio from 0.

Effect of dietary fat on lymphocyte proliferation and metabolism.

The effect of diets enriched with fat containing different fatty acids on glucose and glutamine metabolism of mesenteric lymph nodes lymphocytes, spleen, and thymus and lymphocyte proliferation was examined. The following fat-rich diets were tested: (1) standard chow (CC); (2) medium chain saturated fatty acids (MS)--coconut fat oil; (3) long chain saturated fatty acids (LS)--cocoa butter; (4) monounsaturated fatty acids (MU)--canola oil (n-9); (5) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PU)--soybean oil (n-6). Of the fat-rich diets tested, MS was the one to present the least pronounced effect.

Effect of indole acetic acid on oxygen metabolism in cultured rat neutrophil.

1. Indole acetic acid (IAA) stimulates O2.- and H2O2 production in cells with peroxidase activity, such as neutrophils.

Fish oil given by gavage increases lymphocyte proliferation and production of hydrogen peroxide by rat macrophages.

1. The effect of fish oil (FO) administration by gavage (0.4% body weight) on macrophage and lymphocyte function was investigated in young male rats.

Percentage of phagocytosis, production of O2.-, H2O2 and NO, and antioxidant enzyme activities of rat neutrophils in culture.

Changes in the integrity, ultrastructure, phagocytosis capacity, and production of H2O2, O2.- and NO2- were evaluated in cultured neutrophils. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes (catalase-CAT, superoxide dismutase-SOD and glutathione-dependent peroxidase-GSH-Px) were measured under similar conditions.

Glutamine utilization by rat neutrophils: presence of phosphate-dependent glutaminase.

The capacity of rat neutrophils to utilize glutamine was investigated by 1) determination of oxygen consumption in the presence of glucose or glutamine, 2) measurement of maximal activity of phosphate-dependent glutaminase, 3) Northern blot, Western blot, and immunocytochemical detection of glutaminase, and 4) measurement of glutamine utilization and also production of ammonia, glutamate, aspartate, alanine, and lactate and decarboxylation of [U-14C]glutamine in cells incubated for 1 h. The rate of respiration by isolated neutrophils in the absence of added substrate was 5.0 nmol x min(-1) x 10(7) cells(-1).

Peroxidase activity may play a role in the cytotoxic effect of indole acetic acid.

Peroxidase activity in neutrophils is higher than in thioglycollate macrophages, while in lymphocytes this enzyme activity is very low. Indole-3-acetic acid is oxidized by peroxidase and the role of this enzyme in the cytotoxic effect of the compound was evaluated by measuring oxygen consumption, light emission and cell death in neutrophils, macrophages and lymphocytes. The increase in light emission, oxygen consumption and rate of cell death in cells cultured in the presence of indole-3-acetic acid presented a direct correlation with the peroxidase activity of the cells as follows: neutrophils > thioglycollate macrophages > resident macrophages > lymphocytes.