Embryoid Body Test: A Simple and Reliable Alternative Developmental Toxicity Test.

The increasing emphasis on animal welfare and ethics, as well as the considerable time and cost involved with animal testing, have prompted the replacement of many aspects of animal testing with alternative methods. In the area of developmental toxicity, the embryonic stem cell test (EST) has played a significant role. The EST evaluates toxicity using mouse embryonic stem cells and somatic cells and observes the changes in heartbeat after cardiac differentiation.

3-carene supresses inflammatory cytokine interleukin-4, interleukin-5 and interleukin-13 in a murine model of asthma.

Asthma is a common airway disease associated with allergic inflammation. Environmental factors, such as pollens, pollution, insect-borne antigens, or commercial chemicals, cause this disease. The common symptoms of this airway allergic reaction are increasing mucus, narrowing of the airway wall, coughing, and chest tightness.

Initial phase establishment of an in vitro method for developmental neurotoxicity test using Ki-67 in human neural progenitor cells.

Building a precise alternative neurotoxicological test is of great importance to respond to societal and ethical requirements. In this study, a new developmental neurotoxicity test (DNT) was established with the human neural progenitor cell line. ReNcell CX cells were exposed to neurotoxic chemicals (aphidicolin, hydroxyurea, cytosine arabinoside, 5-fluorouracil, and ochratoxin A) or non-neurotoxic chemicals (sodium gluconate, sodium bicarbonate, penicillin G, and saccharin).

Effects of Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane on Reproductive Systems in Female Rats.

The female reproductive system becomes fertile through the action of hormones involved in the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. On the other hand, estrogen-like endocrine disruptors released into the environment come into contact with humans by various routes and affect the reproductive system. Exposure to these chemicals can cause problems with the reproductive process, from egg ovulation to implantation, or cause female reproductive diseases.

Effects of Sodium Arsenite on the Myocardial Differentiation in Mouse Embryonic Bodies.

Arsenic in inorganic form is a known human carcinogen; even low levels of arsenic can interfere with the endocrine system. In mammalian development, arsenic exposure can cause a malformation of fetuses and be lethal. This study examined the effects of sodium arsenite (SA) as the inorganic form of arsenic in embryonic bodies (EBs) with three germ layers in the developmental stage.

Effects of Maternal Exposure to Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane on the Alternations in Offspring Behaviors in Mice.

D5, a member of the cyclic siloxane family, is widely used in personal care products such as shampoo, cosmetics, and deodorant and as an industrial intermediate. D5 can mainly be absorbed orally or through inhalation. Through these routes, people are exposed to D5 daily.

Cytotoxicity evaluation and mechanism of endocrine-disrupting chemicals by the embryoid body test.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are a structurally diverse class of synthetic and natural compounds. EDCs can cause non-communicable diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, thyroid disorders, neurodevelopmental disease, hormone-dependent cancers, and reproductive disorders. The embryoid body test (EBT) is a developmental toxicity test method that determines the size of embryoid bodies (EBs) and the viability of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and fibroblasts (3T3 cells).

Pre-validation of an alternative test method for prediction of developmental neurotoxicity.

Exposure to neurodevelopmental toxicants can cause permanent brain injury. Hance, determining the neurotoxicity of unknown substances is essential for the safety of substance. As an alternative method to animal studies, developmental neurotoxicity test (DNT) and the first discriminant function (DF) were established in previous study.

Amylin Protein Expression in the Rat Brain and Neuro-2a Cells.

The localization and expression of amylin protein in the rodent brain and mouse neuroblastoma Neuro-2a (N2a) are less widely known. Thus, this study investigated the expression distribution of amylin in the rat brain and N2a treated with steroid hormones. Amylin protein was identified in the olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex, dentate gyrus, thalamus, hypothalamus, ventral tegmental area (VTA), cerebellum, and brain stem in the rat brain.

Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Their Adverse Effects on the Endoplasmic Reticulum.

There is growing concern regarding the health and safety issues of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Long-term exposure to EDCs has serious adverse health effects through both hormone-direct and hormone-indirect ways. Accordingly, some EDCs can be a pathogen and an inducer to the susceptibility of disease, even if they have a very low affinity on the estrogen receptor, or no estrogenic effect.

Inhibitory effects and underlying mechanisms of essential oil on melanogenesis in the B16F10 cell line.

The present study investigated the anti‑melanogenic activity of 10 essential oils using the B16F10 cell model. Initially, a wide range of concentrations of these essential oils were screened in order to determine their toxicity levels. The assigned non‑toxic concentrations of the tested essential oils were then used to evaluate their effects on melanogenesis.

Prenatal Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane Exposure Impaired Proliferation of Neuronal Progenitor, Leading to Motor, Cognition, Social and Behavioral Functions.

Cyclic siloxane octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) has raised concerns as an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC). D4 is widely used in detergent products, cosmetics, and personal care products. Recently, robust toxicological data for D4 has been reported, but the adverse effects of D4 on brain development are unknown.

Effect of quercetin on formation of porcine neutrophil extracellular trap.

Neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation is an immune response to the invasion of external microorganisms. Quercetin, a member of the flavonoid family found in fruits and vegetables, has been examined in multiple biological contexts. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of quercetin on porcine NET formation.

Melatonin mitigates the adverse effect of hypoxia during myocardial differentiation in mouse embryonic stem cells.

Background: Hypoxia causes oxidative stress and affects cardiovascular function and the programming of cardiovascular disease. Melatonin promotes antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the correlation between melatonin and hypoxia induction in cardiomyocytes differentiation.

Combined Exposure to Diazinon and Nicotine Exerts a Synergistic Adverse Effect In Vitro and Disrupts Brain Development and Behaviors In Vivo.

A real-life environment during pregnancy involves multiple and simultaneous exposures to toxic chemicals. Perinatal exposures to toxic chemicals have been reported to exert an inhibitory effect on mouse neural development and behaviors. However, the effect of combined exposures of organophosphate and nicotine has not been previously reported.

Establishment of a developmental neurotoxicity test by Sox1-GFP mouse embryonic stem cells.

Developmental toxicity tests have been generated by applying the embryonic stem cell tests at the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods, or by using the embryoid body test in our laboratory. This study was undertaken to explore novel developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) assay, using a Sox1-GFP cell line (mouse embryonic stem cells with an endogenous Sox1-GFP reporter). The expression of Sox1, a marker for neuroepithelial cells, is detected by green fluorescence, and the fluorescence intensity is a critical factor for achieving neuronal differentiation.

Loss of Nckx3 Exacerbates Experimental DSS-Induced Colitis in Mice through p53/NF-κB Pathway.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) comprises a range of chronic inflammatory conditions of the intestinal tract. The incidence and prevalence of IBDs are increasing worldwide, but the precise etiology of these diseases is not completely understood. Calcium signaling plays a regulatory role in cellular proliferation.

Cigarette smoke extraxt influences intracellular calcium concentration in A549 cells.

Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for pulmonary diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cancer. Cigarette smoke is reported to contain over 4,000 chemical compounds. Therefore, it needs to study the effects of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) administration on intracellular calcium concentration.

4-tert-Octylphenol Exposure Disrupts Brain Development and Subsequent Motor, Cognition, Social, and Behavioral Functions.

The endocrine-disrupting chemical 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) is a widespread estrogenic chemical used in consumer products such as epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastic. However, the effects of OP on brain development are unknown. The present study examined the effects of OP on neuron and neurobehavioral development in mice.

Potassium-dependent sodium/calcium exchanger 3 (Nckx3) depletion leads to abnormal motor function and social behavior in mice.

Transcellular calcium transport is an essential activity in mineralized tissue formation, including that in nervous systems. Dysregulation of Ca homeostasis can induce excitotoxicity and neurodegeneration in the central nervous system. Nckx3, a potassium-dependent Na/Ca exchanger, is most abundant in the brain and has a critical role in the transport of intracellular calcium across the cell membrane.