Determination of metal uptake in single organisms, Corophium volutator, via complementary electrothermal vaporization/inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and laser ablation/inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Rationale: (Eco-)toxicological effects are mostly derived empirically and are not correlated with metal uptake. Furthermore, if the metal content is determined, mostly bulk analysis of the whole organism population is conducted; thus, biological variability is completely disregarded, and this may lead to misleading results. To overcome this issue, we compared two different solid sampling techniques for the analysis of single organisms.

Effects of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Ala270Ser (rs316019) on the Function and Regulation of hOCT2.

The human organic cation transporter 2 (hOCT2) is highly expressed in proximal tubules of the kidneys, where it plays an important role in the secretion of organic cations. Since many drugs are organic cations, hOCT2 has relevant pharmacological implications. The hOCT2 gene is polymorphic, and the nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) causing the substitution of alanine at position 270 of the protein sequence with serine (Ala270Ser) is present with high frequency in the human population.

An integrative approach to cisplatin chronic toxicities in mice reveals importance of organic cation-transporter-dependent protein networks for renoprotection.

Cisplatin (CDDP) is one of the most important chemotherapeutic drugs in modern oncology. However, its use is limited by severe toxicities, which impair life quality after cancer. Here, we investigated the role of organic cation transporters (OCT) in mediating toxicities associated with chronic (twice the week for 4 weeks) low-dose (4 mg/kg body weight) CDDP treatment (resembling therapeutic protocols in patients) of wild-type (WT) mice and mice with OCT genetic deletion (OCT1/2).

Interaction of the New Monofunctional Anticancer Agent Phenanthriplatin With Transporters for Organic Cations.

Cancer treatment with platinum compounds is an important achievement of modern chemotherapy. However, despite the beneficial effects, the clinical impact of these agents is hampered by the development of drug resistance as well as dose-limiting side effects. The efficacy but also side effects of platinum complexes can be mediated by uptake through plasma membrane transporters.

Quantitative Bioimaging of Platinum via Online Isotope Dilution-Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry.

A new calibration strategy for elemental bioimaging based on online isotope dilution analysis (IDA) and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) was developed and applied for the quantification of platinum in rat kidney tissues. A dry Pt spike aerosol was added in a post-cell setup, and the natural Pt/Pt isotope ratio of the sample aerosol from laser ablation was changed accordingly. Spike mass flow determination was carried out based on reversed IDA using a reference standard.

Quantitative Bioimaging to Investigate the Uptake of Mercury Species in Drosophila melanogaster.

The uptake of mercury species in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster was investigated by elemental bioimaging using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS). The mercury distribution in Drosophila melanogaster was analyzed for the three species mercury(II) chloride, methylmercury chloride, and thimerosal after intoxication. A respective analytical method was developed and applied to the analysis of the entire Drosophila melanogaster first, before a particular focus was directed to the cerebral areas of larvae and adult flies.