Species-specific responses to di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate reveal activation of defense signaling pathways in California sea lion but not in human skeletal muscle cells in primary culture.

Higher antioxidant defenses in marine than terrestrial mammals allow them to cope with oxidative stress associated with diving-induced ischemia/reperfusion. Does this adaptation translate to inherent resistance to other stressors? We analyzed oxidative stress indicators in cells derived from human and California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) skeletal muscle upon exposure to di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Human abdominal muscle biopsies were collected from healthy women undergoing planned cesarean surgery.

Genotoxic damage in green turtles (Chelonia mydas) exhibits regional and annual fluctuations.

Tourism, urban development, and sargasso beaching caused environmental alterations in the Mexican Caribbean coasts. Little ecotoxicological information exists on the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) population inhabiting this region. Micronucleus (MN) and erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities (ENA) tests are non-destructive DNA damage biomarkers.

Evidence of oxidative stress responses of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) to differential habitat conditions in the Mexican Caribbean.

Important foraging and nesting habitats for Caribbean green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) exist within the Mesoamerican Reef System in the Mexican Caribbean. During the last 25 years, urban development and touristic activities have drastically increased in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Moreover, in the last decade, massive pelagic sargasso blooms have also afflicted this region; however, information about the biochemical responses of Caribbean green turtles to these inputs is absent.

DEHP exposure impairs human skeletal muscle cell proliferation in primary culture conditions: preliminary study.

The plasticizer di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) inhibits differentiation, impairs glucose metabolism, and decreases mitochondrial function in murine muscle satellite cells; however, if these effects are translated to human cells is unknown. The goal of this study was to evaluate changes in morphology and proliferation of primary human skeletal muscle cells exposed to DEHP. muscle samples were obtained from healthy women undergoing programed cesarean surgery.

Description and quantification of micronucleus and nuclear abnormalities in erythrocytes of the sentinel green turtle (Chelonia mydas) with fluorescence microscopy.

Contamination in marine ecosystems is of the most critical threats to marine turtles. The identification of useful biomarkers to detect and monitor the physiological and clinical effects of pollutants on these populations will allow early detection of alterations (e.g.

Fibropapillomatosis dynamics in green sea turtles Chelonia mydas over 15 years of monitoring in Akumal Bay, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a tumor disease that affects all sea turtle species but is mainly seen in green turtles Chelonia mydas. The pathology of FP has been described extensively, but its dynamics in populations over time have been less studied. We analyzed the dynamics of FP in a population of green turtles in Akumal Bay on the central coast of the Mexican Caribbean.

"Oxidative stress induced by phthalates in mammals: State of the art and potential biomarkers".

Background: Phthalates, plasticizers that are widely used in consumer products including toys, cosmetics, and food containers, have negative effects in liver, kidney, brain, lung and reproductive system of humans and other mammals.

Objectives: To summarize, describe and discuss the available information on the effects of phthalate exposure in mammals, with emphasis on oxidative stress, and to suggest potential biomarkers of the health risks associated with phthalate exposure.

Methods: An assessment of scientific journals was performed using the PRISMA model for systematic reviews.

Ecological regime shift drives declining growth rates of sea turtles throughout the West Atlantic.

Somatic growth is an integrated, individual-based response to environmental conditions, especially in ectotherms. Growth dynamics of large, mobile animals are particularly useful as bio-indicators of environmental change at regional scales. We assembled growth rate data from throughout the West Atlantic for green turtles, Chelonia mydas, which are long-lived, highly migratory, primarily herbivorous mega-consumers that may migrate over hundreds to thousands of kilometers.

Oxidative damage to proteins related to metals and antioxidant defenses in breastmilk.

Introduction: Breast milk contains molecules needed for the development of children; the integrity and function of these molecules is affected by the presence of pro-oxidants. Protein carbonyls are mainly produced as a result of the interaction of metals with reactive oxygen species (ROS), which may initiate a chain reaction that promotes molecular oxidation.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the association between the concentration of protein carbonyls with the concentration of trace elements (lead [Pb], cadmium [Cd] and selenium [Se]), superoxide radical (O2•-) production, and glutathione (GSH) content, as well with the activity of the main antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], glutathione peroxidase [GPx], glutathione reductase [GR] and glutathione S-transferase [GST]) in breast milk.

Purine nucleoside phosphorylase and the enzymatic antioxidant defense system in breast milk from women with different levels of arsenic exposure.

Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) is an ubiquitous enzyme which plays an important role in arsenic (As) detoxification. As is a toxic metalloid present in air, soil and water; is abundant in the environment and is readily transferred along the trophic chain, being found even in human breast milk. Milk is the main nutrient source for the growth and development of neonates.

Interaction between mercury (Hg), arsenic (As) and selenium (Se) affects the activity of glutathione S-transferase in breast milk; possible relationship with fish and sellfish intake.

Breast milk is regarded as an ideal source of nutrients for the growth and development of neonates, but it can also be a potential source of pollutants. Mothers can be exposed to different contaminants as a result of their lifestyle and environmental pollution. Mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) could adversely affect the development of fetal and neonatal nervous system.

[Lipid peroxidation and the response of the antioxidant defense system in the obese type 2 diabetic compared with the non-obese type 2 diabetic].

Introduction: Diabetes is associated with increased lipid peroxidation, quantified as the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). In parallel, the antioxidant defense system (ADS) reacts to diminish the oxidative damage.

Objective: To determine the levels of lipid peroxidation and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in obese type 2 diabetic (DM2) individuals compared to non-obese DM2 individuals.

Marine diet and tobacco exposure affects mercury concentrations in pregnant women (I) from Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Seafood provides essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and other nutrients to pregnant women and their fetus(es) while a diet rich in finfish can be a major pathway of monomethyl mercury (MeHg) exposure. We measured total mercury concentration ([THg]) in hair samples provided by 75 women in Baja California Sur (BCS) to assess its relationship with age, parity, tobacco smoke exposure, and diet based on survey methodologies. Generalized linear models (GLM) were used to explain the possible association of the different variables with [THg] in hair.

Linking physiological approaches to marine vertebrate conservation: using sex steroid hormone determinations in demographic assessments.

Sex, age and sexual maturation are key biological parameters for aspects of life history and are fundamental information for assessing demographic changes and the reproductive viability and performance of natural populations under exploitation pressures or in response to environmental influences. Much of the information available on the reproductive condition, length at sexual maturity and sex determinations of endangered species has been derived from direct examination of the gonads in dead animals, either intentionally or incidentally caught, or from stranded individuals. However, morphological data, when used alone, do not provide accurate demographic information in sexually monomorphic marine vertebrate species (e.

[Mercury concentration in breast milk of women from northwest Mexico; possible association with diet, tobacco and other maternal factors].

Objective: To determine THg levels in milk of women from Northwest Mexico and its potential association with maternal factors such as diet and tobacco smoke.

Method: The study was performed in 108 milk samples donated by women in Baja California Sur. Data were stratified into three groups of 36 donors by number of pregnancies.

Applying generalized linear models as an explanatory tool of sex steroids, thyroid hormones and their relationships with environmental and physiologic factors in immature East Pacific green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas).

Generalized linear models were fitted to evaluate the relationship between 17β-estradiol (E2), testosterone (T) and thyroxine (T4) levels in immature East Pacific green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) and their body condition, size, mass, blood biochemistry parameters, handling time, year, season and site of capture. According to external (tail size) and morphological (<77.3 straight carapace length) characteristics, 95% of the individuals were juveniles.

Oxidative stress indicators and trace element concentrations in tissues of mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus).

Liver, kidney and muscle from juvenile mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus) were collected in Baja California Sur. Lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The production of superoxide radical (O2(•-)) was measured as an indicator of reactive oxygen species production; lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and protein carbonyl levels were quantified as indicators of oxidative damage, and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) was assessed as indicator of antioxidant defenses.

Oxidative stress indicators and chemical contaminants in East Pacific green turtles (Chelonia mydas) inhabiting two foraging coastal lagoons in the Baja California peninsula.

In order to determine the potential effects of contaminants in juveniles of East Pacific green turtle, Chelonia mydas, captured alive, circulating trace metal and organochlorine pesticide concentrations were correlated with body condition, antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation levels. Turtles were sampled in Punta Abreojos (PAO) and Bahía Magdalena (BMA). Turtles from PAO showed higher silicon and cadmium concentrations, but lower α-hexachlorocyclohexane, γ-hexachlorocyclohexane, hexachlorobenzene and aldrin concentrations than individuals from BMA.

Relation of dental wear to the concentrations of essential minerals in teeth of the California sea lion Zalophus californianus californianus.

Tooth wear in marine mammals has been attributed to age, feeding habits, behavior, and contaminants. Advanced tooth wear in some California sea lions, including some of very young age (<5 yr), in the Gulf of California, suggests that there are variations in chemical composition of tooth parts, wherein the concentrations of certain trace minerals might be anomalous, making them more susceptible to erosion. The concentrations of the essential minerals Ca, P, K, Na, Fe, Mg, and Zn in the dentition of Zalophus c.