Structures, Electronic Properties, and Interactions of Cetyl Alcohol with Cetomacrogol and Water: Insights from Quantum Chemical Calculations and Experimental Investigations.

The complexes of cetyl alcohol, cetomacrogol-1000, and water were successfully synthesized. The complexes were characterized by freeze-drying scanning electron microscopy, small-angle X-ray diffraction (SAXD), and ultra-SAXD. Furthermore, structures, electronic properties (the HOMO-LUMO gap, ionization potential, electron affinity, electronegativity, hardness, softness, dipole moment, and polarizability), and Raman spectra of cetyl alcohol, cetomacrogol-1000, and their binary and ternary complexes with water were also studied using density functional theory.

Investigating molecular mechanism for the stability of ternary systems containing cetrimide, fatty alcohol and water by using computer simulation.

Computer simulations using atomistic model are carried out to investigate the stability of ternary systems of pure or mixed fatty alcohols, cetrimide, and water. These semi-solid oil-in-water systems are used as the main component of pharmaceutical creams. Experiments show that the mixed alcohol systems are more stable than pure ones.

Depletion of follicles accelerated by combined exposure to phthalates and 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide, leading to premature ovarian failure in rats.

Humans are at daily risk by simultaneous exposures to a broad spectrum of man-made chemicals in the commercial products. Several classes of chemicals have been shown to alter follicle development and reduce fertility, leading to premature ovarian failure (POF) in mammals. We investigate the synergistic effects of 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) and phthalate, including di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) on POF.

Membrane-impermeable estrogen is involved in regulation of calbindin-D9k expression via non-genomic pathways in a rat pituitary cell line, GH3 cells.

Estrogen (E2) has been shown to regulate various functions for many pituitary hormones. Recently, the potential roles of non-genomic pathways in E2-induced actions have been proposed in the previous studies, however, the effects of E2 remain to be elucidated in regard to non-genomic induction of cytosolic protein calbindin-D9k (CaBP-9k). To gain a better understanding of the molecular events underlying E2-induced expression of CaBP-9k, rat pituitary tumor cells (GH3 cells) were treated with E-BSA (membrane impermeable E2-conjugated with BSA).

Di-(2 ethylhexyl) phthalate and flutamide alter gene expression in the testis of immature male rats.

We previously demonstrated that the androgenic and anti-androgenic effects of endocrine disruptors (EDs) alter reproductive function and exert distinct effects on developing male reproductive organs. To further investigate these effects, we used an immature rat model to examine the effects of di-(2 ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and flutamide (Flu) on the male reproductive system. Immature male SD rats were treated daily with DEHP and Flu on postnatal days (PNDs) 21 to 35, in a dose-dependent manner.

In vitro exposure to xenoestrogens induces growth hormone transcription and release via estrogen receptor-dependent pathways in rat pituitary GH3 cells.

In this study, we employed an in vitro model to examine the effects of endocrine disruptors (EDs) in the regulation of growth hormone (GH) gene, an important hormone in growth, development and body composition. The rat pituitary cells, GH3, were treated with alkyl-phenols (APs), i.e.

Differential effects of flutamide and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on male reproductive organs in a rat model.

Endocrine disruptors (EDs) with androgenic and anti-androgenic effects may alter reproductive function by binding to androgenic receptors (AR) and inducing or modulating AR-dependent responses in the male reproductive system. However, the molecular mechanism(s) underlying these events remains unclear. In the present study, pregnant Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were treated with testosterone propionate (TP), flutamide (Flu) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) from gestation days (GD) 11 to 21.

Estrogen receptors are involved in xenoestrogen induction of growth hormone in the rat pituitary gland.

Growth hormone (GH) plays a pivotal role in the regulation of growth, development and body composition. In order to provide new insights into estrogenic endocrine disruptor (ED) activities in the pituitary gland and the potential role played by estrogen receptors (ERs) in mediating their effects in vivo, we examined GH expression in the pituitary gland of an immature rat model. At postnatal day 14, immature rats were treated with various doses of 4-tert-octylphenol (OP), p-nonylphenol (NP) and bisphenol A (BPA), and the GH mRNA and protein expression levels were analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR and western blot/immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively.

Tissue-targeted therapy of autoimmune diabetes using dendritic cells transduced to express IL-4 in NOD mice.

A deficit in IL-4 production has been previously reported in both diabetic human patients and non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. In addition, re-introducing IL-4 into NOD mice systemically, or as a transgene, led to a beneficial outcome in most studies. Here, we show that prediabetic, 12-week old female NOD mice have a deficit in IL-4 expression in the pancreatic lymph nodes (PLN) compared to age-matched diabetes-resistant NOD.

Estrogen regulates the localization and expression of calbindin-D9k in the pituitary gland of immature male rats via the ERalpha-pathway.

Estrogen (E2; estradiol) plays a key role in the regulation of many pituitary hormones. It exerts its effects by binding to the intracellular estrogen receptor (ER), which then functions as a transcription factor. Although E2 has been shown to regulate calbindin-D(9k) (CaBP-9k) in the female reproductive system of rodents, the effects of E2 on the regulation of CaBP-9k in male rats remain to be elucidated.

A calcium-binding protein, calbindin-D9k, is regulated through an estrogen-receptor mediated mechanism following xenoestrogen exposure in the GH3 cell line.

A variety of environmental chemicals may possess the potential to interact with various endocrine factors and consequently cause adverse effects on the reproductive, central nervous, and immune systems via the endocrine system(s). In this study, we used the GH3 cell line as an in vitro model to determine the effects of potential endocrine disruptors (EDs) on the induction of calbindin-D9k (CaBP-9k), a useful biomarker for detecting the estrogenic activities of EDs. A rat pituitary cell line, GH3, was treated with octyl-phenol (OP), nonyl-phenol (NP), and bisphenol A (BPA) in a dose-dependent manner (10(-5), 10(-6), and 10(-7)M) for 24 h.

Induction of uterine calbindin-D9k through an estrogen receptor-dependent pathway following single injection with xenobiotic agents in immature rats.

Various environmental chemicals, both natural and synthetic, are believed to act as endocrine disruptors (EDs) in mammals. In this study, a new in vivo model of immature rats was used to explore the induction of calbindin-D9k (CaBP-9k) following a single injection of EDs. In a time-dependent experiment, immature rats at postnatal day 16 were treated with high doses (600 mg/kg body weight [BW]) of 4-tert-octyphenol (OP), p-nonylphenol (NP), or bisphenol A (BPA), and euthanized at different time points (3, 6, 12, 24, or 48 h).

Tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE 47) evokes estrogenicity and calbindin-D9k expression through an estrogen receptor-mediated pathway in the uterus of immature rats.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a class of organic brominated flame retardants, have been increasing in the environment and in the tissues and milk of animals, including humans. To date, 209 PBDE congeners have been reported. Among these, 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE 47) is the dominant congener found in humans and animals.

Analysis of gene expression profiles in the offspring of rats following maternal exposure to xenoestrogens.

Many environmental chemicals are known endocrine disruptors (EDs). These have the potential to alter endocrine systems via various mechanisms that include binding to hormone receptors, thereby either mimicking or blocking the hormone actions and causing abnormal gene expression. Here, to elucidate the molecular mechanism(s) underlying the detrimental effects associated with the estrogenicity of these chemicals, we determined whether gene profiles were altered in rats exposed to 4-tert-octyphenol (OP) and diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero.