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Journal Article 2016; 37(Suppl 1): 45-52 PubMed PMID: 28263530 Citation  Keywords:  Czech Republic, Environmental Monitoring:methods, Flame Retardants:toxicity, Geologic Sediments:analysis, Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers:toxicity, Rivers, Toxicity Tests:methods, Water Pollutants, Chemical:toxicity,.   

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the contamination level of aquatic ecosystems of the Svitava River, situated in the South Moravian Region (Czech Republic), by residues of selected brominated flame retardants. We isolated and determined seven indicator PBDE congeners in samples of surface water and bottom sediments using optimized analytical methods.

DESIGN: Samples were collected from eight locations along the river basin, particularly near the larger cities in order to assess their possible impact on the aquatic ecosystems. Isolation of selected analytes was performed using the methods of liquid-liquid extraction and cold extraction. Column chromatography and rotary vacuum evaporation were used for the purification and pre-concentration of extracts. Final identification and quantification were carried out by gas chromatography coupled with electron capture detector (GC/ECD).

RESULTS: The sum of PBDEs was calculated for individual BDE congeners. Average concentrations of the sum of PBDEs ranged from 56.35 to 614.0 µg.kg-1 of the dry matter in sediment, and concentrations under the detection limits (<LOD) up to 335.3 ng.L-1 in water. The most loaded locations were Adamov, Brno-Tuřany and the location near the former Essler textile factory.

CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring of PBDEs in the environment, especially in the aquatic ecosystem, is a topical issue due to their growing worldwide application as flame retardants in many products of daily use. Results of this study documented not only potential sources of contamination in the most polluted locations, but also confirmed the lasting presence and accumulation of PBDEs in the environment.

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Journal Article 2016; 37(Suppl 1): 33-37 PubMed PMID: 28263528 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Czech Republic, Environmental Pollution:legislation & jurisprudence, Metals, Heavy, Military Personnel, Risk Assessment, Rivers, Trout, Water Pollutants, Chemical,.   

OBJECTIVES: This study to assess the environmental pollution status in streams (Loutecky, Spicak, Olsina, Trebovicky, Polecnicky and Luzny) from the Boletice area.

DESIGN: Were determined of some metal (Hg, Pb, Cd) concentrations in the muscle and correlations among selected metals as well as standard length and total weight in brown trouth - Salmo trutta morpha fario.

RESULTS: The contents of the analyzed metals in muscles were Hg 0.19-0.72, Pb 0.01-0.6 and Cd 0.020-0.083 mg/kg wet weight basis and these concentrations did not exceed the limits admissible in the Czech Republic.

CONCLUSIONS: The Czech republic permissible limit for Hg (0.5 mg/kg to omnivors, 1 mg/kg to predators), Pb (0.3 mg/kg) and Cd (0.05 mg/kg) defined in the Codex Alimentarius for safe human consumption exceeded in 6%, 3%, and 0% of analyzed samples for Hg, Pb and Cd respectively. On an average, the order of metal concentrations in the fish muscle was: Hg>Pb>Cd.

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Journal Article 2016; 37(Suppl 1): 17-24 PubMed PMID: 28263526 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Biological Assay:methods, Environmental Monitoring, Fishes, Toxicity Tests:methods, Waste Water:toxicity, Water Pollutants, Chemical:toxicity,.   

: Wastewater, especially containing hospital effluents, exhibits high chemical complexity and specificity since it includes various chemicals, biocides, pharmaceuticals, surfactants, radionuclides, disinfectants and pathogens. Biological tests provide true evidence of the wastewater quality and unlike chemical analytical tests show comprehensive pollution effects on the environment and human health. Normalized conventional bioassays are not sensitive enough for ecotoxicological evaluation of wastewater and there is a great need for the development of suitable sensitive bioassays in order to characterize properly the residual toxicity of treated effluents. Provisions of binding EU legislation regarding protection of animals used for scientific purposes and legislation dealing with test methods for identification and classification of health hazard of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, biocides, medical devices and consumer products such as cosmetics for environmental ecosystems and for man require to employ alternative toxicological methods respecting the 3Rs concept with priority given to methods in vitro. The Fish Embryo Test (FET) is identified as a relevant, reliable and efficient alternative test method in vitro for determination of acute toxicity for fish. Using the FET, additional toxicological endpoints may be investigated to assess organ specific bioaccumulation, genotoxicity and mutagenicity, developmental toxicity, teratogenicity, various forms of neurotoxicity or endocrine disruptivity. The addition of multiparametric sensitive endpoints makes the FET a true alternative in vitro assay and a powerful tool in toxicology.

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Journal Article 2016; 37(1): 1-8 PubMed PMID: 26994378 Citation  Keywords:  Environment, Female, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Parturition:physiology, Pregnancy, Prevalence, Risk Factors, Schizophrenia:epidemiology, Substance-Related Disorders:complications,.   

: Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that affects approximately one percent of the general population. The pathogenesis of schizophrenia is influenced by many risk factors, both environmental and genetic. The environmental factors include the date of birth, place of birth and seasonal effects, infectious diseases, complications during pregnancy and delivery, substance abuse and stress. At the present time, in addition to environmental factors, genetic factors are assumed to play a role in the development of the schizophrenia. The heritability of schizo- phrenia is up to 80%. If one parent suffers from the condition, the probability that it will be passed down to the offspring is 13%. If it is present in both parents, the risk is more than 20%. The opinions are varied as to the risk factors affecting the development of schizophrenia. Knowing these factors may greatly contribute to prevention of the condition....

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Journal Article 2015; 36(5): 490-497 PubMed PMID: 26707050 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Anxiety, Behavior, Animal, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor:genetics, Estradiol:metabolism, Hippocampus:metabolism, Male, Maze Learning, Memory, Mice, Social Environment,.   

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies reported that environmental enrichment might induce various beneficial effects in the central nervous system. However, the effect of environmental factors on endogenous estrogen level was not investigated. The present study was designed to examine the effect of enriched environment on endogenous estrogen in hippocampus and behavioral outcomes.

METHODS: Behavioural measurements, including open field, elevated plus maze and Morris water maze, were used to evaluate anxiety and learning and memory of the male C57BL/6J mice that were housed in enriched environment for five months. In addition, the estrogen and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the hippocampus were measured.

RESULTS: We found that environmental enrichment decreased anxiety-like behaviors and facilitated spatial learning and memory in male C57BL/6J mice. In addition, the mice raised in enriched environment showed decreased endogenous estrogen levels both in the hippocampus and plasma compared to controls. Furthermore, our results indicated that environmental enrichment up-regulated BDNF mRNA expression level in the hippocampus.

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, environmental enrichment decreased anxiety-like behaviors and facilitated spatial learning and memory in male C57BL/6J mice. Lastly, environmental enrichment up-regulated BDNF mRNA expression level in the hippocampus and decreased plasma estrogen level. The possible mechanism remained to be determined....

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Journal Article 2015; 36(2): 143-147 PubMed PMID: 26071583 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Brain:metabolism, Environment, Male, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide:metabolism, Radioimmunoassay, Rats, Rats, Wistar,.   

OBJECTIVE: Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a pleiotropic and multifunctional neuropeptide, widely distributed throughout the body. It is involved in the regulation of various physiological and pathophysiological processes. Numerous studies have shown that PACAP is involved in the development of the central nervous system and has neuroprotective effects. Environmental enrichment is also protective in various injuries, partially through involvement of trophic factors. The interaction between PACAP levels in the brain and environmental effects has not been studied yet. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether environmental enrichment influences PACAP levels of different brain areas in rats.

METHODS: Wistar rats were exposed to enriched environment in adulthood for 3 weeks. PACAP27- and PACAP38-like immunoreactivities were measured with a specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay in homogenates of different brain areas: brainstem, cerebellum, diencephalon and telencephalon.

RESULTS: We found that levels of both PACAP27- and PACAP38-like immunoreactivities showed significant increases in most brain areas after a 3-week-long exposure to enriched conditions. Thus, similarly to several other CNS injuries, enriched environment induced elevation in PACAP levels.

CONCLUSION: As PACAP has strong neuroprotective effects, the elevation observed after exposure to enriched environment is suggested to play a role in the protective effects of such an environment as part of the endogenous neuroprotective machinery in adult rats....

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Journal Article 2014; 35(Suppl 2): 57-63 PubMed PMID: 25638367 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Arsenic:toxicity, Biomass, Cyanobacteria, Environmental Exposure, Microcystins:toxicity, Oncorhynchus mykiss:blood,.   

OBJECTIVES: Fish can be exposed under environmental conditions to multiple stressors including natural toxins and environmental or feed contamination at the same time. This study brings new knowledge about the effects of controlled exposure to multiple stressors in fish. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that influence of cyanobacterial biomass and arsenic in feed can combine to enhance the effects on fish.

METHODS: Rainbow trouts were sorted into six groups, each with 25 specimens: control group (fed with commercial feed), groups exposed to toxic cyanobacterial biomass (81 mg x kg(-1) MCs of feed), two groups exposed to arsenic (concentration of 5 mg x kg(-1), and 50 mg x kg(-1) of fish feed) and two groups exposed to combination of cyanobacterial biomass and arsenic in two concentrations mentioned above. The experiment lasted 30 days. During the experiment we evaluated the influence of co-exposure on plasmatic parameters mentioned above. Samples were collected on days 10, 20 and 30 of exposure.

RESULTS: Biochemical analysis revealed a significant decrease in calcium (T20) and an increase in natrium (T10) and chlorides (T10) values in combined cyanobacterial and arsenic exposures. Our results showed a significant decrease in the values of magnesium after exposure to higher concentration of arsenic compared to control and feeding with addition of cyanobacterial biomass groups. The changes of other monitored plasmatic parameters were not significantly increased or decreased in comparison with controls.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirmed the hypothesis that influence of toxic cyanobacterial biomass and a chemical agent represented by arsenic can combine to enhance the effects on fish. This work originally shows that while the single agents in sub-lethal doses do not cause changes in the plasmatic parameters, their co-exposure leads to the significantly decrease or increase of the electrolytes of rainbow trout.

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Journal Article 2014; 35(Suppl 2): 51-56 PubMed PMID: 25638366 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Astacoidea:drug effects, Environmental Exposure:adverse effects, Herbicides:toxicity, Toxicity Tests, Subchronic, Triazines:toxicity, Water Pollutants, Chemical:toxicity, Water Pollution, Chemical:adverse effects,.   

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate effects of the triazine herbicide metribuzin on signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus Dana by determining oxidative stress (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) and antioxidant indices (total superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase) in hepatopancreas, muscle, and gill as well as assessing their histopathology.

DESIGN: Crayfish were exposed to metribuzin concentrations of 0.52 μg x l(-1) (realistic environmental concentration) and 3.06 mg x l(-1) (10% 96hLC50) for 10 and 30 days followed by a 30-day depuration period without exposure to metribuzin.

RESULTS: In the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, superoxide dismutase, and catalase were observed differences in all examined tissues compared to the control group. Differences from control were observed in glutathione reductase activity in hepatopancreas after 10 days for both exposure concentrations and after 30 days at 3.06 mg x l(-1). Histological examination revealed extensive focal autolytic disintegration of tubular epithelium in hepatopancreas of crayfish exposed to metribuzin for 30 days.

CONCLUSIONS: Chronic exposure of metribuzin resulted in oxidative damage to cell lipids, in changes of antioxidant activity in crayfish tissue, and pathological changes in hepatopancreas. The results suggest that selected oxidative stress biomarkers, antioxidant enzymes, and pathologies of hepatopancreas may have potential as biomarkers for monitoring residual triazine herbicides in the aquatic environment.

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