Neurotoxicity induced by a single oral dose of aniline in rats

New insights into aniline toxicity: Aniline exposure triggers envelope stress and extracellular polymeric substance formation in Rubrivivax benzoatilyticus JA2

Aniline is a major environmental pollutant of serious concern due to its toxicity. Although microbial metabolism of aniline is well-studied, its toxic effects and physiological responses of microorganisms to aniline are largely unexplored. Rubrivivax benzoatilyticus JA2, an aniline non-degrading bacterium, tolerates high concentrations of aniline and produces extracellular polymeric substance(EPS). Surprisingly, strain JA2 forms EPS only when exposed to aniline and other toxic compounds like organic solvents and heavy metals indicating that EPS formation is coupled to cell toxicity. Further, extensive reanalysis of the previous proteomic data of aniline exposed cells revealed up-regulation of envelope stress response(ESR) proteins such as periplasmic protein folding, envelope integrity, transmembrane complex, and cell-wall remodelling proteins. In silico analysis and molecular modeling of three highly up-regulated proteins revealed that these proteins were homologous to CpxARP proteins of ESR signalling pathway. Furthermore, EPS formation to known ESR activators(Triton-X-100, EDTA) suggests that envelope stress possibly regulating the EPS production. The present study suggests that aniline triggers envelope stress; to counter this strain JA2 activates ESR pathway and EPS production. Our study revealed the hitherto unknown toxic effects of aniline as an acute envelope stressor thus toxicity of aniline may be more profound to life-forms than previously thought.

Molecular Mechanism of Aniline Induced Spleen Toxicity and Neuron Toxicity in Experimental Rat Exposure: A Review

Aniline exposure leads to neuron and spleen toxicity specifically and makes diverse neurological effects and sar-coma that is defined by splenomegaly, hyperplasia, and fibrosis and tumors formation at the end. However, the molecular mechanism(s) of aniline-induced spleen toxicity is not understood well, previous studies have represented that aniline expo-sure results in iron overload and initiation of oxidative/nitrosative disorder stress and oxidative damage to proteins, lipids and DNA subsequently, in the spleen. Elevated expression of cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and phosphorylation of pRB protein along with increases in A, B and CDK1 as a cell cycle regulatory proteins cyclins, and reduce in CDK inhibitors (p21 and p27) could be critical in cell cycle regulation, which contributes to tumorigenic response after aniline exposure. Aniline-induced splenic toxicity is corre-lated to oxidative DNA damage and initiation of DNA glycosylases expression (OGG1, NEIL1/2, NTH1, APE1 and PNK) for removal of oxidative DNA lesions in rat. Oxidative stress causes transcriptional up-regulation of fibrogenic/inflammatory factors (cytokines, IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α) via induction of nuclear factor-kappa B, AP-1 and redox-sensitive transcription factors, in aniline treated-rats. The upstream signalling events as phosphorylation of IκB kinases (IKKα and IKKβ) and mito-gen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) could potentially be the causes of activation of NF-κB and AP-1. All of these events could initiate a fibrogenic and/or tumorigenic response in the spleen. The spleen toxicity of aniline is studied more and the different mechanisms are suggested. This review summarizes those events following aniline exposure that induce spleen tox-icity and neurotoxicity.

Aniline Induces Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis of Primary Cultured Hepatocytes

The toxicity and carcinogenicity of aniline in humans and animals have been well documented. However, the molecular mechanism involved in aniline-induced liver toxicity and carcinogenesis remains unclear. In our research, primary cultured hepatocytes were exposed to aniline (0, 1.25, 2.50, 5.0 and 10.0 μg/mL) for 24 h in the presence or absence of N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC). Levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), mitochondrial membrane potential, DNA damage, cell viability, and apoptosis were detected. Levels of ROS and MDA were significantly increased and levels of GSH and CAT, activity of SOD, and mitochondrial membrane potential in hepatocytes were significantly decreased by aniline compared with the negative control group. The tail moment and DNA content of the tail in exposed groups were significantly higher than those in the negative control group. Cell viability was reduced and apoptotic death was induced by aniline in a concentration-dependent manner. The phenomena of ROS generation, oxidative damage, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, DNA damage and apoptosis could be prevented if ROS inhibitor NAC was added. ROS generation is involved in the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA injury, which may play a role in aniline-induced apoptosis in hepatocytes. Our study provides insight into the mechanism of aniline-induced toxicity and apoptosis of hepatocytes.

Subsite awareness in neuropathology evaluation of National Toxicology Program (NTP) studies: a review of select neuroanatomical structures with their functional significance in rodents

This review article is designed to serve as an introductory guide in neuroanatomy for toxicologic pathologists evaluating general toxicity studies. The article provides an overview of approximately 50 neuroanatomical subsites and their functional significance across 7 transverse sections of the brain. Also reviewed are 3 sections of the spinal cord, cranial and peripheral nerves (trigeminal and sciatic, respectively), and intestinal autonomic ganglia. The review is limited to the evaluation of hematoxylin and eosin-stained tissue sections, as light microscopic evaluation of these sections is an integral part of the first-tier toxicity screening of environmental chemicals, drugs, and other agents. Prominent neuroanatomical sites associated with major neurological disorders are noted. This guide, when used in conjunction with detailed neuroanatomic atlases, may aid in an understanding of the significance of functional neuroanatomy, thereby improving the characterization of neurotoxicity in general toxicity and safety evaluation studies.

Activity of 2′, 3′-Cyclic Nucleotide 3′-Phosphodiesterase (CNPase) in Spinal Cord with Spongy Change Induced by a Single Oral Dose of Aniline in Rats

A spongy change in the spinal cord white matter was observed in four-week-old rats treated with aniline. Although this change was found to be a result of the myelin sheath splitting at the ultrastructural level, the mechanism is unknown. This study was conducted to identify the mechanism of the spongy change in aniline-treated rats. The spongy change in the spinal cord white matter was first detected on day 5 in the histopathologic examination. The incidence and severity of the lesions, especially in the lateral and ventral funiculi of the thoracic spinal cord white matter, increased prominently from day 8 to day 10. In all rats, immunohistochemical staining by anti-2′, 3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) occurred along the cytoplasmic boundaries of the normal oligodendroglia. However, mild to moderate anti-CNPase staining extended to the swollen cytoplasm of the oligodendroglia in the aniline-treated rats from day 2 to day 4. In the electron microscopic examination, free ribosomes and rough endoplasmic reticula in the cytoplasm of the oligodendroglia increased on days 3 and 4. These changes were considered to be related to CNPase expression. However, CNPase expression decreased, whereas the spongy changes were detected from day 5. The reduction in CNPase expression may contribute to the changes in the myelin morphology observed in aniline intoxication.

Myelin vacuolation, optic neuropathy and retinal degeneration after closantel overdosage in sheep and in a goat

Toxicity of closantel, a halogenated salicylanilide anthelmintic, is described in 11 sheep and a goat, humanely killed 4-70 days after accidental overdosage. Status spongiosis of the cerebrum and cerebellum was present, its severity decreasing with time after treatment. Ultrastructurally, vacuoles in the cerebral white matter were seen to be intramyelinic due to splitting of myelin lamellae at the intraperiod lines, indicating myelin oedema. In the optic nerves, Wallerian degeneration and eventual fibrosis and atrophy of the nerves followed myelin vacuolation. Lesions in the optic nerves were particularly advanced in the intracanalicular portion, indicating a compressive neuropathy within the optic canal. Acute retinal lesions consisted of papilloedema, necrosis of the outer retinal layers (especially the photoreceptor layer), and retinal separation in tapetal and non-tapetal areas. In more chronic cases, the outer nuclear layer was diffusely attenuated and generally reduced to a single row of cells.

Potential of neurotoxicity after a single oral dose of 4-bromo-, 4-chloro-, 4-fluoro- or 4-iodoaniline in rats

The potential for neurotoxicity after a single oral dose of four halogenated aniline derivatives--4-bromoaniline (4-BA), 4-chloroaniline (4-CA), 4- fluoroaniline (4-FA) and 4-iodoaniline (4-IA)--was given to rats was investigated at or near the lethal dosage level. Hindlimb paralysis was found in the 4-BA, 4-CA and 4-FA groups on clinical observation, with the maximum incidence of 100% in the 4-BA and 4-FA groups and 66.7% in the 4-CA group. Detailed clinical observations with functional tests identified the following effects: reduced response of hindlimb extensor thrust, gait abnormality in the open field and decreased grip strength in the fore- or hindlimbs in the 4-BA, 4-CA and 4-FA groups; decreased number of supported rearing episodes in the open field in the 4-BA and 4-CA groups; abnormal landing in the aerial righting reflex in the 4-BA and 4-FA groups; and prolonged surface righting reflex in the 4-BA group. Spongy change in the white matter of the spinal cord and brainstem and nerve fibre degeneration in the peripheral nerves were found in all haloaniline-treated groups. The central and peripheral nervous systems were most severely affected in the 4-BA group and the lesions in the 4-IA group were limited in grade. This study demonstrates that a bolus dose of 4-haloanilines to rats induces a neurotoxicity similar in character to that evoked by the parent aniline. The decreasing order of neurotoxic potential appears to be 4-BA >> 4-FA > or = 4-CA >> 4-IA when comparing at or near the lethal dosage level.