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Bottini CLJ, Whiley RE, Branfireun BA, MacDougall-Shackleton SA. Effects of methylmercury and food stress on migratory activity in song sparrows, Melospiza melodia. Horm Behav 2022; 146:105261. [PMID: 36126358 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Avian migration is a challenging life stage susceptible to the adverse effects of stressors, including contaminants like methylmercury (MeHg). Although birds often experience stressors and contaminants concurrently in the wild, no study to date has investigated how simultaneous exposure to MeHg and food stress affects migratory behavior. Our objectives were to determine if MeHg or food stress exposure during summer, alone or combined, has carry-over effects on autumn migratory activity, and if hormone levels (corticosterone, thyroxine) and body condition were related to these effects. We tested how exposure to dietary MeHg and/or food stress (unpredictable temporary food removal) affected migratory behavior in captive song sparrows, Melospiza melodia. Nocturnal activity was influenced by a 3-way interaction between MeHg × stress × nights of the study, indicating that activity changed over time in different ways depending on prior treatments. Thyroxine was not affected by treatment or sampling date. During the migratory season, fecal corticosterone metabolite concentrations increased in birds co-exposed to MeHg and food stress compared to controls, suggesting an additive carry-over effect. As well, during the period of behavioral recording, body condition increased with time in unstressed birds, but not in stressed birds. Fecal corticosterone metabolite concentrations were positively correlated to duration of nocturnal activity, but thyroxine levels and body condition were not. The differences in nocturnal activity between groups suggest that food stress and MeHg exposure on breeding grounds could have direct and indirect carry-over effects that have the potential to affect the fall migration journey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire L J Bottini
- University of Western Ontario, Department of Biology, 1151 Richmond St., London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada; Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Rebecca E Whiley
- University of Western Ontario, Department of Biology, 1151 Richmond St., London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada; Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian A Branfireun
- University of Western Ontario, Department of Biology, 1151 Richmond St., London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Scott A MacDougall-Shackleton
- Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; University of Western Ontario, Department of Psychology, 1151 Richmond St., London, Ontario N6A 5C2, Canada
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Ijaz MU, Batool M, Ashraf A, Siddique MH, Zafar S, Muzammil S, Ayaz F, Samad A, Al-Ghanim K, Mahboob S. A study on the potential reprotoxic effects of thimerosal in male albino rats. Saudi J Biol Sci 2020; 27:2798-2802. [PMID: 32994739 PMCID: PMC7499386 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.06.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Thimerosal is ethyl mercury based compound which is being used as a preservative in vaccines since decades. Pharmaceutical products and vaccines that contain thimerosal are among the potential source of mercury exposure. Current research was intended to ascertain the reprotoxic effects of thimerosal on rat testes. Twenty-four adult male albino rats were sorted into four groups (n = 6). The first group was a control group. Rats of experimental Group 2, 3 and 4 were treated with various dosages of thimerosal (0.5, 10, 50 mg/kg) respectively. Rats were decapitated after thirty days of trial and different parameters were analyzed. Thimerosal exposure resulted in a significant decrease in antioxidant enzyme activities including catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GSR) and increased levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Different doses of thimerosal significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the concentration of plasma testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Additionally, Daily sperm production (DSP) and efficiency of daily sperm production were significantly reduced followed by thimerosal exposure. Moreover, thimerosal significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the primary spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes, number of spermatogonia along with spermatids. Thimerosal induced adverse histopathological and morphological changes in testicular tissues such as decreased Leydig cells, diameter of seminiferous tubules, tunica albuginea height and epithelial height. On the other hand, the increase in tubular lumen and interstitial spaces was observed due to thimerosal. These outcomes indicated that thimerosal has potential reprotoxic effects in male albino rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Umar Ijaz
- Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Moazama Batool
- Department of Zoology, Govt. College Women University, Sialkot, Pakistan
| | - Asma Ashraf
- Department of Zoology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | | | - Sara Zafar
- Department of Botany, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Saima Muzammil
- Department of Microbiology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Fatima Ayaz
- Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Abdul Samad
- Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Khalid Al-Ghanim
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shahid Mahboob
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Wang X, Sun X, Zhang Y, Chen M, Dehli Villanger G, Aase H, Xia Y. Identifying a critical window of maternal metal exposure for maternal and neonatal thyroid function in China: A cohort study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 139:105696. [PMID: 32259758 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND China, a developing country, has a particularly serious problem with metal pollution. We evaluated the association of metal exposure during pregnancy with maternal and neonatal thyroid function, and identified the critical window for maternal metal exposure effects on maternal and neonatal thyroid functions. METHODS The maternal urinary concentrations of mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As) and cesium (Cs) were determined in pregnant women during their first (n = 389) or third (n = 257) trimesters in a prospective cohort from 2014 to 2015 in Nanjing, China, using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) instrument. Maternal serum-free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured by electrochemiluminescent microparticle immunoassays in the second and third trimesters. Neonatal TSH levels were detected 72 h after birth. RESULTS Hg (>0.162 µg/L), Cd (>0.084 µg/L), As (>0.348 µg/L) and Cs (>0.093 µg/L) were detectable in 76.9%, 90.1%, 100% and 100% of maternal urine samples from women in the first trimester of pregnancy. In the multiple adjusted linear regression models, maternal exposures to Hg and Cd in the first trimester were positively associated with maternal TSH levels in the second trimester (P < 0.01, P = 0.02). Moreover, maternal exposures to Cd and Cs in the first trimester were positively associated with neonatal TSH levels (P = 0.04, P = 0.02). In the Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model, the results were stable and consistent with the linear regression model. CONCLUSIONS Maternal exposure to Hg, Cd and Cs in the first trimester was related to TSH levels in mothers and newborns. Efforts to identify maternal and neonatal thyroid disruptors should carefully consider the effects of exposure to these metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, No. 101 Longmian Road, Nanjing 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, No. 101 Longmian Road, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Xian Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, No. 101 Longmian Road, Nanjing 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, No. 101 Longmian Road, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Yuqing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, No. 101 Longmian Road, Nanjing 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, No. 101 Longmian Road, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Minjian Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, No. 101 Longmian Road, Nanjing 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, No. 101 Longmian Road, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Gro Dehli Villanger
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Department of Child Health and Development, PO Box 222 Skøyen, N-0213 Oslo, Norway
| | - Heidi Aase
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Department of Child Health and Development, PO Box 222 Skøyen, N-0213 Oslo, Norway
| | - Yankai Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, No. 101 Longmian Road, Nanjing 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, No. 101 Longmian Road, Nanjing 211166, China.
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Oliveira CS, Nogara PA, Ardisson-Araújo DMP, Aschner M, Rocha JBT, Dórea JG. Neurodevelopmental Effects of Mercury. ADVANCES IN NEUROTOXICOLOGY 2018; 2:27-86. [PMID: 32346667 PMCID: PMC7188190 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ant.2018.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The toxicology of mercury (Hg) is of concern since this metal is ubiquitously distributed in the environment, and living organisms are routinely exposed to Hg at low to high levels. The toxic effects of Hg are well studied and it is known that they may differ depending on the Hg chemical species. In this chapter, we emphasize the neurotoxic effects of Hg during brain development. The immature brain is more susceptible to Hg exposure, since all the Hg chemical forms, not only the organic ones, can harm it. The possible consequences of Hg exposure during the early stages of development, the additive effects with other co-occurring neurotoxicants, and the known mechanisms of action and targets will be addressed in this chapter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cláudia S Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Pablo A Nogara
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Daniel M P Ardisson-Araújo
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
- Laboratório de Virologia de Insetos, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY, USA
| | - João B T Rocha
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - José G Dórea
- Professor Emeritus, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
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