Selected Fungicides as Potential EDC Estrogenic Micropollutants in the Environment

An increasing level of pesticide exposition is being observed as a result of the consumption of large amounts of fruits, vegetables and grain products, which are key components of the vegetarian diet. Fungicides have been classified as endocrine-disrupting compounds, but their mechanisms of action have not yet been clarified. The effect of boscalid (B), cyprodinil (C) and iprodione (I) combined with Tamoxifen (T) and 17β-estradiol (E2) on cell viability, cell proliferation, reporter gene expression, ROS content, the cell membrane's function, cell morphology and antioxidant enzymes gene expression in MCF-7 and T47D-KBluc cell lines were investigated. The cell lines were chosen due to their response to 17β -estradiol. The selected fungicides are commonly used in Poland to protect crops against fungi. Our results revealed that the studied fungicides caused significant increases in cell viability and proliferation, and estrogenic activity was present in all studied compounds depending on their concentrations. Oxidative stress activated uncontrolled cancer cell proliferation by inducing ROS production and by inhibiting antioxidant defense. Our findings verify that the studied fungicides could possibly exhibit endocrine-disrupting properties and exposure should be avoided.

Pannexins and Connexins: Their Relevance for Oocyte Developmental Competence

The oocyte is the major determinant of embryo developmental competence in all mammalian species. Although fundamental advances have been generated in the field of reproductive medicine and assisted reproductive technologies in the past three decades, researchers and clinicians are still trying to elucidate molecular factors and pathways, which could be pivotal for the oocyte’s developmental competence. The cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix communications are crucial not only for oocytes but also for multicellular organisms in general. This latter mentioned communication is among others possibly due to the Connexin and Pannexin families of large-pore forming channels. Pannexins belong to a protein group of ATP-release channels, therefore of high importance for the oocyte due to its requirements of high energy supply. An increasing body of studies on Pannexins provided evidence that these channels not only play a role during physiological processes of an oocyte but also during pathological circumstances which could lead to the development of diseases or infertility. Connexins are proteins that form membrane channels and gap-junctions, and more precisely, these proteins enable the exchange of some ions and molecules, and therefore they do play a fundamental role in the communication between the oocyte and accompanying cells. Herein, the role of Pannexins and Connexins for the processes of oogenesis, folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation and fertilization will be discussed and, at the end of this review, Pannexin and Connexin related pathologies and their impact on the developmental competence of oocytes will be provided.

Clustered microRNAs: The molecular mechanism supporting the maintenance of luteal function during early pregnancy

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are recognized as the important regulators of ovarian function. However, little is known about the hormonal regulation of miRNA expression and the role of the specific miRNA-mRNA interactions in corpus luteum. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to determine: (a) the expression of miRNAs in the corpus luteum in early pregnancy vs regression; (b) the effect of conceptus and uterine signals in the expression of selected miRNAs; and (c) the role of specific miRNA-mRNA interactions in the molecular changes and secretory function of the corpus luteum in the pig. The results showed that the majority of miRNAs differentially expressed in the corpus luteum in early pregnancy vs regression belong to independent clusters (eg, miR-99b, miR-532), which are highly conserved among different animal species. The main conceptus signal in the pig (17β-estradiol) elevated the luteal expression of the miR-99b cluster and lowered the expression of NR4A1 and AKR1C1, the genes involved in corpus luteum regression. Furthermore, the delivery of miR-99b cluster mimics to luteal tissue concomitantly decreased NR4A1 and AKR1C1 expression and enhanced progesterone secretion. The present study demonstrated that conceptus signals can support the maintenance of luteal function during pregnancy by clustered miRNA-stimulated pathways, governing the expression of genes involved in luteal regression.

[Comparison of clinical parameters of chronically hemodialyzed patients not requiring treatment with erythropoietin and patients treated with erythropoietin]

50 patients with terminal renal failure treated with chronic haemodialysis were examined. 24 of them (48%) did not require treatment with erythropoietin (rHuEPO) because of permanent haemoglobin concentration was 9.5 g/dl (5.91 mmol/l) and hematocrite more than 30%. Clinical data of two groups of patients were compared: 1) patients not requiring treatment with rHu EPO, 2) patients requiring treatment with rHu EPO. Attention was paid to the sex, age, the kind of disease which caused renal failure, the duration of dialysotherapy, liver function, HBs antigenemia, presence anti-HCV antibodies, ultrasonographic estimation of patients own kidneys; liver. Patients who did not require treatment with rHu EPO were older, longer treated with chronic haemodialysis and more frequently cysts in their own kidneys were seen. Any significant differences were not observed in both groups of patients as regards their antigenemia HBs or presence of anti HCV-antibodies. The important cardiovascular disease was observed more frequently in patients requiring treatment with rHu EPO.

[Carpal tunnel syndrome in hemodialysed patients]

A case of carpal tunnel syndrome in female patient treated with hemodialyses for 10 years is presented. Surgical management was applied with positive result. Histological examination of tissue collected during surgery has shown the deposits of amyloid-like substance in carpal tunnel. The authors discuss current concepts of carpal tunnel syndrome pathogenesis in hemodialysed patients.

Sympathetic activity, plasma renin activity (PRA) and kininogen levels in patients haemodialysed with acetate and bicarbonate

Sympathetic, renin and kinin responses to an acetic and bicarbonate fluid in haemodialysed patients were investigated. Increases in dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity, PRA and kininogen levels were found during single dialysis but there was no difference in acetate and bicarbonate haemodialysis. The present results suggest that changes in sympathetic renin and kinin activity were similar in patients treated with either acetate or bicarbonate fluid.

Leukopenia with different regenerated haemodialysis membranes

The white blood cell count (WBC) decreases during haemodialysis and it was investigated as a function of different dialysis membranes. Each of them was used four times, applying different sterilization methods. Twelve chronic haemodialysis patients were studied and dialysed with cuprophan and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) membranes. Cuprophan was studied by a dry sterilization method and after perchloric acid and formalin treatment. PAN was studied with dry sterilization and after perchloric acid. As it has been shown, cuprophan membranes cause significantly more marked neutropenia than PAN. No significant difference was seen in pO2, pH, pCO2 and bicarbonate between dialysers used four times. The results indicate differences in biocompatibility between cuprophan and PAN membranes, independent of the sterilization method employed.

Kinetics of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) with four exchanges per day

Fourteen patients who had no signs of peritonitis were studied during CAPD. Different exchange time schedules were used alternating exchanges with 1.5% and 2.6% glucose solutions. Usually longer exchanges followed shorter ones and vice versa. Total exchange time varied from 2--10 hours. Maximal ultrafiltration volumes were observed after 3 hours with 1.5% and 5 hours wit 2.6% glucose solutions. For small molecular weight solutes (urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium, and phosphate) dialyzate to plasma concentration ratios tended to be lower with 2.6% glucose solutions during the shorter exchanges. Equilibrium between plasma and dialyzate was attained for all these solutes by 10 hours total exchange time. The concentration ratios for inulin were similar with both types of solution, and did not achieve equilibrium by 10 hours. Protein concentrations and losses were higher with 2.6% glucose solution. Total protein and immunoglobulin losses per 24 hours were markedly lower than those reported for intermittent peritoneal dialysis. White blood cell counts increased slightly up to 5 hours and then remained constant up to 10 hours. Mononuclear cell counts were consistently higher than those of granulocytes. The efficiency of dialysis was not markedly influenced by uneven distribution of total exchange time. If 1.5% and 2.6% glucose solutions were used for particular time schedules, slightly higher dialysis efficiency could be obtained by using hyperosmolar solutions for the longer exchanges. Ultrafiltration volumes, protein and immunoglobulin losses, cell counts in dialyzate, and clearance of inulin varied among individual patients. Protein losses correlated positively with serum protein concentration and the body surface area of the patient. Clearances of insulin also correlated with body surface area but ultrafiltration volumes did not.