Pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment: β-blockers as a case study

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University, 20/09/2008.The presence of many human pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment is now a worldwide concern and yet little is known of the chronic effects that these bioactive substances may be having on aquatic organisms. This study used mammalian pharmacodynamics to predict the mode of action of the 13-blocker, propranolol, on fish, in order to identify chronic effects in fathead minnows. β-blockers target β1- and β2-adrenergic receptors in humans and hence these receptors were characterised in the fathead minnow. It was found that fish possess β1- and β2-ARs that are structurally very similar to their mammalian counterparts. Further, the distributions of these two β-ARs in various organs of the fathead minnow were similar to those in mammals. Pair-breeding assays were conducted, in which fathead minnows were exposed to various concentrations of propranolol. To discover whether β-ARs had been up or down regulated by propranolol, molecular analysis was conducted on different tissues of the exposed fish using real-time polymerase-chain reactions (RT-PCR). Exposure of fathead minnows to propranolol caused acute toxicity at 10 mg/L. Propranolol caused a statistically significant decrease in reproduction at 1.0 mg/L, dose-related decreases in male weight, condition index and fatpad weight, and a dose-related increase in female GSI. Molecular analysis of βl- and β2-AR expression levels revealed a dose-related decrease in β2-AR expression in fathead liver and heart. LOEC and NOEC values were 0.1 mg/L and 0.01 mg/L, respectively. Propranolol plasma concentrations in fish exposed to water concentrations of 0.1 and 1.0 mg/L were greater than the human therapeutic concentration and hence these data very strongly support the fish plasma model proposed by Huggett et al. (2001).European Union (as part of the ERAPharm consortium

Characterisation and expression of β1-, β2- and β3-adrenergic receptors in the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)

This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in General and Comparative Endocrinology. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published and may be accessed at the link below. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Complimentary DNAs for three beta-adrenergic receptors (βARs) were isolated and characterised in the fathead minnow. The encoded proteins of 402 (β(1)AR), 397 (β(2)AR) and 434 (β(3)AR) amino acids were homologous to other vertebrate βARs, and displayed the characteristic seven transmembrane helices of G Protein-coupled receptors. Motifs and amino acids shown to be important for ligand binding were conserved in the fathead minnow receptors. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed the expression of all receptors to be highest in the heart and lowest in the ovary. However, the β(1)AR was the predominant subtype in the heart (70%), and β(3)AR the predominant subtype in the ovary (53%). In the brain, β(1)AR expression was about 200-fold higher than that of β(2)- and β(3)AR, whereas in the liver, β(2)AR expression was about 20-fold and 100-fold higher than β(3)- and β(1)AR expression, respectively. Receptor gene expression was modulated by exposure to propranolol (0.001-1mg/L) for 21days, but not in a consistent, concentration-related manner. These results show that the fathead minnow has a beta-adrenergic receptor repertoire similar to that of mammals, with the molecular signatures required for ligand binding. An exogenous ligand, the beta-blocker propranolol, is able to alter the expression profile of these receptors, although the functional relevance of such changes remains to be determined. Characterisation of the molecular targets for beta-blockers in fish will aid informed environmental risk assessments of these drugs, which are known to be present in the aquatic environment.European Union as part of the ERAPharm project, Contract No. 511135 and NER

Pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment : β-blockers as a case study

The presence of many human pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment is now a worldwide concern and yet little is known of the chronic effects that these bioactive substances may be having on aquatic organisms. This study used mammalian pharmacodynamics to predict the mode of action of the 13-blocker, propranolol, on fish, in order to identify chronic effects in fathead minnows. β-blockers target β1- and β2-adrenergic receptors in humans and hence these receptors were characterised in the fathead minnow. It was found that fish possess β1- and β2-ARs that are structurally very similar to their mammalian counterparts. Further, the distributions of these two β-ARs in various organs of the fathead minnow were similar to those in mammals. Pair-breeding assays were conducted, in which fathead minnows were exposed to various concentrations of propranolol. To discover whether β-ARs had been up or down regulated by propranolol, molecular analysis was conducted on different tissues of the exposed fish using real-time polymerase-chain reactions (RT-PCR). Exposure of fathead minnows to propranolol caused acute toxicity at 10 mg/L. Propranolol caused a statistically significant decrease in reproduction at 1.0 mg/L, dose-related decreases in male weight, condition index and fatpad weight, and a dose-related increase in female GSI. Molecular analysis of βl- and β2-AR expression levels revealed a dose-related decrease in β2-AR expression in fathead liver and heart. LOEC and NOEC values were 0.1 mg/L and 0.01 mg/L, respectively. Propranolol plasma concentrations in fish exposed to water concentrations of 0.1 and 1.0 mg/L were greater than the human therapeutic concentration and hence these data very strongly support the fish plasma model proposed by Huggett et al. (2001).EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceEuropean Union (as part of the ERAPharm consortium)GBUnited Kingdo

Mutual interactions between objects oscillating in isotopically pure superfluid ⁴He in the T → 0 limit

We report the results of experiments to explore interactions between physically separated oscillating objects in isotopically pure superfluid ⁴He at T ∼ 10 mK. The investigations focused mainly on 32 kHz quartz tuning forks, but also consider a nearby 1 kHz oscillating grid. The low-drive linewidth (LDL) and resonant frequency fd of a detector fork were monitored while the maximum velocity of a transmitter fork, separated from the detector by a few mm, was varied over a wide range. Clear evidence was found for mutual interactions between the two forks, and for the influence of the grid on the forks. Monitoring the detector's LDL and fd provides evidence for a generator critical velocity in the range 0.3 < vc₁ <1.0 cm/s for onset of the detector responses, in addition to a second critical velocity vc₂ ∼ 13 cm/s probably corresponding to the production of quantum turbulence at the generator. The results are discussed, but are not yet fully understood

Chronic effects assessment and plasma concentrations of the b-blocker propranolol in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas)

The presence of many human pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment is now a worldwide concern, yet little is known of the chronic effects that these bioactive substances may be having on aquatic organisms. Propranolol, a non-specific beta adrenoreceptor blocker (beta-blocker), is used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease in humans. Propranolol has been found in surface waters worldwide at concentrations ranging from 12 to 590ng/L. To test the potential for ecologically relevant effects in fish in receiving waters, short-term (21 days) adult reproduction studies were conducted, in which fathead minnows were exposed to nominal concentrations of propranolol hydrochloride [CAS number 318-98-9] ranging from 0.001 to 10mg/L (measured concentrations typically from 78 to 130%). Exposure of fish to 3.4mg/L (measured) over 3 days caused 100% mortality or severe toxicity requiring euthanasia. The most sensitive endpoints from the studies were a decrease in hatchability (with regard to the number of days to hatch) and a concentration-related increase in female gonadal somatic index (GSI), giving LOEC(hatchability) and LOEC(female GSI) values of 0.1mg/L. Concentration-related decreases in weights of male fish were also observed, with LOEC(male wet weight value) of 1.0mg/L, and the LOEC(reproduction) value was 1.0mg/L. Collectively, these data do not suggest that propranolol was acting as a reproductive toxin. Plasma concentrations of propranolol in male fish exposed to nominal concentrations of 0.1 and 1.0mg/L were 0.34 and 15.00mg/L, respectively, which constitutes 436 and 1546% of measured water concentrations. These compare with predicted concentrations of 0.07 and 0.84mg/L, and thus to a degree support the use of partition coefficient models for predicting concentrations in plasma in fish. In addition, propranolol plasma concentrations in fish exposed to water concentrations of 0.1 and 1.0mg/L were greater than the human therapeutic plasma concentration and hence these data very strongly support the fish plasma model proposed by Huggett et al. [Huggett, D.B., Cook, J.C., Ericson, J.F., Williams, R.T., 2003a. A theoretical model for utilizing mammalian pharmacology and safety data to prioritize potential impacts of human pharmaceuticals to fish. Hum. Ecol. Risk Assess. 9, 1789-1799]

The read-across hypothesis and environmental risk assessment of pharmaceuticals

This article is made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund. Copyright © 2013 American Chemical Society.Pharmaceuticals in the environment have received increased attention over the past decade, as they are ubiquitous in rivers and waterways. Concentrations are in sub-ng to low μg/L, well below acute toxic levels, but there are uncertainties regarding the effects of chronic exposures and there is a need to prioritise which pharmaceuticals may be of concern. The read-across hypothesis stipulates that a drug will have an effect in non-target organisms only if the molecular targets such as receptors and enzymes have been conserved, resulting in a (specific) pharmacological effect only if plasma concentrations are similar to human therapeutic concentrations. If this holds true for different classes of pharmaceuticals, it should be possible to predict the potential environmental impact from information obtained during the drug development process. This paper critically reviews the evidence for read-across, and finds that few studies include plasma concentrations and mode of action based effects. Thus, despite a large number of apparently relevant papers and a general acceptance of the hypothesis, there is an absence of documented evidence. There is a need for large-scale studies to generate robust data for testing the read-across hypothesis and developing predictive models, the only feasible approach to protecting the environment.BBSRC Industrial Partnership Award BB/ I00646X/1 and BBSRC Industrial CASE Partnership Studentship BB/I53257X/1 with AstraZeneca Safety Health and Environment Research Programme

Mechanical, thermal and tribological properties of polyimide/nano-SiO2 composites synthesized using an in-situ polymerization

Polyimide (PI)/nano-SiO2 composites were successfully fabricated via a novel in-situ polymerization. Microstructure, thermal properties, mechanical performance and tribological behaviors of these composites were investigated. The results indicate that nano-SiO2 dispersed homogeneously. Compared with pure PI, thermal stability and heat resistance are higher about 10 °C with the addition of 5 wt% nano-SiO2. Compressive strength and modulus of composite with 5 wt% nano-SiO2 increase by 42.6 and 45.2%, respectively. The coefficient of friction (COF) of composite with 5 wt% nano-SiO2 decrease by 6.8% owing to the thick and uniform transfer films. Excess nano-SiO2 could adversely affect the COF of PI/nano-SiO2 composite. Additionally, wear resistance deteriorates obviously since transfer film exfoliates easily and nano-SiO2 aggregates on the surface of transfer films

The Youngest Victims: Children and Youth Affected by War

In 1989, the United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child declared, “[state parties] shall take all feasible measures to ensure protection and care of children who are affected by an armed conflict.” In addition to attempting to secure the welfare of children in armed conflict, the Convention went on to ban the recruitment and deployment of children during armed conflict. Despite the vast majority of sovereign nations signing and ratifying this agreement, this treaty, unfortunately, has not prevented children and youth from witnessing, becoming victims of, or participating in political, ethnic, religious, and cultural violence across the past three decades. This chapter offers an “ecological perspective” on the psychosocial consequences of exposure to the trauma of war-related violence and social disruption