Reply to the discussion by H. Chanson on “Stability of concrete macro-roughness lining for overflow protection of earth embandment dams"

Four groups of goldfish were exposed to cadmium in a concentration of 20 mg Cd/l water under aquarium conditions. The duration of exposure was 1, 4, 7 and 15 days. It was shown that the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the red blood cells (RBC) significantly decreased after the first day of cadmium exposure. However, the SOD activity increased after 7 and 15 days of cadmium treatment. Elevated activity of catalase (CAT) was found in erythrocytes of cadmium-treated fishes after 15 days, whereas plasma GOT levels was increased after 7 and 15 days and GPT levels after 1, 4, 7 and 15 days of cadmium treatment. This was accompanied by a significant decrease of blood hemoglobin concentrations (after 15 days) and hematocrit values (after 7 and 15 days). However, the concentration of blood glucose significantly increased after 1, 4, 7 and 15 days of cadmium exposure. These results indicate that cadmium causes oxidative stress and tissue damage in the exposed fishes.nul

Effect of aspartame on biochemical and oxidative stress parameters in rat blood

Aspartame (ASP) is one of the most widely used nonnutritive sweeteners. This study investigates the chronic effects of ASP on hematological and biochemical parameters, and its effects on the oxidative/antioxidative status in the red blood cells of Wistar albino rats. Rats were provided with ASP (40 mg/kg/daily for six weeks) in drinking water. Increased food and fluid intake was observed in the ASP-treated rats. Total body mass was significantly decreased in the ASP-treated rats. Treatment with ASP caused an increase in the concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and in the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), as well as a decrease in the levels of HDL-cholesterol in the serum. A significant decline in the number of white blood cells (WBC) was observed after ASP uptake. Based on the results we conclude that ASP induces oxidative stress, observed as an alteration of the glutathione redox status, which leads to increased concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) and lipid peroxides (LPO) in the red blood cells. Changes in biochemical parameters, lipid metabolism, as well as changes in the levels of oxidative stress markers and the appearance of signs of liver damage indicate that chronic use of ASP can lead to the development of hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia and associated diseases.Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Republic of Serbia {[}173041

Nanoscale surface physics with local probes: Electronic bandstructure of a two-dimensional self-assembled adatom superlattice

The effect of cadmium, coenzyme Q(10) and cadmium+coenzyme Q10 on the activities of superoxide dismutases (total, manganese containing and copper-zinc containing), catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase and concentrations of ascorbic acid, vitamin E, coenzyme Q, total protein contents and cadmium concentration in skeletal muscle of male Wistar albino rats were studied in comparison to the control animals. Increased activities of total and copper-zinc containing superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase, and decreased activity of manganese containing superoxide dismutase in cadmium treated rats were observed. In coenzyme Q10 treated animals the activities of total and manganese containing superoxide dismutase were decreased, while glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities were increased. In rats treated with cadmium+coenryme Q10 the activity of manganese containing superoxide dismutase was decreased, whereas the activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase were increased, Concentrations of ascorbic acid and vitamin E were increased in all examined groups of animals, while coenzyme Q concentration was increased in coenzyme Q10 and cadmium+coenzyme Q10 treated rats. Cadmium decreased, while coenzyme Q10 increased the total protein contents. Accumulation of cadmium in skeletal muscle of rats treated with cadmium and cadmium+coenzyme Q10 was also observed.nul

Combined effects of coenzyme Q(10) and Vitamin E in cadmium induced alterations of antioxidant defense system in the rat heart

Our study investigated the possible protective effects of coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) and Vitamin E (Vit E) alone or in combination against cadmium (Cd) induced alterations of antioxidant defense system in the rat heart. Male Wistar rats were injected with a single dose of CdCl(2) (0.4 mg Cd/kg BW i.p.), CoQ(10) (20 mg CoQ(10)/kg BW i.m.) and Vit E (20 IU Vit E/kg BW i.m.), alone or in combination. Acute intoxication of rats with Cd were followed by significantly increased activity of antioxidant defense enzymes (CuZn SOD, GSH-Px, GST and GR), while the activity of Mn SOD was decreased in the heart. The treatment with Cd significantly decreased Vit C and Vit E concentrations. Treatment with CoQ10 and Vit E reversed Cd-induced alterations of antioxidant defense system. The obtained results support the assumption that CoQ10 and Vit E functions cooperatively with endogenous antioxidants and diminished toxic effects of Cd in rat heart. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.nul

Combined effects of coenzyme Q(10) and Vitamin E in cadmium induced alterations of antioxidant defense system in the rat heart

Our study investigated the possible protective effects of coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) and Vitamin E (Vit E) alone or in combination against cadmium (Cd) induced alterations of antioxidant defense system in the rat heart. Male Wistar rats were injected with a single dose of CdCl(2) (0.4 mg Cd/kg BW i.p.), CoQ(10) (20 mg CoQ(10)/kg BW i.m.) and Vit E (20 IU Vit E/kg BW i.m.), alone or in combination. Acute intoxication of rats with Cd were followed by significantly increased activity of antioxidant defense enzymes (CuZn SOD, GSH-Px, GST and GR), while the activity of Mn SOD was decreased in the heart. The treatment with Cd significantly decreased Vit C and Vit E concentrations. Treatment with CoQ10 and Vit E reversed Cd-induced alterations of antioxidant defense system. The obtained results support the assumption that CoQ10 and Vit E functions cooperatively with endogenous antioxidants and diminished toxic effects of Cd in rat heart. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.nul

Antioxidant defence enzyme activities in hepatopancreas, gills and muscle of Spiny cheek crayfish (Orconectes limosus) from the River Danube

The aim of our study was to determine the activity of antioxidant defence (AD) enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR) and the phase II biotransformation enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in the hepatopancreas, the gills and muscle of Spiny cheek crayfish (Orconectes limosus) from the River Danube and to compare tissue specificities of investigated enzymes. Our results indicated that both specific and total SOD activities in the hepatopancreas were lower compared to the gills and muscle. Total SOD activity in the gills was lower with respect to that in muscle. CAT and GSH-Px (both specific and total) activities were higher in the hepatopancreas compared to those in the gills and muscle. In the gills the specific and total GR activities were higher than in the hepatopancreas and muscle. The specific and total GST activities were higher in the hepatopancreas compared with the gills and muscle. Our study represents the first comprehensive report of AD enzymes in tissues of O. limosus caught in the River Danube. The noted tissue distributions of the investigated AD enzyme activities most likely reflected different metabolic activities and different responses to environmental conditions in the examined tissues. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.nul

Effect of cadmium and selenium on the antioxidant defense system in rat kidneys

To examine effects of exogenous Cd on the kidney antioxidant defense system (AOS) and the possible protective role of Se against Cd toxicity, male Wistar albino rats (2 months old) were exposed during 30 days to oral intake of 200 ppm Cd (as CdCl2), 0.1 ppm Se (as Na-selenite) or to the same dosages of Cd + Se, simultaneously. Marked accumulation of Cd (23.44 +/- 0.69 mu g/g w.m.) and marked alterations of AOS, resulting in kidney injury (renal pseudohypertrophy), were found in Cd-treated rats. Activities of total superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), manganese-containing superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se GSH-Px, EG 1.11.1.9) were significantly reduced, whereas that of glutathione-S-transferase (CST, EC 2.5.1.18) and vitamin E (vit E) concentration were significantly increased in the kidneys of Cd-treated rats. Kidney catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6) activity, ascorbic acid (AsA) and red blood cell glutathione one (GSH, GSSG) levels were not markedly influenced by Cd uptake. In kidneys of Se treated rats, the activities of total SOD, copper-zinc-containing superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) and GST were significantly increased. Activities of kidney CAT and Se GSH-Px were largely unchanged, whereas significant increases of the kidney AsA and vit E concentrations occurred. In Cd + Se-cotreated rats, the kidney activities of MnSOD, CAT and Se GSH-Px, as well as vit E concentration, were the same as in controls, whereas CuZnSOD and GST activities and concentration of AsA exceeded normal values. These data indicate that Se only partially improves the AOS that is insufficient to prevent Cd-induced nephrotoxicity. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.nul