Screening and Evaluation of Male Reproductive Effects of Isothiazolinones at Human-Relevant Levels in Mammals: Direct Impairments and Increased Susceptibility to Subsequent Spermatogenic Stress.

Although isothiazolinones (ITs) are widely used as antimicrobials in various products, the understanding of their hazards remains incomplete. This study aimed to evaluate the adverse effects of ITs at human-relevant levels on the male mammal reproductive system. First, we employed testicular cells to determine all test ITs exerting relatively high toxicity, with 2-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (OIT) exhibiting toxicity higher than that of other ITs.

Effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of carbendazim, either alone or combined with benzophenone-3, on testicular development in Xenopus laevis.

The fungicide carbendazim (CBZ), widely present in aquatic environments, has been reported to disrupt testicular development in rodents, yet its impacts on amphibians remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effects of environmentally-relevant concentrations of CBZ (1, 10, 100 μg/L) on early testicular development in Xenopus laevis following exposure from Nieuwkoop-Faber (NF) stages 45/46 to 52 in Experiment I. While all the concentrations of CBZ inhibited tadpole development, 10 and 100 μg/L CBZ caused retarded testicular development, which was characterized by morphological abnormality, suppressed cell proliferation and reduced germ cells, along with downregulation of testis-biased genes and upregulation of ovary-biased genes in certain concentration groups.

Covalent adduct formation of histone with organophosphorus pesticides in vitro.

It is established that organophosphorus pesticide (OPP) toxicity results from modification of amino acids in active sites of target proteins. OPPs can also modify unrelated target proteins such as histones and such covalent histone modifications can alter DNA-binding properties and lead to aberrant gene expression. In the present study, we report on non-enzymatic covalent modifications of calf thymus histones adducted to selected OPPs and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) in vitro using a bottom-up proteomics method approach.

Extended exposure to tetrabromobisphenol A-bis(2,3-dibromopropyl ether) leads to subfertility in male mice at the late reproductive age.

Tetrabromobisphenol A-bis(2,3-dibromopropyl ether) (TBBPA-BDBPE), a commonly used brominated flame retardant as a decabromodiphenyl ether substitute, has been detected in various environmental compartments, but its health hazards remain largely unknown. Our recent study showed that low-dose exposure of male mice to TBBPA-BDBPE from postnatal day (PND) 0 to 56 caused remarkable damage to the microtubule skeleton in Sertoli cells and the blood-testis barrier (BTB) but exerted little effect on conventional reproductive endpoints in adulthood. To investigate whether TBBPA-BDBPE may cause severe reproductive impairments at late reproductive age, here, we extended exposure of historically administrated male mice to 8-month age and allowed them to mate with non-treated females for the evaluation of fertility, followed by a general examination for the reproductive system.

Tetrabromobisphenol A-bis(2,3-dibromopropyl ether) impairs Postnatal Testis Development in Mice: The Microtubule Cytoskeleton as a Sensitive Target.

Tetrabromobisphenol A-bis(2,3-dibromopropyl ether) (TBBPA-BDBPE), a widely used flame retardant, has been frequently detected in various environmental compartments, but its health hazard remains largely unknown. Here, we investigated the adverse effects of TBBPA-BDBPE (50 and 1000 μg/kg/day) on postnatal testis development in CD-1 mice and the underlying mechanism. Following the first week of maternal exposure, neonatal mice in the high-dose group exhibited reduced seminiferous tubule area, fewer Sertoli cells and germ cells, and damaged microtubules in Sertoli cells; even microtubule damage was also observed in the low-dose group.

Postnatal exposure to low-dose tetrabromobisphenol A increases the susceptibility of mammal testes to chemical-induced spermatogenic stress in adulthood.

There is increasing data showing that some environmental chemicals can increase susceptibility to follow-up stress or injuries, possibly thereby contributing to certain clinical and subclinical diseases. Previous studies reported that tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), one of the most used brominated flame retardants, exerted little male reproductive toxicity in terms of conventional endpoints but affected testis development and thereby caused testicular alterations at the molecular and cellular levels. Here, we aimed to reveal whether developmental exposure to TBBPA can increase testicular susceptibility to follow-up stress in adulthood.

Comparison of Dechlorane Plus Concentrations in Sequential Blood Samples of Pregnant Women in Taizhou, China.

To develop an appropriate sampling strategy to assess the intrauterine exposure to dechlorane plus (DP), we investigated DP levels in sequential maternal blood samples collected in three trimesters of pregnancy, respectively, from women living in Taizhou. The median concentration of DPs (sum of syn-DP and anti-DP) in all samples was 30.5 pg g−1 wet-weight and 5.

Measurement of polychlorinated biphenyls with hand wipes and matched serum collected from Chinese E-waste dismantling workers: Exposure estimates and implications.

To date, dermal/hand-to-mouth exposure to chemicals in the e-waste recycling environment has not been sufficiently understood, and the importance of dermal absorption of chemicals in e-waste dismantling workers remains controversial. In this study, we utilized hand wipes and matched sera to characterize dermal/hand-to-mouth exposure to PCBs for e-waste dismantling workers, and potential effects on thyroid hormones were also assessed. PCB loadings in hand wipes varied from 0.

Transfer of dechlorane plus between human breast milk and adipose tissue and comparison with legacy lipophilic compounds.

In this study, levels of dechlorane plus (DP) in breast milk and matched adipose tissue samples were measured from 54 women living in Wenling, China. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured simultaneously for comparison. The levels of ∑DPs/∑PBDEs varied from less than one to several dozens of ng g lipid weight (lw) in matrices and the levels of ∑PCBs varied between several to hundreds of ng g lw.

2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodipheny ether (BDE-47) disrupts gonadal development of the Africa clawed frog (Xenopus laevis).

Previous studies have shown that BDE-47, one of the most abundant polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) congeners, has a weak estrogenic activity, but it has remained unclear whether BDE-47 disrupts gonadal development and causes male-to-female sex reversal in lower vertebrates, with limited and controversial data. The present study aimed to determine the effects of BDE-47 on gonadal development in Xenopus laevis, a model amphibian species for studying adverse effects of estrogenic chemicals on reproductive development. X.

Bioaccumulation and transfer characteristics of dechlorane plus in human adipose tissue and blood stream and the underlying mechanisms.

In this study, bioaccumulation and transfer characteristics of dechlorane plus (DP) were examined between human adipose tissue and matched maternal serum, and the possible transfer mechanism between tissues was further discussed. The median level of total DP was 971 pg g wet weight (ww) and 1.22 ng g lipid weight (lw) in adipose tissue, respectively, and was 34.

Comparative genome and transcriptome analyses reveal adaptations to opportunistic infections in woody plant degrading pathogens of Botryosphaeriaceae.

Botryosphaeriaceae are an important fungal family that cause woody plant diseases worldwide. Recent studies have established a correlation between environmental factors and disease expression; however, less is known about factors that trigger these diseases. The current study reports on the 43.

Partitioning of polybrominated biphenyl ethers from mother to fetus and potential health-related implications.

Presently, knowledge on the partitioning of polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from mother to fetus and the relationship between PBDE exposure and the levels of thyroid hormones (THs) needs to be extended further. In the present study, we investigated the concentrations of PBDEs in paired mother-fetus samples from 72 pregnant women in Wenling, China. The detection of PBDE concentration suggested that the expectant women living in Wenling for over 20 years might be highly exposed to PBDEs, which is largely ascribed to e-waste recycling activities in the local environment.

Maternal transfer of dechloranes and their distribution among tissues in contaminated ducks.

The tissue concentrations of dechlorane plus and its analogues were determined in ducks collected from several e-waste recycling villages of Taizhou, China. Compared with the published literature, the relatively high concentrations of these compounds were detected in ducks, indicating serious DP contamination. Since both the duck meat and eggs were important components for diet, this result reminded us of keeping a watchful eye on human dietary exposure to DP and its analogues in this study area.

Identification and characterization of Pestalotiopsis-like fungi related to grapevine diseases in China.

Pestalotiopsis-like fungi are an important plant pathogenic genus causing postharvest fruit rot and trunk diseases in grapevine in many countries. Pestalotiopsis-like fungi diseases were studied in vineyards in nine provinces across China. Multi-gene (ITS, β-tubulin and tef1) analysis coupled with morphology showed that a Neopestalotiopsis sp.

Morphological and molecular characterisation of Diaporthe species associated with grapevine trunk disease in China.

Trunk diseases in grapevine (Vitis spp.) are major problems in the wine and table-grape industries reducing the productivity, quality and longevity of vineyards. Species of Diaporthe are important fungal pathogens of grapevine trunk disease worldwide.

Polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated biphenyl ethers in adipose tissue and matched serum from an E-waste recycling area (Wenling, China).

To Date, the knowledge on relationship between PCBs/PBDEs exposure and thyroid hormones (THs) levels during pregnancy still needs to be extended. Meanwhile, studies on congener-specific adipose-serum ratios for PCBs/PBDEs were limited. This study reports the levels of PCBs/PBDEs in serum-adipose tissue samples (n = 64) from expectant women living surrounding e-waste recycling sites in Wenling, China.

Placental transfer of dechlorane plus in mother-infant pairs in an e-waste recycling area (Wenling, China).

It has been reported that breastfeeding can expose newborns to dechlorane plus (DP), but transplacental transfer of DP has not been documented. We measured DP and its dechlorinated analogs in matched maternal blood-placenta-cord blood samples from 72 residents of the e-waste recycling area of Wenling, China. DP was detected in cord sera, indicating the occurrence of prenatal DP exposure and the transfer of DP across the placenta.

Dechlorane Plus and its dechlorinated analogs from an e-waste recycling center in maternal serum and breast milk of women in Wenling, China.

We measured Dechlorane Plus (DP) and its dechlorinated analogs in the blood and milk from women living in e-waste recycling sites in Wenling of Taizhou region, China (n = 49). Both syn-DP and anti-DP were detected in all samples. Another compound, Cl(11)-DP, was detected in 45% and 84% of milk and serum samples, respectively.