Bisphenol A (BPA) is an estrogen receptor binding chemical, widely used in the plastics industry, and as such commonly encountered from plastic containers etc. Even at very low doses, BPA is believed to induce obesity and to have various endocrine disruptive effects. The purpose of this study was to determine possible gene expression changes in gonadal and inguinal adipose tissue from rats perinatally exposed to BPA. The method used was quantitative real-time PCR, and genes found to be up-regulated were PLZF, adiponectin, RXRa and Tcf21, while down-regulated genes were PPARγ, Tmem26, EsR1, Resistin, LPL, Chemerin, Serpina6, TFAM and Ahr. This is so far largely unsupported by other studies, and more research is needed.

Orientador: Mary Rosa Rodrigues de Marchi / Banca: Anderson Rodrigo Moraes de Oliveira / Banca: Marcia Cristina Bisinoti / Resumo: É consenso entre cientistas do mundo inteiro que existem moléculas com o poder de alterar o funcionamento do sistema endócrino humano e de diversas espécies de animais, conhecidas atualmente como alteradores endócrinos. Dentro deste grupo de substâncias, merece destaque as isoflavonas presentes em maior abundância nos grãos de soja, principalmente a genisteína (GEN) e a daidzeína (DAID), apontadas como responsáveis por desencadear inúmeros efeitos endócrinos em espécies aquáticas. Portanto, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi otimizar e validar um novo método para determinação de GEN e DAID em efluente de ETE, água subterrânea, potável e de rio; aplicando o método já validado nestas matrizes na cidade de Araraquara e avaliar o comportamento sazonal destes alteradores endócrinos. O método apresentado é baseado na pré-concentração e simplificação de amostra proporcionado pelo uso de SPE aplicado a 2 litros de amostras de água de rio e subterrânea e ao volume de 1,5 litro de efluente de ETE, analisados por HPLC-UV utilizando um sistema MeOH/Água como alternativa ao uso de acetonitrila. A exatidão mostrou-se na faixa de 75 a 110%, com precisão entre 0,5 e 14 %. O LQ alcançado com o referido método foi de 6,3 e 188 ng L-1 para daidzeína e 2,17 e 187 ng L-1 para a genisteína nas matrizes de água subterrânea, superficial e efluente de ETE, respectivamente. A aplicação do método nas amostras de água subterrânea e do Ribeirão das Cruzes demostrou que as concentrações de DAID e GEN situaramse abaixo dos LD. Já para as amostras de efluente de ETE, estas moléculas foram identificados em todas as amostras coletadas, com concentrações variando entre 60-306 ng L-1 para GEN e de 76 a 288 ng L-1 para DAID. Comparando-se os dados de temperatura e pluviosidade com as concentrações destes fitoestrógenos no período amostrado, percebe-se que a temperatura... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: It is a common thought among scientists worldwide that there are molecules with the capacity of altering the functioning of the endocrine system of humans and several species of animals, currently known as endocrine modifiers. Inside this group of substances, the highlighted ones are the isoflavones more abundantly present in soybean grains, especially genistein (GEN) and daidzein (DAID), pointed as those responsible for triggering a number of endocrine effects in aquatic species. Therefore, the aim of the present work was optimize and validate a new method for the determination of GEN and DAID in an effluent of a Sewage Treatment Unit (STU), as well as subterranean, drinking and river waters, applying the method already validated in these matrixes in the city of Araraquara, and then evaluate the seasonal behavior of these endocrine modifiers. The method presented is based on the sample pre-concentration and simplification enabled by the use of SPE applied to 2 liters of samples from subterranean and river waters, and to the volume of 1.5 liter of STU effluent, analyzed through HPLC-UV using a system of MeOH/Water as an alternative to the use of acetonitrile. The accuracy was shown to be in the range of 75 to 110%, with a precision between 0.5 and 14 %. The LQ reached with the method referred was of 6.3 and 188 ng L-1 for daidzein, and 2.17 and 187 ng L-1 for genistein in the matrixes of subterranean and superficial waters, as well as STU effluent, respectively. The application of the method in the samples of subterranean water and also in that of the Cruzes stream demonstrated that the DAID and GEN are below the LD. For the samples of STU effluent, such molecules were identified in all samples collected, with concentrations ranging between 60-306 ng L-1 for GEN and 76-288 ng L-1 for DAID. Comparing the temperature and rainfall data with the concentrations of these... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Accumulating evidence from epidemiological, wildlife, and laboratory studies indicates that abnormalities of reproduction, development and physiology can be ascribed to environmental contaminants with biological activities. Many such contaminants disrupt essential hormone-regulated processes by virtue of their ability to interact with nuclear hormone receptors (endocrine disrupting chemicals, EDC). Of particular concern are chemicals that mimic or block estrogen signaling (xenoestrogens, XE) through their direct interaction with estrogen receptors (ER). The current model of XE action focuses on disrupted transcriptional activity, as measured by changes in the expression of ER-regulated genes. However, transcription is tightly coupled to splicing, by which a single target gene transcript is processed to multiple structurally and functionally different mRNAs. In theory, any XE that interacts with ER to regulate transcription has the potential to disrupt splicing, thereby affecting not only mRNA quantity but also quality. To address this hypothesis, alternative splicing of the gene encoding ER alpha (esr1), itself an estrogen responsive gene, was investigated. In these studies, killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus), an environmentally relevant species, and zebrafish (Danio rerio), an advantageous laboratory fish model, were used. First, the occurrence of ER alpha splice variants in adult tissues, in developing embryos and in response to estrogens in the two species was documented. Additionally, the effects of long-term, multigenerational XE exposure on ER alpha splicing were examined in two killifish populations, one from an estrogenic (polluted) site and a second population from a reference (unpolluted) site. A subset of ER alpha variants from killifish was expressed in cell culture to document their transcriptional activities. To determine the in vivo relationship between estrogen responsiveness and an ER alpha splice variant of interest, esr1 splicing was experimentally altered in living embryos by microinjecting morpholino oligonucleotides, and changes in induction of a panel of estrogen responsive gene targets were measured as markers of effect. These results provide evidence that dysregulation of mRNA processing is also a mechanism of XE action, and suggest that resultant ER alpha splice variants mediate the short-term effects of estrogen disruption and are also part of the adaptive response to long-term, multigenerational XE exposures in the natural environment.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-07-30Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:18:55Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 cavassani_tb_me_araiq.pdf: 1899529 bytes, checksum: c90c7f090f98ce6f94ef871d0d70f937 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / É consenso entre cientistas do mundo inteiro que existem moléculas com o poder de alterar o funcionamento do sistema endócrino humano e de diversas espécies de animais, conhecidas atualmente como alteradores endócrinos. Dentro deste grupo de substâncias, merece destaque as isoflavonas presentes em maior abundância nos grãos de soja, principalmente a genisteína (GEN) e a daidzeína (DAID), apontadas como responsáveis por desencadear inúmeros efeitos endócrinos em espécies aquáticas. Portanto, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi otimizar e validar um novo método para determinação de GEN e DAID em efluente de ETE, água subterrânea, potável e de rio; aplicando o método já validado nestas matrizes na cidade de Araraquara e avaliar o comportamento sazonal destes alteradores endócrinos. O método apresentado é baseado na pré-concentração e simplificação de amostra proporcionado pelo uso de SPE aplicado a 2 litros de amostras de água de rio e subterrânea e ao volume de 1,5 litro de efluente de ETE, analisados por HPLC-UV utilizando um sistema MeOH/Água como alternativa ao uso de acetonitrila. A exatidão mostrou-se na faixa de 75 a 110%, com precisão entre 0,5 e 14 %. O LQ alcançado com o referido método foi de 6,3 e 188 ng L-1 para daidzeína e 2,17 e 187 ng L-1 para a genisteína nas matrizes de água subterrânea, superficial e efluente de ETE, respectivamente. A aplicação do método nas amostras de água subterrânea e do Ribeirão das Cruzes demostrou que as concentrações de DAID e GEN situaramse abaixo dos LD. Já para as amostras de efluente de ETE, estas moléculas foram identificados em todas as amostras coletadas, com concentrações variando entre 60-306 ng L-1 para GEN e de 76 a 288 ng L-1 para DAID. Comparando-se os dados de temperatura e pluviosidade com as concentrações destes fitoestrógenos no período amostrado, percebe-se que a temperatura... / It is a common thought among scientists worldwide that there are molecules with the capacity of altering the functioning of the endocrine system of humans and several species of animals, currently known as endocrine modifiers. Inside this group of substances, the highlighted ones are the isoflavones more abundantly present in soybean grains, especially genistein (GEN) and daidzein (DAID), pointed as those responsible for triggering a number of endocrine effects in aquatic species. Therefore, the aim of the present work was optimize and validate a new method for the determination of GEN and DAID in an effluent of a Sewage Treatment Unit (STU), as well as subterranean, drinking and river waters, applying the method already validated in these matrixes in the city of Araraquara, and then evaluate the seasonal behavior of these endocrine modifiers. The method presented is based on the sample pre-concentration and simplification enabled by the use of SPE applied to 2 liters of samples from subterranean and river waters, and to the volume of 1.5 liter of STU effluent, analyzed through HPLC-UV using a system of MeOH/Water as an alternative to the use of acetonitrile. The accuracy was shown to be in the range of 75 to 110%, with a precision between 0.5 and 14 %. The LQ reached with the method referred was of 6.3 and 188 ng L-1 for daidzein, and 2.17 and 187 ng L-1 for genistein in the matrixes of subterranean and superficial waters, as well as STU effluent, respectively. The application of the method in the samples of subterranean water and also in that of the Cruzes stream demonstrated that the DAID and GEN are below the LD. For the samples of STU effluent, such molecules were identified in all samples collected, with concentrations ranging between 60-306 ng L-1 for GEN and 76-288 ng L-1 for DAID. Comparing the temperature and rainfall data with the concentrations of these... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Basement of healthy embryo development comes from quality of oocytes and spermatozoa. Today, when percentage of couples suffering infertility together with assisted reproductive therapy (ART) is increasing, understanding to gamete biology and heritable epigenetic code is crucial. The study is focused on promising epigenome based markers that could serve as indicators of gamete quality for either their screening or selection for ART. Accordingly selected markers were used for the investigation of environmental pollutant bisphenol S (BPS) effect on gametes quality. To obtain these aims, we have used human semen samples, boar semen samples and ICR mice gametes. Samples were analyzed by flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry and western blot analysis. All experimental work was in accordance with Ethics committee University Hospital in Pilsen and approved experimental designs for appropriate experimental animal project. In the study, we detected the dimethylation of histone H3 on lysine K4 (H3K4me2) as potential epigenetic marker of sperm quality and chromatin immaturity. Secondly, we observed the role of the gasotransmitter hydrogen sulphide (H2S) as anti-capacitating agents, slowing down capacitation possibly through post-translational modification of proteins. Thirdly, SIRT1 histone deacetylase was...

The presence of biologically-active estrogenic endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in treated effluents from biological wastewater treatment facilities has prompted wide-spread interest in the behavior of these contaminants during the activated sludge process. The yeast-estrogen screen (YES) was used to quantify the estrogenic activity of samples taken from different areas of three wastewater treatment facilities. An estrogenic mass-balance around these facilities revealed that the majority of influent estrogenic activity was removed in the activated sludge process, but the main route for EDC discharge to the natural environment was via the treated effluent. The estrogenic activity in the effluent from a membrane bioreactor (MBR) was lower compared to a fully aerobic activated sludge process using secondary clarification, suggesting that enhanced removal of particulate and colloidal material may improve EDC removal efficiency. Colloidal material was obtained from settled mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) collected from a pilot MBR and a full-scale activated sludge process that included anoxic and aerobic zones. The MLSS was sized fractionated by filtration, and used to quantify the sorption coefficients for pyrene, 17&#946;-estradiol (E2), and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) by fluorescence quenching. The MLSS-derived colloidal organic carbon (COC) sorption coefficient (Kcoc) for pyrene ranged from (< 1 to 80) L/kgcoc, indicating a similar affinity for pyrene compared to natural organic matter. Kcoc coefficients for E2 ranged between (< 1 to 158) L/kgcoc for E2 and (< 1 to 228) L/kgcoc for EE2, and are the highest E2 and EE2 sorption coefficients reported in the literature to date. There was a strong correlation between the Kcoc coefficients and molar extinction coefficient at 280 nm (e280) for pyrene and E2, suggesting that the interaction of the π;-electrons is an important factor in determining overall sorption behavior. There was no such correlation for EE2. Based on the Kcoc coefficients and COC concentrations of the samples, between 1 and 50% of the aqueous E2 and EE2 concentrations were associated with colloidal material. In a novel application of the YES bioassay, the bioavailability of colloid-associated E2 was quantified by comparing the EC50 values of the dose-response curves generated in the presence and absence of size fractionated COC. An increase in EC50 values as a function of COC concentration was attributed to a reduction in bioavailability of E2, suggesting that MLSS-derived COC can reduce, but not eliminate, the biological impact of EDCs. However, there was a high degree of variability in the EC50 values, and estimates of the colloid-associated E2 fraction based on the Kcoc-e280 correlation were unsuccessful in accurately predicting increases in EC50 values. Nevertheless, the YES bioassay may represent a powerful tool in determining the bioavailability of EDCs in complex environmental samples. Results from this research effort suggest that the colloidal phase derived from activated sludge systems represents an important transport vehicle whereby EDCs and other trace organic compounds can enter into the natural environment. Consequently, wastewater treatment plants discharging to sensitive ecosystems or involved with direct water reuse programs should optimize the treatment process to remove colloidal material. / Ph. D.

Les activités anthropiques génèrent une contamination à de faibles doses des boues de station d'épuration par des micropolluants organiques persistants tels que les hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques (HAP), les polychlorobiphényles et le nonylphénol. Cette étude porte sur la détermination de l'influence des microorganismes au cours de la méthanisation sur le devenir de ces trois familles de micropolluants. Un protocole spécifique a été mis au point pour extraire des microorganismes de leur écosystème d'origine tout en conservant la singularité structurelle et fonctionnelle des communautés. Trois communautés, au passif de pollution différent, ont ainsi été soumises à la même pression de sélection (substrat et disponibilité en micropolluant) dans des bioréacteurs continus de méthanisation. Ces trois écosystèmes se sont alors distingués parfaitement via les caractéristiques de leurs communautés et la réalisation de fonctions diverses de digestion. Or, la dégradation des micropolluants a convergé dans ces 3 systèmes, démontrant l'absence de lien direct entre méthanogenèse et dégradation de ces molécules et une absence de spécialisation des communautés pour cette dégradation. En outre, il a été observé que la répartition des micropolluants au sein de la boue est influencée par les voies métaboliques des communautés. Plus le degré de digestion est avancé, plus les micropolluants sont abondants dans le compartiment aqueux et sorbés à la matière dissoute et colloïdale. Des fonctions, spécifiques de la dégradation des micropolluants, ont été étudiées (i) en suivant l'assimilation de phénanthrène marqué au 13C en culture batch, source principale de carbone, ce qui n'a pas permis d'observer sa minéralisation et (ii) en recherchant la présence de gènes fonctionnels ce qui n'a pas permis la détection des fonctions ciblée. Des activités œstrogéniques, androgéniques, dioxin-like et HAP-like, l'activité HAP-like est la plus exprimée dans les réacteurs à l'équilibre. Le degré de digestion, via une modification de la répartition des HAP, explique l'augmentation de l'activité HAP-like dans le compartiment aqueux des boues les plus digérées (et sa diminution dans le compartiment particulaire). L'activité HAP-like n'est pas entièrement expliquée par le dosage des HAP, ce qui suggère la présence d'intermédiaires métaboliques ayant une activité biologique et dont la nature différerait suivant le métabolisme exprimé par les communautés microbiennes. / Due to anthropogenic activity the sludge of wastewater treatment plants are contaminated by organic micropollutants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorinated biphenyls and nonylphenol. This study focuses on the influence of microbial communities on the fate of these three micropollutant families during the anaerobic digestion process. A specific protocol was developed to extract microorganisms from their native ecosystem while maintaining their structural and functional singularity. Three communities, with different pollution history, were thus extracted and subjected to the same selection pressure (availability of substrate and micropollutant) in continuous anaerobic digesters. These three ecosystems can be perfectly identified through the characteristics of their microbial communities and their global metabolism. However, our results show also that the degradation of micropollutant converged in these 3 systems, demonstrating no direct link between methanogenesis and micropollutant degradation and no specialization of the microbial communities toward this degradation. In addition, the distribution of micropollutants in sludge is influenced by the metabolic pathways of those communities. The more the digestion is advanced, the greater the micropollutants are abundant in the aqueous compartment and adsorbed to the dissolved and colloidal matter. Specific functions for micropollutant degradation were studied (i) by following the 13C-labeled phenanthrene assimilation as main carbon source, which did not allow observing its mineralization and (ii) by exploring the presence of functional genes, which did not allow the detection of the targeted functions. Among the estrogenic, androgenic, dioxin-like and PAH-like activities, PAH-like activity is more expressed in all reactors at the steady state. The different degrees of digestion, through a change in PAH distribution, explain the increase in PAH-like activity in the aqueous compartment of the most digested sludge (and its decrease in the particulate compartment). PAH-like activity is not fully explained by PAH quantification, suggesting the presence of by-products with biological activity and which could be different depending on the metabolic pathway of the microbial communities.

O 4-Nonilfenol (4-NF) é o principal produto formado a partir da degradação do Nonilfenol etoxilado, surfactante não iônico amplamente utilizado em formulações de uso doméstico e industrial. Objetivou-se neste estudo desenvolver método de quantificação de 4-NF em HPLC; avaliar a remoção de 4-NF em reatores em batelada com co-substratos (etanol, metanol e fumarato) e avaliar a remoção e degradação de 4-NF em Reator Anaeróbio de Leito Fluidificado (RALF) em escala aumentada (20L), bem como caracterizar a comunidade microbiana estabelecida no material suporte por meio das técnicas de PCR/DGGE do gene RNAr 16S e sequenciamento massivo via plataforma Illumina-Miseq&#174;. O RALF foi preenchido com areia como material suporte, operado com Tempo de Detenção Hidráulico (TDH) de 18,2±1,1 horas e alimentado com meio de cultura acrescido de 4-NF PESTANAL&#174; (Sigma-Aldrich&#174;). Análises de monitoramento da concentração de 4-NF e matéria orgânica, bem como, dos parâmetros físico-químicos foram realizadas para avaliar a estabilidade do reator quanto a remoção e degradação do composto de interesse. A operação do reator foi dividida em distintas etapas, contando com inoculação do RALF em circuito fechado, adaptação ao meio de cultura e subsequentes fases com adição de 4-NF. Para reatores em batelada a adição de 4-NF (de 288,97±96,49 a 469,98±182,42 &#181;g L-1) favoreceu a produção média de metano acumulada (de 2.292,3 para 2.744,7 mol, respectivamente) para todos os co-susbtratos testados, todavia, retardou o tempo médio de início da produção (de 15,9 h para 107,9 h), bem como reduziu a velocidade de produção (de 24,4 para 10,9 &#181;mol d-1). Para ensaio com adição de 4-NF e Fumarato foram verificados os maiores valores de produção acumulada de metano (3.163,68±169,17 &#181;mol) e de remoção de DQO (75,52±0,34% para DQO inicial de 1.242,00±27,48 mg L-1), em relação aos demais ensaios com adição de 4-NF. Para a remoção de 4-NF em reatores em batelada os valores não diferiram significativamente. Para o RALF, foram verificadas eficiências médias de remoção de DQO de 90,34±6,1% (Fase I), 94,0±1,2% (Fase II), 97,0±1,3% (Fase III) e 95±1,5% (Fase IV) e 4-NF de 73,2±11,1% (Fase II), 67,3±7,3% (Fase III) e 77,88±8,9% (Fase IV). As diferentes concentrações de 4-NF aplicadas ao RALF não afetaram a eficiência de remoção de DQO e promoveram a seleção dos microrganismos que compuseram a biomassa do leito. Os gêneros mais abundantes identificados no reator sem adição de 4-NF foram Prolixibacter, Geothrix, Klebsiella, Lactobacillus e Geobacter. Os gêneros com maior abundância relativa identificados após adição de 4-NF foram os seguintes: Geothrix, Holophaga, Elusimicrobium, Paludibacter, Lactobacillus, Aeromonas, Pelobacter, Aquaspirillum, Pseudomonas, Delftia, Acinetobacter, Arcobacter, Ignavibacterium, Treponema, Lysinibacillus e Enterococcus. / 4-Nonylphenol (4-NP) is the main product formed in the Nonylphenol ethoxylate degradation, nonionic surfactant used in formulations of domestic and industrial use. The objective of this study was to develop a method to determine 4-NP in HPLC; to evaluate the 4-NP removal in batch reactors with co-substrates (ethanol, methanol and fumarate) and removal and degradation of 4-NP in anaerobic Fluidized Bed Reactor (AFBR) on an enlarged scale (20L), as well as characterize the microbial community established in the support material by PCR / DGGE techniques of the 16S RNAr gene and massive sequencing by the Illumina-Miseq&#174; platform. The AFBR was filled with sand as carrier material, operated with Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) of 18.2±1.1 hours and fed with synthetic sewage plus 4-NP PESTANAL&#174; (Sigma-Aldrich&#174;). Monitoring of the 4-NP concentration and organic matter, as well as physical-chemical parameters were performed to evaluate the stability of the reactor for the removal and degradation of the compound of interest. Reactor operation was divided into different stages, with inoculation of the RALF in closed circuit, adaptation to the culture medium and subsequent phases with 4-NF addition. The addition of 4-NP (from 288.97±96.49 to 469.98±182.42 &#181;g L-1) in batch reactors favored the average accumulated methane production (from 2,292.3 to 2,744.7 &#181;mol, respectively) for all tested co-susbtrates, however, delayed the mean time to start production (from 15.9 h to 107.9 h), as well as reduced production rate (from 24.4 to 10.9 &#181;mol d-1). The highest accumulated values of methane production (3,163.68 ± 169.17 &#181;mol) and COD removal (75.52±0.34% for the initial COD of 1,242±27.48 mg L-1) were verified for the addition of 4-NP and Fumarate, compared to the other tests with addition of 4-NP. For the 4-NP removal in batch reactors the values did not differ significantly. Mean values of COD removal for the AFBR were 90.34±6.1% (Phase I), 94.0±1.2% (Phase II), 94.0±1.2% (Phase III) and 97.0±1.3% (Phase IV) and 4-NF of 73.2±11.1% (Phase II), 67.3±7.3% (Phase III) and 77.88±8.9% (Phase IV). Different concentrations of 4-NP applied to the AFBR did not affect the COD removal efficiency and promoted the selection of the microorganisms that composed the bed biomass. The most abundant genera identified in the reactor without addition of 4-NP were Prolixibacter, Geothrix, Klebsiella, Lactobacillus and Geobacter. The genotypes with the highest relative abundance identified after addition of 4-NP were as follows: Geothrix, Holophaga, Elusimicrobium, Paludibacter, Lactobacillus, Aeromonas, Pelobacter, Aquaspirillum, Pseudomonas, Delftia, Acinetobacter, Arcobacter, Ignavibacterium, Treponema, Lysinibacillus and Enterococcus.

O fipronil, um inseticida e acaricida de amplo espectro de ação, atua como bloqueador dos canais de cloreto acoplados aos receptores GABA (GABA-Cls) e aos receptores glutamatérgicos (GluCls), estes últimos são alvo inseto-específico não presente nos vertebrados. O fipronil é utilizado na agricultura, medicina veterinária e saúde publica no combate a vetores de doenças. Comercialmente conhecido pelas marcas Frontline® (uso veterinário) e Regent 800 WG® (uso agrícola), esse inseticida, além de atuar sobre sistema nervoso central, atua, ainda, em organismos não-alvo como desregulador endócrino, podendo causar prejuízos nos sistemas reprodutor, nervoso e imunológico, por gerações. Assim, o presente estudo buscou investigar os efeitos da exposição pré-natal ao fipronil na geração F1 de ratas Wistar. Quarenta ratas virgens, Wistar, adultas (a partir de 90 dias de vida), foram acasaladas e separadas em quatro grupos: três experimentais, que receberam: 0,1, 1,0 e 10,0 mg/Kg de peso de fipronil; e o grupo controle, que recebeu água (1 mL/Kg de peso), via gavagem, do 6º ao 20º dia de gestação (n = 10 animais por grupo). O estudo foi então dividido em três partes: 1) estudos sobre a toxicidade materna e o comportamento maternal dessas ratas no 5º dia pós-nascimento (DPN5); 2) avaliação do desenvolvimento físico e reflexológico da geração F1, desde o dia de seu nascimento (DPN0) até o DPN35; e 3) avaliações comportamentais e de necropsia dos filhotes na idade adulta. O tratamento pré-natal com fipronil causou leve toxicidade materna na maior dose, apenas na segunda semana de gestação, caracterizada pela redução do consumo de ração (p<0,01), porém, essa redução não causou prejuízos no desempenho reprodutivo dessas ratas quando comparadas ao grupo controle. Além disso, o tratamento do fipronil mostrou leve melhoria do comportamento maternal, onde as ratas que receberam as doses de 1,0 e 10,0 mg/Kg apresentaram aumento do tempo de lambedura em seus filhotes (p<0,05), enquanto a maior dose agrupou toda a ninhada mais rapidamente (p<0,05) quando comparadas ao grupo controle. Na infância, não foram observadas alterações significantes nos parâmetros do desenvolvimento físicos da prole, porém os filhotes que estiveram expostos à menor dose durante o período gestacional, apresentaram retardo para o desenvolvimento do reflexo de geotaxia negativa, tanto machos (p<0,01), quanto fêmeas (p<0,05). A análise do desenvolvimento motor desses filhotes, constatou alterações nos perfis da atividade geral em campo aberto, observados por sete dias consecutivos, nos grupos de 0,1 e 1,0 mg/Kg, tanto na prole feminina, quanto na prole masculina. Na idade adulta, as proles de ratas tratadas com fipronil, tanto masculina, quanto feminina, apresentaram alterações comportamentais, indicando aumento de ansiedade e alterações no tempo de interação social. A prole masculina apresentou ainda, alteração na motivação sexual sem prejudicar a eficiência copulatória e a prole feminina apresentou alterações no ciclo estral, sem prejudicar o desempenho copulatório, ambos na menor dose de exposição pré-natal. Apesar das alterações comportamentais, a necropsia não mostrou alterações anatômicas nos órgãos desses animais. Assim, esses resultados sugerem que a exposição ao fipronil na gestação causou alterações na geração F1, sendo proposto o envolvimento do sistema endócrino regulado pelo sistema GABAérgico. / Fipronil, a broad spectrum action insecticide and acaricide, acts blocking GABA-regulated chloride channels and Glutamate-gated chloride channels, which is a specific insect target not present on vertebrates. It is used in crops, veterinarian medicine and public health against disease vectors. Commercially known as Frontline® (vet) and Regent 800 WG® (crops), it acts on the central nervous system and on non-target organisms as an endocrine disruptor causing impairment on reproductive, nervous and immunological system, through generations. Thus, this study investigated effects of prenatal exposition to fipronil in Wistar rats offspring. Forty adult Wistar rats (90 days old) were matted and separated into four groups: three experimental, that received 0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 mg/Kg (bw) of fipronil; and the control group, that received water (1 mL/Kg bw), through gavage from the 6th to 20th pregnancy day (n=10 animals per group). The study was divided into three sections: 1) maternal toxicity and maternal behavior evaluations; 2) physical end reflexological development of F1 generation, since day of birth until the 35th day of life; and 3) behavior and necropsy evaluation of the adult offspring. The fipronil prenatal treatment caused slight maternal toxicity in the highest dose on the second pregnancy week, by the reduction of food intake (p<0,01), although, these reduction did not caused reproductive performance impairment, compared to the control group. Furthermore, the fipronil treatment showed slight increase of maternal behavior in rats treated with 1.0 and 10.0 mg/Kg. Both groups showed increased pup-grooming time (p<0,05), and the highest dose, grouped theirs pups earlier than the control group (p<0,05). No alterations were observed in the offspring physical development, however, the lowest dose exposed offspring showed delay on geotaxis reflex development, in both male (p<0,01) and female offspring (p<0,05). The motor development assessment, of the 0.1 and 1.0 mg/Kg dose offspring, showed variation on motor activity profile on the open field arena, observed for seven consecutive days. In the adulthood, the treated offspring, male and female, showed behavior changes denoting anxiety increase and social behavior alterations. Furthermore, in the lower dose, male offspring showed decrease on sexual motivation without interfering on copulatory efficiency and the female offspring showed estrus cycle deregulation without interfering on lordosis performance. Despite behavior alterations, there were no anatomic alterations in these animals\' organs. Therefore, these results suggest that the prenatal exposition to fipronil caused alterations on F1 generation, being proposed involvement of the endocrine system controlled by GABAeregciystem.

Metais como o alumínio (Al) e o manganês (Mn) são encontrados na natureza como também em efluentes industriais, e podem ser tóxicos para a biota aquática, apresentando efeitos de desregulação endócrina, por exemplo, para os peixes, podendo afetar o desempenho reprodutivo de uma espécie. Rios e tributários do Estado de São Paulo, mesmo em áreas teoricamente conservadas, têm demonstrado um aumento no aporte destes metais, em concentrações superiores ao permitido pela legislação, e a consequência disso para os peixes é pouco conhecida. Neste estudo foram delineados ensaios de toxicidade para exposição aquática aguda (96 horas) ao Al e ao Mn, de forma isolada e sincrônica, em fêmeas vitelogênicas do teleósteo Astyanax bimaculatus. Este período de exposição foi seguido de um período em água limpa (96 horas) para avaliar a possibilidade de recuperação dos efeitos tóxicos promovidos por estes metais, avaliando-se os seguintes parâmetros: a fecundidade relativa (FR), potencial de bioconcentração destes metais, concentração plasmática de Estradiol (E2), 17&alpha; hidroxiprogesterona (17&alpha;- OHP), Cortisol (CT), Triiodotironina (T3), Tiroxina (T4) e a expressão do mRNA do &beta;FSH e &beta;LH. Foram estabelecidos cinco grupos experimentais: Controle em pH neutro, pH ácido, Al, Mn e exposição Sincrônica ao Al e ao Mn. Os resultados demonstraram que o pH ácido e o Al reduziram a FR sem efeito de recuperação. O Al se bioconcentrou principalmente nas brânquias, fígado e encéfalo, enquanto que o Mn se bioconcentrou principalmente nas brânquias, mas em menor intensidade que o Al. Quando expostos sincronicamente, o Mn potencializou os efeitos de bioconcentração do Al, causando a redução na concentração plasmática de E2 e 17&alpha;-OHP, para este progestágeno apenas na exposição ao Mn, tanto isolada quanto em exposição sincrônica. Contudo não foi observada recuperação na concentração de E2. Ambos os metais, em exposição isolada, causaram redução na concentração plasmática de CT, todavia nenhuma alteração foi registrada na exposição sincrônica. Da mesma forma, ambos os metais causaram redução na concentração plasmática de T4, inclusive a exposição sincrônica, enquanto que o T3 se alterou diferentemente em cada grupo de exposição metálica. Possivelmente os efeitos sobre os hormônios tireoidianos tenham refletido uma resposta de modulação endócrina, enquanto que sobre os esteroides foram efeitos de desregulação endócrina, em uma via anti-esteroidogênica. Nenhum efeito foi observado na expressão gênica do mRNA &beta;LH e não foi possível obter resultado sobre o &beta;FSH, embora os primers tenham sido desenhados especialmente para A. bimaculatus e tenham funcionado corretamente na elaboração da curva padrão para o qRT - PCR. Os resultados encontrados em fêmeas vitelogênicas de A. bimaculatus podem ser relacionados ao tipo de exposição e a interação / Metals such as Aluminum (Al) and Manganese (Mn) are found in nature as well as in industrial effluents, and can be toxic to aquatic biota, with endocrine disrupting effects, e.g. for fish, which can affect the reproductive performance of a species. Rivers and tributaries of São Paulo State, even in theoretically preserved areas, have shown an increase in the supply of these metals in concentrations greater than allowed by law, and the consequence for the fish is poorly understood. In this study, toxicity tests were designed for acute aquatic exposure (96 hours) to Al and Mn, in isolated and synchronous forms, in vitellogenic females of Astyanax bimaculatus, a teleost fish species. This exposure period was followed by a period in clean water (96 hours) to assess the possibility of recovery of toxic effects promoted by these metals, evaluating the following parameters: relative fecundity (FR), bioconcentration potential of these metals, plasma concentration of Estradiol (E2), 17&alpha; hydroxyprogesterone (17&alpha; -OHP), Cortisol (CT), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and mRNA gene expression of &beta;FSH and &beta;LH. Five experimental groups were established: Control at neutral pH, acidic pH, Al, Mn and synchronic exposure to Al and Mn. The results showed that acidic pH and Al reduced FR with no recovery effect. Al was mainly bioconcentrate in gills, liver and brain, whereas Mn was mainly bioconcentrate in gills, but with less intensity than Al. When exposed synchronously, Mn potentiated the effects of Al bioconcentration, causing a reduction in the plasma levels of E2 and 17&alpha;-OHP, for this progestogen only to Mn exposure, both, in isolated and synchronous exposure. But recovery was not observed in E2 levels. Both metals, in isolated exposure caused a reduction in plasma CT, but no change was recorded in synchronous exposure. Likewise, both metals induced reduction in plasma T4 levels, including synchronous exposure, whereas T3 levels were differently altered in each metal exposure group. Possibly the effects on thyroid hormones have reflected a response to endocrine modulation, whereas steroids showed endocrine disrupting effects in na antiesteroidogenic way. No effects were observed in mRNA &beta;LH gene expression and it was not possible to achieve &beta;FSH results, although the primers were designed especially for A. bimaculatus and have worked properly in the preparation of the standard curve for qRT - PCR. The results found in vitellogenic A. bimaculatus females may be related to the type of exposure and interaction, which were variable between Al and Mn ions.