O presente trabalho teve como objetivo identificar, por meio da Cromatografia Gasosa acoplada à Espectrometria de Massas (CG-MS), os produtos formados pelo contato do hipoclorito de sódio (NaOCl) com polpa e dentina bovina. Foram selecionados dentes incisivos superiores bovinos recém-extraídos. Os dentes bovinos tiveram suas coroas separadas das raízes, em seguida o tecido pulpar foi removido com o auxílio de limas Hedströem e armazenado, a porção radicular seccionada teve sua superfície externa preparada com pontas diamantadas para remoção da camada cementária, seccionada em pequenos fragmentos e em seguida foi triturada em um moinho de bola a fim de obter micropartículas de dentina. Foram preparadas três diferentes concentrações de NaOCl (0,5%, 2,5% e 5,25%). Para análise dos produtos formados na fase volátil, 11mg de polpa foi colocada em contato com as diferentes concentrações da solução halógena e mantida em contato sob agitação até que fosse observada a total dissolução da amostra, em seguida a fibra de microextração em fase sólida (SPME) era exposta dentro do recipiente através da membrana da tampa por 15 minutos para efetuar a adsorção dos produtos formados e imediatamente injetada no CG-MS para análise. Para dentina, 30mg da amostra foi mantida em contato com as três concentrações do NaOCl sob agitação por 15 minutos, em seguida a fibra de SPME era exposta dentro do recipiente para adsorção dos produtos formados e imediatamente injetada no CG-MS para análise. Foi utilizado o mesmo protocolo para análise da fase aquosa, deste modo, após a remoção das fibras para a análise dos compostos voláteis, foi feita a extração da solução final obtida por meio de éter etílico puro, padronizando-se a mistura de 2 ml da solução + 2 ml de éter e mantendo sob agitação durante 5 minutos. Seguida a agitação, a fase suspensa da mistura era aspirada separando o éter da fase aquosa da solução obtida. O éter contendo os produtos resultantes da interação química dos compostos orgânicos da dentina ou polpa com o NaOCl nas suas diferentes concentrações era filtrado e em seguida injetado no CG-MS para análise da fase aquosa das amostras. As análises da fase volátil e aquosa tanto da dentina quanto da polpa mostraram que houve formação de clorofórmio, hexacloroetano, diclorometilbenzeno e benzaldeído, tendo os três primeiros compostos estrutura química que os caracterizam como organoclorados. Conclui-se que houve formação de compostos organoclorados quando o NaOCl foi colocado em contato com substrato orgânico (polpa ou dentina bovina) em todas as concentrações estudadas e que esta formação foi diretamente proporcional à concentração do NaOCl utilizado. / The aim of this study was to identify, by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), the products formed from the contact of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) with bovine pulp and dentin. Freshly extracted maxillary bovine incisors were selected for this purpose. The crowns were separated from the roots and the pulp tissue was removed with Hedströem files and stored. The root portion had its external surface prepared with diamond burs to remove the cementum layer and was sectioned into small fragments, which were ground in a ball windmill to obtain dentin microparticles. Three NaOCl concentrations were prepared (0.5%, 2.5% and 5.25%). For analysis of the products formed in the volatile phase, 11 mg of pulp tissue was placed in contact with the different halogen solution concentrations and kept in contact under constant agitation until complete tissue dissolution occurred. Next, the solid phase microextraction (SPME) fiber was exposed inside the container through the cover membrane for 15 minutes for adsorption of the formed products and immediately injected into the GC-MS equipment for analysis. For the dentin, 30 mg of sample was kept in contact with the three NaOCl concentrations under constant agitation for 15 minutes, and then the SPME fiber was exposed inside the container through the cover membrane for 15 minutes for adsorption of the products and immediately injected into the GC-MS equipment for analysis. The same protocol was used for analysis of the aqueous phase. In this way, after removal of the fibers for analysis of the volatile compounds, the final solution was extracted using pure ethyl ether, standardizing the mixture of 2 mL of solution plus 2 mL of ether, under constant agitation during 5 minutes. Next, the suspended phase of the mixture was aspirated, separating the ether from the aqueous phase of the obtained solution. The ether containing the products resulting from the chemical interaction between dentin/pulp organic compounds with the different NaCl concentrations was filtered and then injected into the GC-MS equipment for analysis of the aqueous phase of the samples. Analysis of the aqueous and volatile phases of both dentin and pulp showed formation of chloroform, hexachloroethane, dichloro-methyl-benzene and benzaldehyde, the first three compounds exhibiting chemical structure that characterize them as organochlorides. It may be concluded that there is formation of organochlorine compounds when NaOCl was placed in contact with an organic substrate (bovine pulp or dentin) at all tested concentrations and that it was directly proportional to the NaOCl concentration.

Orientador: Sarah Arana / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-15T00:25:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tagliaferro_AlineFernanda_M.pdf: 13833602 bytes, checksum: 8ff9e6fc1f703f847914ff9a4284c900 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: Dado o registro de endosulfan nas bacias do Pantanal Mato-Grossense, o risco para os organismos aquáticos que esse agrotóxico promove e a falta de informações sobre sua ação na ictiofauna dessa região, esta pesquisa objetivou verificar a sensibilidade do pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus, ao endosulfan. Para a realização da intoxicação aguda (96h) em sistema estático, alevinos foram expostos às seguintes concentrações de endosulfan: 0; 0,71; 1,43; 2,14; 2,86; 3,57; 4,29 e 5µgL-1. Após 96h, os exemplares sobreviventes foram necropsiados e amostras de brânquia, fígado e rim foram colhidas para análise histopatológica, qualitativa e semi-quantitativa. A Concentração Letal Média (CL50) obtida foi de 5,66µgL-1 (24h) e 4,33µgL-1 (96h). Alterações branquiais e hepáticas foram perceptíveis à microscopia de luz (ML) e à microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (MET), já no rim somente alterações à MET foram detectadas. Nas brânquias, lamelas secundárias com hipertrofia do epitélio, telangectasia e destacamento epitelial foram as principais alterações. Já no fígado notaram-se degeneração hidrópica, inclusão nuclear, inclusão hialina e vacuolização citoplasmática, como as alterações mais frequentes. Entre as alterações à MET, de modo geral, as mais frequentes foram: alterações mitocondriais, presença de figura de mielina, alteração e/ou perda de microvilos e aumento do espaço intercelular. Embora, alguns exemplares apresentaram alterações celulares frequentes e severas, sugerindo sério dano induzido pelo endosulfan, a análise semi-quantitativa indicou grande variabilidade interindividual. Este último dado sugere fortemente, que a avaliação de biomarcadores histológicos de contaminação aquática deve ser acompanhada de avaliação semi-quantitativa das alterações induzidas associada à análise estatística, para uma fiel indicação do dano provocado à população de organismos-teste. Finalmente, o pacu mostrou-se um bom bioindicador de contaminação aquática por endosulfan o qual se mostrou extremamente tóxico para essa espécie. Assim, espera-se que esta pesquisa venha contribuir efetivamente para o estabelecimento de normas mais rigorosas, ou até mesmo a proibição, da utilização do endosulfan em território brasileiro à semelhança de outros países. / Abstract: The records of endosulfan in river basins of the Patanal wetlands in the state of Mato Grosso (Brazil), the risk to aquatic organisms and lack of information on the action of this pesticide on fish fauna in this region stimulated the present study, which aim was to determine the sensitivity of the pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) to endosulfan. For the acute intoxication test (96h) in a static system, fingerlings were exposed to the following concentrations of endosulfan: 0; 0.71; 1.43; 2.14; 2.86; 3.57; 4.29 and 5µgL-1. After 96h, the specimens were necropsied and samples were taken from the gill, liver and kidney for qualitative and semi-quantitative histopathological analysis. The Mean Lethal Concentration (LC50) was 5.66µgL-1 (24h) and 4.33µgL-1 (96h). Gill and liver alterations were visible through light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM); alterations in the kidney were only detected through TEM. The main alterations in the gills were secondary lamellae with epithelial hypertrophy, telangiectasis and epithelial lifting. The most frequent alterations in the liver were hydropic degeneration, hyaline inclusion and cytoplasmic vacuolization. The most frequent TEM findings were mitochondrial alterations, the presence of myelin figure, alterations in and/or loss of microvilli and increase in intercellular space. Although some specimens frequently exhibited severe cell alterations suggesting serious damage induced by endosulfan, the semi-quantitative analysis revealed considerable interindividual variability. This strongly suggests that the evaluation of histological biomarkers of aquatic contamination should be accompanied by a semi-quantitative assessment of alterations associated with statistical analysis in order to obtain a faithful indication of the damage caused to the population of test organisms. The pacu proved to be a good bioindicator of aquatic contamination by endosulfan, which proved to be extremely toxic to this species. It is hoped that the present study can effectively to contribute toward the establishment of stricter norms or even the banning of the use of endosulfan in Brazil, as has occurred in other countries. / Mestrado / Histologia / Mestre em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

Os compostos organoclorados (OCs), como pesticidas e bifenilos policlorados (PCBs), são persistentes, tóxicos e amplamente distribuídos através do transporte atmosférico e correntes oceânicas. Poucos são os estudos realizados de OCs em tartarugas, sendo que nenhum foi realizado na costa brasileira. A Chelonia mydas é a maior tartaruga marinha de carapaça dura, que se distribue por todos os oceanos, nas zonas de águas tropicais e subtropicais. O presente trabalho visa verificar a ocorrência de organoclorados na espécie C. mydas, bem como sua possível relação com algum tipo de alteração morfológica ou fisiológica. Foram coletadas amostras de gordura, fígado, rim e músculo em 27 espécimes juvenis do litoral de Ubatuba, São Paulo. Os organoclorados foram extraídos com solventes orgânicos e o extrato foi purificado com ácido concentrado. A identificação e quantificação dos PCBs e pesticidas foram realizadas em cromatógrafo a gás com espectrômetro de massas e com detector de captura de elétrons, respectivamente. Os pesticidas organoclorados não foram detectados em nenhuma amostra. As concentrações de PCBs totais em peso úmido foram de: <1,6 48,9 ng.g-1 em gordura, <1,6 17,4 ng.g-1 no fígado e <1,6 9,2 ng.g-1 no rim. Os baixos níveis encontrados estão relacionados principalmente a sua dieta alimentar, uma vez que a C. mydas é basicamente herbívora, e ao local de coleta, que é uma região não industrializada. / Organochlorine compounds, such as pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), are persistent, toxics and widely distributed due to the atmospheric transport and oceanic currents. Few studies have reported the occurrence of these compounds in turtles, but none from the Brazilian Coast. Chelonia mydas is the biggest marine turtle with hard carapace that extends throughout tropical and subtropical seas around the world. The present study aims to assess the concentrations of organochlorines in the C. mydas as well as any relationship with morphological or physiological variations. Fat, liver and kidney samples were collected from 27 juvenile specimens found dead in Ubatuba Coast, São Paulo State. Organochlorine were extracted with organic solvents and the extracts were purified with concentrated acid. PCBs and pesticides were identified and quantified using a gas chromatograph with mass spectrometer and with electron capture detector, respectively. Pesticides were not detected in any sample analyzed. PCBs concentrations in wet weight were: <1.6 48.9 ng.g-1 in fat, <1.6 17.4 ng.g-1 in liver and <1.6 9.2 ng.g-1 in kidney. The low levels detected are related, especially, to the feeding habits of the species since C. mydas is mainly herbivore, and to a non industrialized sampling area.

No description available.

Environmental pollution represents one of the most pressing problems in developed countries and in recent years has raised concern and doubts also from the scientific perspective. In fact, an ever-growing number of epidemiologic-observational studies, carried out on population at risk, correlated the exposure to environmental chemicals with the incidence of several pathological conditions, ranging from metabolic to cardiological and reproductive diseases, until the development of cancers. These evidences have made more urgent the need for further investigations on the biological mechanism at the basis of pollutants toxicity. In particular, significant attention has been paid to evaluating the impact of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) on human health. OCPs belong to a large class of organic compounds that the Stockholm Convention catalogued as “POPs” (Persistent Organic Pollutants). The list of banned chemicals includes dioxins and their derivatives, hexachlorocyclohexane, polychlorinated biphenyls and aldrin, whereas many other similar substances are subjected to restrictions. OCPs are widely distributed in the biosphere and their hazardousness is mostly related to physicochemical properties such as lipophilia and energetic stability, that allow these molecules to be resistant to biodegradation and to bio-accumulate into the adipose tissue. Information about the molecular mechanisms of the most popular OCPs (i.e. dioxins, DDT) is already present in scientific literature and several studies indicated them as endocrine disrupting chemicals as well as oncogenes. On the other hand, not much is known about a dangerous and widely diffused compound: the hexachlorocyclohexane. Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) is a chlorinated cyclic saturated hydrocarbon that exists in four isomers: α, β, γ and δ hexachlorocyclohexane. The g-isomer of HCH, also known as lindane, is a broad-spectrum insecticide that has been extensively used for the control of agricultural pests and for health purposes. Among HCH isomers, which are by-products of lindane industrial synthesis, β-HCH is the most recalcitrant because of its higher energetic stability due to the equatorial position of all six chlorine atoms in the chair cyclohexane conformation; in addition, few reports are available about its metabolic breakdown. For this characteristic, it is usually the predominant isomer remaining in soils and in animal tissue and can still be detected at low background environmental levels. The improper disposal of huge amounts of β-HCH led to the generation of contaminated sites in several parts of the world (Italy, Turkey, Spain, Kazakhstan, Canada, India, China, Russia, Poland, Germany, Argentine): this classifies “lindane’s contamination” as one of the environmental catastrophe of global proportions on the planetary scale. A detailed epidemiological study, ongoing since 2006, has found correlation between high blood levels of β-HCH and the occurrence of a wide range of diseases in a sample of 660 exposed patients living close the Valle del Sacco, south of Rome. The Valle del Sacco, in fact, is characterized by the presence of a large industrial conglomerate in which lindane production has been stopped in 70’s. Although the biomonitoring study highlighted a link between β-HCH contamination and the incidence of several pathological conditions, few data are currently available in the scientific literature regarding the molecular mechanism of β-HCH. For this reason, our laboratory is investigating since 2015 the intracellular effects of β-HCH with a particular focus on its impact on cancer cells. In a first published study, experiments were carried out on a panel of cells representing different human tumor types (i.e. liver, lungs, prostate, breast) associated with the expression and activation of specific receptors or kinases that are related to STAT3 activity. The experimental concentration of 10 µM for β-HCH was chosen averaging across all the plasma concentration values detected in patients under the biomonitoring study carried out in the Valle del Sacco, in order to reproduce the real exposure conditions. After evaluating the effects of β-HCH on cellular viability, different types of analysis were performed to identify the transduction cascades involved in the molecular responses to β-HCH. Obtained results established that β-HCH can activate cell-line specific pathways that all converge in STAT3 activation. Then, a special focus was placed on investigating the putative role of β-HCH in prostate cancer progression; in fact, literature data, together with our previous findings, suggest that β-HCH could have an endocrine disrupting activity by interfering with Androgen Receptor (AR) signaling. To confirm this hypothesis, LNCaP cells (hormone-sensitive prostate cancer cell line) were treated with β-HCH or testosterone in the presence or absence of the chemotherapeutic agent bicalutamide. The outcomes show that AR nuclear translocation occurs upon both β-HCH and testosterone treatment, whereas is inhibited in the presence of bicalutamide, as evidenced by immunoblotting analysis on nuclear extracts and immunofluorescence experiments. Subsequently, was verified whether β-HCH could affect the activity of AhR (Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor), the xenobiotic sensor par excellence, in both hormone-dependent and independent tumor types. Immunofluorescence analysis evidenced the capability of β-HCH to induce AhR nuclear translocation. In addition, immunoblotting analysis were performed on cells treated with β-HCH in the presence or not of MG-132 (proteasome inhibitor) and CH223191 (AhR inhibitor) and obtained results clearly highlighted the influence of β-HCH on AhR signaling. Then, experiments were performed to investigate whether β-HCH, on par with other organochlorine pesticides, can induce oxidative stress. For this purpose, ROS production and GSSG/GSH ratio were measured, evidencing the impact of β-HCH on cellular redox homeostasis. In parallel, variations in cellular bioenergetic profile were monitored, demonstrating that β-HCH promote a metabolic shift toward aerobic glycolysis. In this altered context, β-HCH can also induce DNA damage through H2AX phosphorylation. Subsequently, the potential role of β-HCH as a contributor in tumor initiation was inspected. Experiments were carried out on a continuous normal bronchial epithelium cell line to investigate whether β-HCH could trigger cellular malignant transformation toward cancer development. For this reason, β-HCH impact was evaluated on cells viability and morphology and some markers for tumorigenesis, as Ki67 positive-cells and EGF secretion, were studied along with β-HCH activation pathways. Experimental outcomes strongly support the oncogenic potential of this molecule. Considering the capability of β-HCH to promote cell growth and tumor progression, the next question to answer is whether the exposure to β-HCH may lead to a loss of response to chemotherapeutic agents such as tyrosine kinases inhibitors. Experiments carried out on a HER2-positive lung cancer cell line revealed that β-HCH can counteract the inhibitory activity of lapatinib, leading to a higher cell proliferation rate via STAT3 activation. Further investigations were conducted using other chemotherapeutic agents (cisplatin, camptothecin and paclitaxel) and preliminar results seem to confirm the loss of sensitivity to drugs in the presence of β-HCH. From an environmental point of view, the persistence of β-HCH still represents an open question for the presence of massive illegal repositories all around the world. For this reason, β-HCH degradation through a copper-based Fenton-like method was explored by setting up a HPLC protocol under different experimental conditions. The process focused on the quantitative degradation of the parental β-HCH, since the detection of its breakdown products or transformed molecules would need a mass-spectrometry for their qualitative characterization. In parallel with the β-HCH research topic, the role of the protein STAT3 in prostate cancer was further deepened. STAT3 (Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3) is a converging point for many signaling cascades and has been reported constitutively activated in a wide range of solid tumors and hematological malignancies. STAT3 is a latent cytosolic transcription factor and upregulates the expression of genes involved in cell survival and proliferation upon a wide variety of stimuli, including cytokines, oncogenes, growth factors or cytosolic kinases. The dynamic biological behavior of STAT3 can explain the higher proliferation rate triggered by β-HCH through the activation of STAT3-mediated pathways. STAT3 fulfils its multifaceted molecular functions through two different intracellular mechanisms, generally referred as canonical and non-canonical pathways. The canonical activation of STAT3 is strictly dependent on its phosphorylation at the tyrosine residue 705; upon phosphorylation at Y705, induced by the binding of a ligand to its receptor, STAT3 undergoes homodimerization to form an active dimer that can translocate to nucleus and mediates its transcriptional activity. Besides its well-described canonical signaling, STAT3 can be subjected to alternative post-translational modifications. In addition, recent studies assessed the involvement of STAT3, by means of both its canonical and non-canonical pathway, in the metabolic shift toward aerobic glycolysis known as Warburg Effect, which is typical of the more aggressive tumor phenotypes. On the basis of these premises, the existence of a link between PTMs and specific STAT3-mediated pathways was investigated in LNCaP (less aggressive PCa form) and DU-145 (more aggressive) cells performing experiments that simulated inflammatory and oxidative-stress conditions. Cells were treated with IL-6 to induce an inflammatory response, whereas tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) was used to simulate oxidative stress. Obtained results on cellular models confirmed the relationship between STAT3 PTMs and cellular conditions, thereby reinforcing the hypothesis that PTMs can drive intracellular responses through STAT3-mediated signaling pathways. Thus, it is possible to identify STAT3 PTMs and STAT3 modulators as suitable markers or targets for PCa prevention, diagnosis and therapy. Then the role of STAT3 in prostate cancer energy metabolism was further investigated, with particular focus on the protein SHMT2 (Serine-Hydroxymethyltransferase). Results indicate that SHMT2 is an active player in STAT3 signaling and that its expression is upregulated by the JAK2/STAT3 canonical pathway upon IL-6 stimulation. Experiments were carried out on two different prostate cancer cell lines, LNCaP (less aggressive) and DU145 (more aggressive). The observation was extended to PCa formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue sections obtained from total prostatectomies: collected specimens are characterized by a different Gleason score, ranging from 6 (less aggressive) to 9 (more aggressive). In both cell lines, STAT3 activation mode, the amount and distribution of PKM2, SHMT2, and HIF-1a proteins, as well as the cellular metabolic conditions, were evaluated in the presence or absence of IL-6-induced inflammation. Expression levels of PKM2, SHMT2, and HIF-1a, together with interleukin-6, were also analyzed utilizing normal and tumor FFPE tissues. / Doctorat en Sciences agronomiques et ingénierie biologique / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is classified as a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia that results from defects in insulin action and/or secretion, and currently affects 8.3% of the US population according to the CDC’s 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet. Several contributing factors have been identified to development of this disease. Published evidence indicates type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients display lower overall paraoxonase activity and that this may be partially due to genetic variations in the paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) gene. Some bioaccumulative organochlorine (OC) pesticides have been shown to contribute to increased T2DM prevalence. In addition, these OC compound levels have been associated with alterations in adipocyte cytokine levels as well as increased inflammatory markers. Three hundred blood samples with clinical and demographic information were obtained from two US Air Force hospitals. A total of 151 non-diabetics and 149 T2DM subjects were evaluated for PON-1 activity, PON-1 Q192R and L55M genetic polymorphisms, OC compound concentrations, inflammatory marker levels and adipokine concentrations. PON-1 activity, using diazoxon as the substrate, was decreased in the T2DM subjects. Some of the PON-1 genetic polymorphisms tested were also associated with decreased PON-1 activity. OC compound levels were increased in the T2DM subjects. The non-diabetic subjects possessing elevated DDE and trans-nonachlor were associated with increased inflammation, a common hallmark of early T2DM development. Additionally, elevated OC levels were seen in association with altered adipokine concentrations. Overall, a decrease in the antioxidant properties of PON-1 as well as factors contributing to chronic low level inflammation such as elevated OC plasma concentration appear to be significant contributors to T2DM prevalence in the population studied.

No description available.

For centuries chemists have sought to improve humankind’s quality of life and address many of society’s most pressing needs through the development of chemical processes and synthesis of new compounds, often with phenomenal results. Unfortunately, there also are many examples where these chemicals have had unintended, detrimental consequences that are not apparent until years or decades after their initial use. There are numerous halogenated molecules in this category that are globally dispersed, resistant to natural degradation processes, bioaccumulative, and toxic to living organisms. Chemicals such as these are classified as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and due to their negative environmental and health effects, they require safe, effective, and inexpensive means of remediation. This research focuses on the development and optimization of a reaction matrix capable of reductively dehalogenating several POPs. Initial experiments determined that powdered magnesium and 1% V/V acetic acid in absolute ethanol was the most effective system for degrading polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), an extraordinarily recalcitrant environmental contaminant. Further studies showed that this matrix also was capable of degrading polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and four organochlorine pesticides (OCPs); dieldrin, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, and chlordane. During this phase of testing, field samples contaminated with chlordane were washed with ethanol and this ethanol/chlordane solution was degraded using the same reaction matrix, thereby demonstrating this technology’s potential for “real-world” remediation projects. Finally, a set of experiments designed to provide some insight into the mechanism of dechlorination seems to indicate that two distinct processes are necessary for degradation to occur. First, the passivated iv outer layer of the magnesium must be removed in order to expose the zero-valent magnesium core. Next, an electron is transferred from the magnesium to the target molecule, causing the cleavage of the halide bond and the subsequent abstraction of either a hydrogen or proton from a solvent molecule. It is anticipated that an understanding of these fundamental chemical processes will allow this system to be tailored to a wide range of complex environmental media

No description available.

Experiments were undertaken to study in vivo the effect of hexachloronaphthalene in vitamin A metabolism in the rat. The status of vitamin A in the animal was determined by tissue analysis for the vitamin and by visual observation for symptoms of vitamin A deficiency. Four studies were made. The effects of dietary hexachloronaphthalene on preformed residual vitamin A, on assimilation of dietary carotene, on assimilation of a single oral dose of carotene, and on the absorption and storage of a single oral dose of vitamin A palmitate were investigated. In addition, the effect of ingested hexachloronaphthalene on calf plasma protein was studied. The following conclusions were derived from the results of the experiments. 1. The metabolism of dietary hexachloronaphthalene resulted in an increased requirement for vitamin A in peripheral tissue. This effect was apparently separate from the liver hypertrophy and fatty infiltration which are characteristic results of chlorinated naphthalene ingestion in rats. The mechanism of this increased demand for vitamin A was not discerned. Vitamin E supplementation was or no apparent value in preventing this increase in the requirement for vitamin A. 2. The addition of vitamin E to carotene-rich diets normally produces an increased yield of vitamin A. This stimulus of carotene conversion was not apparent when hexachloronaphthalene was included in the ration. 3. The ingestion of dietary hexachloronaphthalene depressed the ability of the rat to convert carotene to vitamin A. This was not true when the total dose of the toxic compound was included in the carotene solution. The addition of a bile salt to the carotene solution was not or value in preventing the depression of carotene conversion. Neither, however, did it stimulate conversion in the normal animals as was expected. 4. The ingestion of dietary hexachloronaphthalene had no apparent effect on the ability of the rat to absorb and store a single oral dose of vitamin A palmitate. 5. Paper electrophoresis studies and analysis of changes in TCA precipitable plasma protein in calves indicated that a depression of the level of the plasma proteins, especially the albumins, was a manifestation of the ingestion of hexachloronaphthalene by these animals. / Master of Science