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Atrazine is classified as a restricted use pesticide and it is currently included in an international revision program for re-evaluating the human and ecological (non-human populations) health risks associated with its release into the environment. The present study was undertaken to add new data on the genotoxic potential of atrazine using the Allium cepa chromosome aberration test. The test concentrations were based on the Maximum Contaminant Levels in water intended for human consumption set by European and US regulations. Atrazine produced a concentration-related increase in the number of total somatic chromosome aberrations, although this increase was statistically significant (p<0.05) only at the highest test concentration (5 microg/L). Analysis of the categories of structural chromosome damage indicated that breaks were the predominant lesion induced; the percent of cells per bulb with breaks also increased in a concentration-related manner, and the increase was statistically significant at the two highest test concentrations (1 and 5 microg/L) (p<0.05). The Allium cepa plant assay detected the clastogenicity of atrazine at concentrations that are likely to be encountered in water, a common site of atrazine contamination.

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The aim of this study was to ascertain the possible toxicological effects of chemicals released into mineral water packaged in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. Two commercial mineral waters, bottled both in PET and glass and stored under different conditions, were examined using the Allium cepa test. The influence of the water samples on macroscopic (root length, colour and form) and microscopic (root tip mitotic index, chromosome aberrations) parameters was examined. The water samples were analysed after: (A) controlled-condition storage (no direct light exposure and 18 +/- 2 degrees C), (B) storage at 40 degrees C for 10 days, in the dark (migration test in accordance with 82/711/EEC), and (C) exposure to sunlight and varying temperatures (18-38 degrees C, mean temperature 25 +/- 3 degrees C). The two water samples bottled in PET induced cytogenetic aberrations regardless of the storage conditions. These signs of toxicity were evident even only 8 weeks after bottling, which is well within the recommended expiry date. Storage conditions were very important, as is suggested by the finding that chromosomal aberrations were particularly apparent after exposure to direct sunlight. However, as plant systems are not considered as primary screening tools by current international guidelines for mammalian systems, extrapolation of the results from this test system to other systems and, eventually, to human beings should be based on results from a battery of assays covering various metabolic pathways.

The effects on GH secretion of reserpine, alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (alpha-MT), p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA), and haloperidol were studied in undisturbed, unanesthetized male rats with implanted intraaortic cannulae. The effects of the various drug treatments on motor activity and brain levels of catecholamines (CAs) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) as well as the synthesis of the biogenic amines were also studied. Reserpine (10 mg/kg, ip) completely inhibited GH secretion for at least 15 h. Repeated injections of reserpine prolonged this inhibition. Episodic GH secretion reappeared 36 h after the last administration of reserpine, at which time the behavioral inhibition and blepharospasm induced by the drug was less pronounced than after 24 h, but brain levels of CAs and 5-HT were still markedly reduced. Administration of alpha-MT (150 mg/kg; 12, 4, and 2 h before experiments) inhibited episodic GH secretion and caused marked inhibition of motor activity and brain levels of CAs but not 5-HT. The inhibition of episodic GH secretion was more pronounced with haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg; 30 min before experiments) than with alpha-MT but was not as complete as that found 12 h after administration of reserpine. Administration of p-chlorophenylalanine (300 mg/kg; 72, 48, and 24 h before experiments) had no effect on episodic GH secretion, whereas brain levels of 5-HT and 5-HT synthesis were markedly reduced.

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