ABSTRACT2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a defense-related environmental contaminant present at high concentrations in soil at some military installations. Tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum, family Ambystomatidae) were exposed to TNT in a soil matrix and fed earthworms that had also been exposed to TNT via contaminated soil. Such exposure was previously shown to result in significant accumulation of both TNT and TNT metabolites by salamanders. Following 14 days of combined oral and dermal exposures, salamanders were evaluated for signs of toxicity. Control and TNT-exposed salamanders gained weight (p < 0.025). In addition, organ to body weight ratios (kidney, liver, and spleen) were not affected by treatment. The function of splenic phagocytic cells was evaluated because these cells are sensitive to certain environmental chemical exposures. Neither the chemiluminescence response (H 2 O 2 production) nor the phagocytic capacity of such cells were different between controls and treatment groups. In like manner, no changes were seen in the peripheral hematologic parameters investigated. Histopathologic evaluations were inconclusive, yet the liver revealed the presence of heavily pigmented iron-rich phagocytes (melanomacrophages). This investigation presents a realistic approach and preliminary data for investigating the effects of xenobiotic exposure in a soil matrix on a terrestrial vertebrate.

The subchronic toxicity of sodium tungstate dihydrate aqueous solution in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats was evaluated by daily oral gavage of 0, 10, 75, 125, or 200 mg/kg/d for 90 days. Measured parameters included food consumption, body weight measurements, hematology, clinical chemistry, and histopathological changes. There was a significant decrease in food consumption and body weight gain in males at 200 mg/kg/d from days 77 to 90; however, there was no effect in food consumption and body weights in females. There were no changes in the hematological and clinical parameters studied. Histopathological changes were seen in kidney of male and female and epididymis of male rats. Histopathological changes were observed in the kidneys of male and female rats dosed at 125 or 200 mg/k/d consisting of mild to severe cortical tubule basophilia in 2 high-dose groups. Histological changes in epididymides included intraluminal hypospermia with cell debris in the 200 mg/kg/d dosed male rats. Histopathological changes were observed in the glandular stomach including inflammation and metaplasia in the high-dose groups (125 or 200 mg/kg/d) of both sexes of rats. Based on histopathology effects seen in the kidneys, the lowest observable adverse effect level was 125 mg/kg/d and the no observable adverse effect level was 75 mg/kg/d in both sexes of rats for oral subchronic toxicity.

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Carbaryl, a carbamate insecticide, exerts its toxic effect in animals by inhibiting the activity of neural acetylcholinesterase. Differences in sensitivity of this enzyme to inhibition were studied after intraperitoneal administration to chickens and rats. A dose of 900 mg/kg to chickens and 70 mg/kg to rats caused equivalent inhibition of brain cholinesterase activities (57% +/- 6 and 47% +/- 4, respectively) 60 min after administration, which was the time of maximal cholinergic signs. Signs of toxicity (salivation, respiratory distress, muscle tremors and weakness) were more pronounced in rats than in chickens when brain acetylcholinesterase was inhibited to the same extent in both species. Carboxylesterase activities in brain, liver, and plasma were also inhibited 60 min after administration of carbaryl to chickens and rats. Activities of enzymes associated with hepatic microsomes were unaffected. Specific activities of brain esterases, including acetylcholinesterase, carboxylesterase and neurotoxic esterase, were higher in untreated chickens than in untreated rats. Specific activities of liver esterases (carboxylesterase, A-esterase) were, however, 4- and 10-fold lower in untreated chickens than in untreated rats. Total clearance of carbaryl in the chicken, determined after intravenous administration of 5 mg/kg, was 0.26 +/- 0.02 l/kg/min. This value is 5.7 times higher than that reported for the rat, indicating that the relatively lower activities of esterases in the liver of chickens did not affect the clearance of this chemical in the avian species.

Implanted nickel becomes toxic when it exceeds homeostasis, initiating a range of global gene effects over time, including oxidative phosphorylation and immune responses, which are impacted in opposite directions.