Effect of β-N-methylamino-l-alanine on oxidative stress of liver and kidney in rat

Response of antioxidant and biotransformation systems of selected freshwater mussels (Dreissena polymorpha,Anadonta cygnea,Unio tumidus, andCorbicula javanicus) to the cyanobacterial neurotoxin β-N-methylamino-L-alanine

“…That BMAA affects the antioxidant system, irrespective of its primary toxicity mechanism, has been reported in animals as well as plants from various taxa (Contardo-Jara et al 2013;de Munck et al 2013;Esterhuizen-Londt, Pflugmacher, and Downing 2011;Okle et al 2013). Non-selective filter feeders, such as the four sessile living bivalve Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry 9 species selected for this study, might be the most vulnerable organisms in aquatic ecosystems experiencing frequent cyanobacterial blooms, as mussels are able to incorporate/ ingest toxic cyanobacterial cells irrespective of their toxicity or size (Bontes et al 2007).…”

“…With regard to the mechanisms of toxicity of BMAA, i.e. inhibition of oxidative stress enzymes (EsterhuizenLondt, Pflugmacher, and Downing 2011) as well as the promotion of oxidative stress and the related induction of the antioxidant defenses (Lobner 2009;de Munck et al 2013), a comprehensive study on the time-dependent effect on affected physiological pathways is needed. In this context, the native U. tumidus was statically exposed for up to one week to 100 mg L ¡1 BMAA.…”

ALSUntangled 38: L-serine

“…We are unaware of L-serine being tested in these. Models of BMAA-induced neurotoxicity exist (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22), and share some features with human ALS. For example, human lung fibroblasts, human umbilical vein endothelial cells and human neuroblastoma cells that are exposed to BMAA suffer from protein aggregation and apoptosis (5) as is seen in ALS motor neurons (23,24).…”

A(a)LS: Ammonia-induced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

“…Further supporting this hypothesis, experiments have shown that environmental neurotoxins implicated in ALS causes ammonia toxicity. Dietary intake of β-N-methylamino-L-alanine, a non-protein amino acid linked to Guam's ALS epidemic, causes liver damage and ammonia toxicity [113,114]. Similarly, the PrePrints ingestion of Lathyrussativus seeds, implicated in neurolathyrism (an upper motor neuron disease), causes liver dysfunction, urea cycle impairment, and chronic ammonia toxicity [115,116].…”