Toxicogenomic analysis of immune system-related genes in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) exposed to heavy oil

Heavy oil contamination is one of the most important environmental issues. Toxicities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including immune toxicities, are well characterized, however, the immune toxic effects of heavy oil, as a complex mixture of PAHs, have not been investigated. In the present study, we selected Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) as a model organism, and observed alteration of immune function by the exposure to heavy oil. To analyze the expression profiles of immune system-related genes, we selected 309 cDNAs from our flounder EST library, and spotted them on a glass slide. Using this cDNA array, alteration of gene expression profiles was analyzed in the kidneys of flounders exposed to heavy oil. Six Japanese flounders (mean body weight: 197 g) were acclimated to laboratory conditions at 19-20 degrees C. Three fish were exposed to heavy oil C (bunker C) at a concentration of 3.8 g/L for 3 days, and the others were kept in seawater without heavy oil and used as the control. After the exposure period, the fish were transferred into control seawater and maintained for 4 days, and then they were dissected and their kidneys were removed. Total RNA was extracted from the kidney samples to use in gene expression analyses. The microarray detected alteration of immune system-related genes in the kidneys of heavy oil-exposed flounders, including down-regulation of immunoglobulin light chain, CD45, major histocompatibility complex class II antigens and macrophage colony-stimulating factor precursor, and up-regulation of interleukin-8 and lysozyme. These results suggest that pathogen resistance may be weakened in heavy oil-exposed fish, causing a subsequent bacterial infection, and then proinflammatory genes may be induced as a defensive response against the infection. Additionally, we found candidate genes for use as biomarkers of heavy oil exposure, such as N-myc downstream regulated gene 1 and heat shock cognate 71 kDa proteins.     

三江北段纳日贡玛斜长花岗斑岩的年代学及地质意义

纳日贡玛斑岩产于三江北段,由大小不同的6个斑岩体组成,岩石化学显示属于高钾钙碱性系列岩石;稀土配分型式为几乎不具负Eu异常的轻稀土富集型。笔者利用锆石U—Pb方法首次测得纳日贡玛斜长花岗斑岩的生成年龄为41．0±0．18Ma,属喜马拉雅早期。从区域构造演化的角度来看,三江北段大部分花岗质岩体的形成都与喜马拉雅造山作用过程中的岩浆侵位相关,表现为多数同位素年龄都集中在21～66Ma。鉴于纳日贡玛铜钼矿产于纳日贡玛斑岩体中,属于斑岩型,花岗斑岩体为纳日贡玛铜钼矿提供了成矿物质来源。同时三江北段发育较多的中酸性岩体,纳日贡玛铜钼矿床成岩年龄的确定对于在该区寻找斑岩型铜钼矿有重要的理论和现实意义。     

青海祁漫塔格地区野马泉花岗闪长岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄及其地质意义

青海东昆仑复合造山带西段的祁漫塔格地区是一个特征显著的侵入岩浆构造带,同时也是重要的多金属成矿带。野马泉铁铜多金属矿是该区较为典型的接触交代矽卡岩型矿床。利用LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年方法,获得该矿区与野马泉铁铜矿床有关的花岗闪长岩体的成岩年龄为226±2Ma;该结果与前人利用辉钼矿Re-Os法获得的矽卡岩型铜钼多金属矿石和矽卡岩型钼矿石的等时线年龄一致,因此本文厘定野马泉矿区成岩成矿时代为中—晚三叠世。     

三江北段纳日贡玛花岗闪长斑岩成岩时代的确定及地质意义

纳日贡玛斑岩型铜钼矿是近年来在三江北段发现的与侵入岩有关的斑岩型铜钼矿.作者首次利用锆石U-Pb方法测得纳日贡玛花岗闪长斑岩的形成年龄为41.44±0.23 Ma,属于喜马拉雅早期.纳日贡玛斑岩型铜钼矿成矿主要在40.8±0.4 Ma～40.86±0.85 Ma之间.在多期热液叠加,多期成矿作用中,纳日贡玛斑岩型铜钼矿...     

祁连成矿带成矿规律和找矿方向

在系统分析区内成矿条件和区域成矿特征的基础上,提出海相火山岩型、接触交代型(矽卡岩型)、变质(包括沉积-变质)型、沉积型(含喷气-沉积型)、构造蚀变岩型等是该区的主攻矿床类型。通过对祁连成矿带地质、矿产、物探、化探、遥感等资料的综合分析,并结合野外调研和室内的再研究,共圈定69处成矿远景区,其中A类5处,B类23处、C类41处。在此基础上,结合最新的地质找矿成果,优选出铜、金、铅、锌、钨远景区16处,作为今后矿产资源评价首选地区。     

东昆仑胜利铁铜矿区二长花岗岩锆石U-Pb定年、岩石地球化学特征及找矿意义

东昆仑祁漫塔格-都兰成矿带是青海省重要的矽卡岩型铁多金属成矿带,胜利矽卡岩型铁铜矿床位于该成矿带东段,其成矿作用与二长花岗岩密切相关,矿体产于二长花岗岩与大理岩接触带的矽卡岩中。地球化学数据显示,胜利铁铜矿床二长花岗岩w(SiO_2)为71.84%～74.50%,w(K_2O+Na_2O)为8.03%～8.61%,明显富碱;K2O/Na2O为1.28～1.62,相对富钾;A/CNK为0.95～0.98,属于准铝质高钾钙碱性Ⅰ型花岗岩。岩石总体富集大离子亲石元素K、Ba、Rb和活泼不相容元素Th、U,相对亏损高场强元素Ta、Nb、P、Ti等。样品稀土元素总量w(∑REE)=132.73×10~(-6)～181.36×10~(-6),(La/Yb)_N为7.40～11.67,δEu为0.67～0.78,稀土元素配分曲线呈右倾型,具有较明显的轻稀土元素富集、重稀土元素亏损的特征,具Eu负异常。二长花岗岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb加权平均年龄为(240.5±2.8)Ma,形成于中三叠世。综合研究表明,二长花岗岩是阿尼玛卿洋盆向北俯冲,致使壳幔岩浆发生混合,后经侵位、结晶分异形成。     

Implications of seasonal priming and reproductive activity on the interpretation of Comet assay data derived from the clam, Tapes semidecussatus Reeves 1864, exposed to contaminated sediments

We explore the use of the clam Tapes semidecussatus Reeves 1864 as an indicator for the presence of potentially genotoxic substances in estuarine sediments. The limitations associated with the interpretation of Comet assay data (expressed as % DNA in tail) in terms of clam reproductive state, size (age) and thermal exposure history following laboratory acclimation are discussed. Hatchery-reared clams, subjected to ambient temperature fluctuations during growth, were exposed in vivo under laboratory conditions for three weeks to sediment samples collected from a polluted site and a "clean" reference site. The DNA damage observed in haemocytes, gill and digestive gland cells was significantly higher in animals exposed to contaminated sediment compared to those exposed to sediment from the reference site. The extent of DNA damage recorded was not correlated with size (age). Spawning was not observed during the experiment. Nevertheless, clams with well-developed gonads showed a statistically higher degree of DNA damage in gill and digestive gland cells- but not haemocytes, demonstrating an increased sensitivity to potential genotoxic compounds, possibly caused by impaired DNA repair capacity due to reproductive activity. Furthermore, the degree of DNA damage in clams exposed to contaminated sediments was higher in autumn and winter compared to spring and summer, suggesting an effect of seasonal priming.     

Selenium-induced teratogenicity in Sacramento splittail (Pogonichthys macrolepidotus)

Selenium is a potent reproductive and teratogenic environmental contaminant and there are concerns over possible reproductive effects of selenium on the Sacramento splittail (Pogonichthys macrolepidotus) population, a threatened species, in California, USA. In this study, the teratogenic effects of selenium were examined in splittail embryos exposed to 0.0, 5.0, and 15.0 mg l(-1) sodium selenite for 48-h at 18.0 degrees C under static conditions, with renewal every 12 h. Embryo development was evaluated daily for abnormalities from initiation of exposure (stage 27) to initiation of exogenous feeding. At the end of evaluation, prelarvae were preserved for histological analysis. There were no significant differences in mortality or hatching success between control and exposed embryos. Exposed fish had pericardial edema and deformities of skeletal tissues (loss of tail, lordosis, scoliosis, and kyphosis). Other histological alterations were limited to dysplasia, hyperplasia and metaplasia of skeletal tissues in the deformed fish. This study showed that a short exposure of embryos during somite development has significant effects on the musculoskeletal development.     

Recovery of polluted ecosystems: the case for long-term studies

Recovery of marine ecosystems from pollution has tended to receive less attention than the study of new or continuing impacts, but such studies are important in charting recovery from acute incidents and following legislation to deal with chronic contamination. Recovery is inevitably a long-term process, and where such studies have been made they are often too short-lived. Interest quickly wanes following an acute incident and governmental bodies rapidly switch to new legislative priorities for chronic inputs. We review three case studies: recovery of dogwhelk populations after local extinction by tributyl tin leachates from anti-fouling paints; recovery of rocky shore communities from oil spills; and recovery of estuarine ecosystems from industrial and urban development. We then make some generalisations about recovery processes before making a plea for long-term studies of polluted areas.