| 1. |
- Jonsson, Micael, 1972-, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of an antihistamine on carbon and nutrient recycling in streams
- 2015
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Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 538, s. 240-245
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In stream ecosystems, microbes and macroinvertebrates consume leaf litter deposited from the riparian vegetation, and thereby recycle resources tied up in the litter. Several environmental variables influence rates of this recycling, but it is not well known if common pharmaceuticals, such as antihistamines, originating from waste-water effluent, have additional impacts. Exposure to dilute concentrations of antihistamines may adversely influence aquatic detritivorous invertebrates, because invertebrates use histamines for neurotransmission, resulting in hampered recycling of resource tied up in leaf detritus. In this study, we therefore investigated if the antihistamine fexofenadine, at a concentration of 2000 ng l(-1), alters rates of leaf litter decomposition in stream microcosms. Stonefly larvae (n = 10, per microcosm), together with natural microbial communities, served as main decomposer organisms on alder leaf litter. First, we used 30 microcosms containing fexofenadine, while the other 30 served as non-contaminated controls, and of each 30 microcosms, 14 contained stonefly larvae and microbes, while the remaining 16 contained only microbes. We found, in contrast to our hypothesis, that fexofenadine had no effect on leaf litter decomposition via impacts on the stonefly larvae. However, independent on if stoneflies were present or not, concentrations of organic carbon (TOC) and nitrogen (N) were strongly affected, with 20-26 and 24-31% lower concentrations of TOC and N, respectively, in the presence of fexofenadine. Second, in a scaled down follow-up experiment we found that microbial activity increased by 85%, resulting in a 10% decrease in pH, in the presence of fexofenadine. While the antihistamine concentration we used is higher than those thus far found in the field (1-10 ng l(-1)), it is still 100 times lower than the predicted no-effect concentration for fexofenadine. As such, our results indicate that low mu g l(-1) levels of antihistamines can have an effect on carbon and nutrient recycling in aquatic system. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Fick, Jerker, 1971-
(författare)
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Chemical reactions in ventilation systems : Ozonolysis of monoterpenes
- 2003
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Chemicals in indoor air, either emitted from a source or from a reaction, have been suggested to cause ill health in buildings. However, no clear correlations between exposure and health effects have been made. In this thesis we studied the reaction between monoterpenes, a group of biogenic unsaturated C10 hydrocarbons, and ozone. Ozonolysis of monoterpenes was used as model reactions for unsaturated compounds in ambient air. Also the products formed from these reactions have been suggested as important participants in the occurrence of discomfort and ill health in buildings. To enable a reliable and sensitive measurement of ppb-ppt levels of monoterpenes and the formed products in the presence of ozone an evaluation of available scrubber materials was made. Potassium iodide was shown to remove ambient levels of ozone and have a recovery of >95% for all monoterpenes and formed products included in the investigation. Experimental conditions showed to have a large impact on the initial steps of the ozonolysis, and also on the composition of the formed products. We showed that water plays an important and complex role both in the initial stage of ozonolysis of ∆3-carene and in the formation and composition of products from the ozonolysis of ∆-pinene. The use of experimental design facilitated the evaluation of the investigated reactions. We showed that the formation of OH radicals could be studied using multiple linear regression models and that the presence or absence of OH radicals had a profound impact on the formation of many of the formed products. We also made an observation of the lack of formed OH radicals in the ozonolysis of limonene and discussed probable causes of this observation. Despite the short reaction times and the ambient levels of ozone and monoterpenes used in our experiments we showed that a number of oxidation products were formed, and that the reaction rate is significantly increased in a ventilation system. This formation is underestimated by theoretical calculations and leads to high amounts of known irritants in the indoor air. We showed that theoretical calculations underestimate the formation of these oxidation products 3-13 times, depending on ventilation system and monoterpene.
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| 4. |
- Sjögren, Klara, 1970, et al.
(författare)
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Elevated Aromatase Expression in Osteoblasts Leads to Increased Bone Mass without Systemic Adverse Effects.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of bone and mineral research. - : Wiley. - 1523-4681 .- 0884-0431. ; 24:7, s. 1263-70
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Abstract The stimulatory effects of testosterone (T) on bone can either be via a direct activation of the androgen receptor (AR) or mediated via aromatization of T to estradiol (E2), followed by activation of estrogen receptors (ERs) in bone. Aromatase expression in osteoblasts and reproductive tissues is dependent on different promoters, which are differentially regulated. To investigate the effect of elevated local aromatization of T to E2 in bone, we developed a transgenic mouse model (Coll-1alpha1-Arom) that over-expresses the human aromatase gene under the control of the osteoblast specific rat type I alpha I procollagen promoter. The Coll-1alpha1-Arom mice expressed human aromatase mRNA specifically in bone and had unaffected serum E2 and T levels. Male Coll-1alpha1-Arom mice had clearly increased total body bone mineral density (BMD), trabecular BMD, cortical BMD and cortical thickness associated with elevated osteoprotegerin mRNA levels and reduced number of osteoclasts (p<0.01). Treatment of ovariectomized mice with T increased cortical and trabecular thickness in the Coll-1alpha1-Arom mice (p<0.001) but not in the wild type mice. In conclusion, elevated aromatase expression specifically in osteoblasts results in stimulatory estrogenic effects in bone without increasing serum E2 levels. As osteoblast specific aromatase expression results in an increased ER to AR activation ratio in bone, we propose that activation of ERs results in a more pronounced increase in bone mass than what is seen after activation of the AR. Development of osteoblast specific inducers of aromatase expression might identify substances with stimulatory effects on bone without systemic adverse effects.
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| 5. |
- Windahl, Sara H, 1971, et al.
(författare)
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Identification of Target Cells for the Genomic Effects of Estrogens in Bone
- 2007
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Ingår i: Endocrinology. - : The Endocrine Society. - 0013-7227 .- 1945-7170. ; 148:12, s. 5688-95
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Estrogen has bone protective effects, but the exact mechanism behind these effects remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to identify the primary target cells in bone for the classical genomic effects of estrogens in vivo. For this purpose we have used reporter mice with a luciferase gene under the control of three estrogen-responsive elements (EREs), enabling detection of in vivo activation of gene transcription. Three-month-old ovariectomized mice were treated with a single dose (50microg/kg) 17beta-estradiol (E2). Luciferase activity was analysed in several tissues and in different bone marrow-derived lymphocyte enriched/depleted preparations using MacsMouse CD19 (for B lymphocytes) or CD90 (for T lymphocytes) MicroBeads. Histological characterization of cells with high luciferase content was performed using immunohistochemistry. Both cortical bone and bone marrow displayed a rapid (within 1h) and pronounced E2-induced increase in luciferase activity. The luciferase activity in total bone marrow and in bone marrow depleted of lymphocytes was increased 6-8 times more than in either B lymphocyte and T lymphocyte enriched cell fractions 4h after the E2-injection, demonstrating that mature lymphocytes are not major direct targets for the genomic effect of estrogens in bone. Immunohistochemistry identified clear luciferase staining in hypertrophic growth plate chondrocytes, megakaryocytes, osteoblasts and lining cells, while no staining was seen in proliferative chondrocyte. Although most of the osteocytes did not display any detectable luciferase staining, a subpopulation of osteocytes both in cortical and trabecular bone stained positive for luciferase. In conclusion, hypertrophic growth plate chondrocytes, megakaryocytes, osteoblasts, lining cells and a subpopulation of osteocytes were identified to respond to estrogen via the classical ERE-mediated genomic pathway in bone. Furthermore, our findings indicate that possible direct estrogenic effects on the majority of osteocytes, not staining positive for luciferase, on proliferative chondrocytes and on mature lymphocytes are mediated by non-ERE actions.
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| 6. |
- Windahl, Sara H, 1971, et al.
(författare)
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Reduced bone mass and muscle strength in male 5α-reductase type 1 inactivated mice.
- 2011
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Ingår i: PloS one. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 6:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Androgens are important regulators of bone mass but the relative importance of testosterone (T) versus dihydrotestosterone (DHT) for the activation of the androgen receptor (AR) in bone is unknown. 5α-reductase is responsible for the irreversible conversion of T to the more potent AR activator DHT. There are two well established isoenzymes of 5α-reductase (type 1 and type 2), encoded by separate genes (Srd5a1 and Srd5a2). 5α-reductase type 2 is predominantly expressed in male reproductive tissues whereas 5α-reductase type 1 is highly expressed in liver and moderately expressed in several other tissues including bone. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of 5α-reductase type 1 for bone mass using Srd5a1⁻/⁻ mice. Four-month-old male Srd5a1⁻/⁻ mice had reduced trabecular bone mineral density (-36%, p<0.05) and cortical bone mineral content (-15%, p<0.05) but unchanged serum androgen levels compared with wild type (WT) mice. The cortical bone dimensions were reduced in the male Srd5a1⁻/⁻ mice as a result of a reduced cortical periosteal circumference compared with WT mice. T treatment increased the cortical periosteal circumference (p<0.05) in orchidectomized WT mice but not in orchidectomized Srd5a1⁻/⁻ mice. Male Srd5a1⁻/⁻ mice demonstrated a reduced forelimb muscle grip strength compared with WT mice (p<0.05). Female Srd5a1⁻/⁻ mice had slightly increased cortical bone mass associated with elevated circulating levels of androgens. In conclusion, 5α-reductase type 1 inactivated male mice have reduced bone mass and forelimb muscle grip strength and we propose that these effects are due to lack of 5α-reductase type 1 expression in bone and muscle. In contrast, the increased cortical bone mass in female Srd5a1⁻/⁻ mice, is an indirect effect mediated by elevated circulating androgen levels.
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| 7. |
- Windahl, Sara H, 1971, et al.
(författare)
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The role of the G protein-coupled receptor GPR30 in the effects of estrogen in ovariectomized mice.
- 2009
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Ingår i: American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism. - : American Physiological Society. - 0193-1849 .- 1522-1555. ; 296:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In vitro studies suggest that the membrane G protein-coupled receptor GPR30 is a functional estrogen receptor (ER). The aim of the present study was to determine the possible in vivo role of GPR30 as a functional ER primarily for the regulation of skeletal parameters, including bone mass and longitudinal bone growth, but also for some other well-known estrogen-regulated parameters, including uterine weight, thymus weight, and fat mass. Three-month-old ovariectomized (OVX) GPR30-deficient mice (GPR30(-/-)) and wild-type (WT) mice were treated with either vehicle or increasing doses of estradiol (E(2); 0, 30, 70, 160, or 830 ng.mouse(-1).day(-1)). Body composition [bone mineral density (BMD), fat mass, and lean mass] was analyzed by dual-energy-X ray absorptiometry, while the cortical and trabecular bone compartments were analyzed by peripheral quantitative computerized tomography. Quantitative histological analyses were performed in the distal femur growth plate. Bone marrow cellularity and distribution were analyzed using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. The estrogenic responses on most of the investigated parameters, including increase in bone mass (total body BMD, spine BMD, trabecular BMD, and cortical bone thickness), increase in uterine weight, thymic atrophy, fat mass reduction, and increase in bone marrow cellularity, were similar for all of the investigated E(2) doses in WT and GPR30(-/-) mice. On the other hand, E(2) treatment reduced longitudinal bone growth, reflected by decreased femur length and distal femur growth plate height, in the WT mice but not in the GPR30(-/-) mice compared with vehicle-treated mice. These in vivo findings demonstrate that GPR30 is not required for normal estrogenic responses on several major well-known estrogen-regulated parameters. In contrast, GPR30 is required for a normal estrogenic response in the growth plate.
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| 8. |
- Ågerstrand, Marlene, et al.
(författare)
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Improving Environmental Risk Assessment of Human Pharmaceuticals
- 2015
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Ingår i: Environmental Science & Technology. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0013-936X .- 1520-5851. ; 49:9, s. 5336-5345
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper presents 10 recommendations for improving the European Medicines Agency's guidance for environmental risk assessment of human pharmaceutical products. The recommendations are based on up-to-date, available science in combination with experiences from other chemical frameworks such as the REACH-legislation for industrial chemicals. The recommendations concern: expanding the scope of the current guideline; requirements to assess the risk for development of antibiotic resistance; jointly performed assessments; refinement of the test proposal; mixture toxicity assessments on active pharmaceutical ingredients with similar modes of action; use of all available ecotoxicity studies; mandatory reviews; increased transparency; inclusion of emission data from production; and a risk management option. We believe that implementation of our recommendations would strengthen the protection of the environment and be beneficial to society. Legislation and guidance documents need to be updated at regular intervals in order to incorporate new knowledge from the scientific community. This is particularly important for regulatory documents concerning pharmaceuticals in the environment since this is a research field that has been growing substantially in the last decades.
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