maneb and Chronic-Disease

Environmental exposures suspected of contributing to the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) include potentially neurotoxic pesticides, which have been linked to an increased risk of PD. Conversely, possible protective factors such as the adenosine antagonist caffeine have been linked to a reduced risk of the disease. Here we assessed whether caffeine alters dopaminergic neuron loss induced by exposure to environmentally relevant pesticides (paraquat and maneb) over 8weeks. The number of nigral neurons positive for tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity (TH+) was assessed using stereological methods and found to be significantly reduced (to 60% of control) by combined pesticide treatment. Caffeine at 20mg/kg significantly reduced TH+ neuron loss (to 85% of the respective control). The results demonstrate the neuroprotective potential of caffeine in a chronic pesticide exposure model of model of PD.

Topics: Animals; Caffeine; Cell Count; Chronic Disease; Disease Models, Animal; Dopamine; Drug Interactions; Fungicides, Industrial; Herbicides; Locomotion; Male; Maneb; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Nerve Degeneration; Neurons; Neuroprotective Agents; Paraquat; Substantia Nigra

The fungicide for corn PF-70 contains 21% of sulphur, 8.4% of mancozeb, and 0.6% of triadimefon . The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the fungicide on the gastric mucosa electrolyte barrier in rats. Mucosa lesion is known to be one of the risk factors of chronic peptic ulcer disease. The experiments were carried out on 80 rats of Wistar strain. The animals were divided into 5 groups--males and females, separately. The fungicide was given for 13 weeks, at the following doses: 100, 400, 1600, and 6400 mg of active substance per 1 kg of fodder. The gastric mucosa electrolyte barrier was examined by determining the transmural electric potential differences (PD) in mucosa before and after treatment with 150 mmlo of hydrochloric acid and 40 mmol of acetylsalicylic acid solutions. No changes in general condition of the animals were observed. An increase in fodder consumption was observed in males receiving the fungicide at doses of 1600 and 6400 mg per 1 kg of fodder. Females exhibited a decrease in body mass after intoxication at concentration of 6400 mg/kg fodder. A decrease in PD was found in all groups intoxicated with the fungicide, irrespective of the animal sex.

Topics: Action Potentials; Animals; Chronic Disease; Disease Models, Animal; Edible Grain; Electric Conductivity; Female; Fungicides, Industrial; Gastric Mucosa; Male; Maneb; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Sulfur; Triazoles; Zineb