Archives: Projekti

IMI projekti

Reproductive Health Effects of Metals in Men

MINISTRY OF SCIENCE, EDUCATION AND SPORTS OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA (2007-2014)

Principal Investigator: Spomenka Telišman (until 31 December 2007), Alica Pizent (since 1 January 2008)

SUMMARY
Recent evidence has indicated a deterioration in the reproductive health of men in many countries over the past few decades, particularly a decrease in semen quality and an increase in prevalence of prostate cancer, but also great differences between and within some countries. The cause of these phenomena is unknown, although a complex role of environmental and lifestyle factors has been implicated. Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) are toxic metals, pervasive in the human environment and accumulate in the human body over a lifetime. In addition to direct toxicity, they can interfere with the metabolism of several essential metals by reducing their bioavailability in the body, can contribute to oxidative stress (implicated in the pathogenesis of male infertility), and can inhibit DNA repair. Copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) are essential elements required for optimum activity of many enzymes, including the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) that are protective against oxidative stress. Particularly Zn and Se are important for male reproductive function and can reduce the toxicity of Pb and Cd. Varicocele belongs to the most important causes of male infertility, although the mechanism behind its adverse action is poorly known. Recent data indicate the association of varicocele with an increase in Cd and a decrease in Zn, and with altered activity of antioxidant enzymes in men. Prostate cancer is the 4th most common cancer in men worldwide, and the most common cancer in men in the USA as well as in Croatia. Recent data show a protective role of relatively high serum Se levels against the risk of prostate cancer in men, whereas chronic exposure to Pb and Cd has been shown to decrease Zn and Se, and cause impaired secretory function or damage of the prostate. The objective of this study is to determine the inter-relationship of the blood levels of Pb and Cd, serum levels of Cu, Zn and Se, activities of SOD and GPx in blood, and age, smoking, and alcohol consumption with respect to clinically defined presence and intensity of varicocele, and of prostate damage, in men with no occupational exposure to metals. The purpose is to provide relevant data concerning the etiology, possible substitutional therapy, and prevention of a further deterioration in the reproductive health in men, as well as to evaluate the contribution of each specific environmental and lifestyle factors. The study is important in view of a considerably lower serum Se level, and somewhat higher blood Pb and Cd levels, in the general population of Croatia than in many other countries.

The Exposure of Humans and Animals to Mycotoxins

Principal Investigator: Maja Peraica

SUMMARY
Mycotoxins are the metabolites of moulds with toxic, carcinogenic, genotoxic, mutagenic, and teratogenic properties. In our earlier studies, we found low concentrations of fumonisin B1 (FB1), fumonisin B2, ochratoxin A (OTA), and zearalenon in food samples collected in various regions of Croatia. OTA is considered to be involved in the development of endemic nephropathy (EN). This kidney disease of unknown etiology and high frequency of tumors of the upper urothelial tract appears in the western part of Brodska Posavina. It is speculated that, in addition to OTA, another nephrotoxic mycotoxin such as FB1 should be involved in the development of EN.
The mechanism of the toxicity of OTA and FB1 is not fully understood. It was proved on cultured cells that OTA and FB1 cause oxidative damage of lipids and DNA. However, it is not know whether low concentrations of these mycotoxins usually found in food can also cause oxidative damage of lipids, proteins and DNA in experimental animals. OTA and FB1 are frequently found together in cereals, and therefore it would be important to see whether their effect is synergistic or not. OTA is an organic anion that accumulates in the kidney cells and partially excretes in urine. OTA is partially reabsorbed due to organic anion transporters (OAT) on the epithelial cells along the nephron, which may contribute to its toxicity in specific parts of the kidney. Recent investigations have shown that the localization of specific OATs in rats is sex-related. Toxic effects of OTA are more severe in male rats, which could be due to the higher expression of OAT in males.
The proposed project will use recently developed methods, some of which will be used for the first time in the research of the mechanisms of action of mycotoxins.
The aim of this project is to clarify the role of oxidative stress caused by mycotoxins in damage of macromolecules (DNA, lipids, and proteins), as well as to improve the understanding of the mechanism of toxicity of OTA by investigating the changes in kidney OAT system. The other aim is to find out whether exposure to OTA and FB1 is involved in the development of EN.
We expect that our results will: a) show whether oxidative stress is involved in the mechanism of OTA and FB1 toxicity, and whether this effect is synergistic, b) show whether OTA affects the expression of OATs in the rat kidney and whether this effect is sex-related, and c) improve the knowledge about the mechanism of EN development.

Conceptual Model for Biotechnological Treatment of Atrazine Production Wastewater (TP-01/0098-19)

The Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia (2002-2006)

Principal investigator: Dubravka Hršak, “RuÄ‘er Bošković” Institute
Responsible investigator at IMI: Vlasta Drevenkar

SUMMARY
The growth kinetic experiments of the selected microbial cultures as well as kinetic experiments of atrazine transformation are performed with the aim to obtain data necessary for designing the plant for treatment of wastewater from atrazine production. The treatment plant is indispensable to reduce atrazine concentration in technological wastewater down to the limits set by the regulations in force.

The investigations include the isolation of microbial cultures from various environments (soil treated with atrazine, sediment and waste water from atrazine production) and checking of their activity in atrazine transformation under optimum conditions. Modern methods of batch and continuous cultures under controlled conditions are employed as well as modern analytical techniques for quantitative atrazine determination and identification of formed intermediates (GC, GC-MS, HPLC, TOC). The results of model kinetic investigations will be used both for designing the treatment plant and for optimising the biotechnological procedure.