Browsing by Author "Aschner, M."

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Neurobehavioral and biochemical changes in Nauphoeta cinerea following dietary exposure to chlorpyrifos
(Elsevier Inc., 2016) Adedara, I. A.; Rosemberg, D. B.; Souza, D.; Farombi, E. O.; Aschner, M.; Souza, D. O.; Rocha, J. B. T.
The present study aimed to increase our understanding about the mode of toxic action of organophosphate pesticides in insects by evaluating the biochemical and neurobehavioral characteristics in Nauphoeta cinerea exposed to chlorpyrifos (CPF)-contaminated diet. The insects were exposed for 35 consecutive days to CPF at 0.078, 0.15625, 0.3125 and 0.625 μg/g feed. Locomotor behavior was assessed for a 10-min trial in a novel arena and subsequently, biochemical analyses were carried out using the cockroaches’ heads. In comparison to control, CPF-exposed cockroaches showed significant decreases in the total distance traveled, body rotation, turn angle and meandering, along with significant increase in the number of falls, time and episodes of immobility. The marked decrease in the exploratory profiles of CPF-exposed cockroaches was confirmed by track plots, whereas occupancy plot analyses showed a progressive dispersion at 0.15625 μg/g feed group. Moreover, the heads of CPF-exposed cockroaches showed marked decrease in acetylcholinesterase activity and antioxidant status with concomitant significant elevation in dichlorofluorescein oxidation and lipid peroxidation levels in CPF-treated cockroaches. Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry analyses revealed bioaccumulation of CPF in cockroaches exposed to concentrations above 0.078 μg/g feed. The findings from this investigation showed N. cinerea as a value model organism for the risk assessment of environmental organophosphate contamination in insects.
Neuroprotection of luteolin against methylmercury-induced toxicityin lobster cockroach Nauphoeta cinerea
(Elsevier B.V., 2016) Adedara, I. A. || || || || ||; Rosemberg, D. B.; Souza, D. O.; Farombi, E. O.; Aschner, M.; Rocha, J. B. T.
Luteolin (3_, 4_, 5, 7-tetrahydroxyflavone) is a polyphenolic compound found in foods of plant origin and has been reported to possess antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. However, there is dearth of information on the beneficial effects of luteolin on methylmercury (MeHg), a long-established neuro-toxic compound in animals and humans. This study evaluated the effect of luteolin on MeHg-inducedbehavioral and biochemical deficits, using lobster cockroach Nauphoeta cinerea as an alternative and complementary animal model. The insects were exposed for 35 consecutive days to either MeHg alone(0.05 mg/g feed) or in combination with luteolin at 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/g feed. Locomotor behavior was assessed using video-tracking software during a 10-min trial in a novel arena and subsequently, biochemical analyses were carried out using the cockroaches’ heads. Luteolin supplementation dose-dependentlyreversed the MeHg-induced locomotor deficits and enhanced the exploratory profiles of MeHg-exposedcockroaches as confirmed by track and occupancy plot analyses. Luteolin reversed the MeHg-inducedacetylcholinesterase activity inhibition, decreased dichlorofluorescein oxidation and lipid peroxidation levels, but increased total thiol level and catalase and glutathione S-transferase activities in the treated cockroaches. In conclusion, luteolin prevented oxidative stress indices and neurobehavioral deficits in a Nauphoeta cinerea model of MeHg toxicity.
Utility of cockroach as a model organism in the assessment of toxicological impacts of environmental pollutants
(Elsevier Ltd., 2022) Adedara, I. A.; Mohammed, K. A.; Da-Silva, O. F.; Salaudeen, F. A.; Goncalves, F. L. S.; Rosemberg, D. B.; Aschner, M.; Rocha, J. B. T.; Farombi, E. O.
Environmental pollution is a global concern because of its associated risks to human health and ecosystem. The bio-monitoring of environmental health has attracted much attention in recent years and efforts to minimize environmental contamination as well as to delineate toxicological mechanisms related to toxic exposure are essential to improve the health conditions of both humans and animals. This review aims to substantiate the need and advantages in utilizing cockroaches as a complementary, non-mammalian model to further understand the noxious impact of environmental contaminants on humans and animals. We discuss recent advances in neuro- toxicology, immunotoxicology, reproductive and developmental toxicology, environmental forensic entomo- toxicology, and environmental toxicology that corroborate the utility of the cockroach (Periplaneta americana, Blaptica dubia, Blattella germanica and Nauphoeta cinerea) in addressing toxicological mechanisms as well as a sensor of environmental pollution. Indeed, recent improvements in behavioural assessment and the detection of potential biomarkers allow for the recognition of phenotypic alterations in cockroaches following exposure to toxic chemicals namely saxitoxin, methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, electromagnetic fields, pharma- ceuticals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, chemical warfare agents and nanoparticles. The review provides a state-of-the-art update on the current utility of cockroach models in various aspects of toxicology as well as discusses the potential limitations and future perspectives.