Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP), the most widely utilized industrial plastizer and a ubiquitous environmental contaminant, can act on peroxisome proliferators-activated nuclear hormone receptor family (PPAR) isoforms. To understand the contribution of sphingolipid metabolism to DEHP-induced hepatotoxicity, effect of DEHP exposure on activities of sphingolipid metabolic enzymes in rat liver was investigated. DEHP (250, 500 or 750 mg/kg) was administered to the rats through oral gavage daily for 28 days. The activities of acidic and alkaline ceramidases were slightly increased in 250 mg/kg DEHP-administered rat livers and significantly elevated in 500 mg/kg DEHP-administered ones, although the level of 750 mg/kg DEHP-administered ones was not increased. Neutral ceramidase, acidic and neutral sphingomyelinases, sphingomyeline synthase and ceramide syhthase were not changed at all by DEHP exposure. Therefore, acidic and alkaline ceramidases might play important roles in DEHP-induced hepatotoxicity.

No abstract

Aim: To study the effects of dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans isolated from Schisandra chinensis, such as wuweizisu C, gomisin N, gomisin A, and schisandrin, on the membrane potential in C6 glioma cells. Methods: The membrane potential was estimated by measuring the fluorescence change in DiBAC-loaded glioma cells. Results: Wuweizisu C decreased the membrane potential in a concentration-dependent manner. Gomisin N and gomisin A, however, showed differential modulation and no change was induced by schisandrin or dimethyl-4,4'-dimethoxy-5,6,5',6'-dimethylene dioxybiphenyl-2,2'-dicarboxylate, a synthetic drug derived from dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans. We found no involvement of Gi/o proteins, phospholipase C, and extracellular Na + on the wuweizisu C-induced decrease of the membrane potential. Wuweizisu C by itself did not change the intracellular Ca 2+ [Ca 2+ ]i concentration, but decreased the ATP-induced Ca 2+ increase in C6 glioma cells. The 4 lignans at all concentrations used in this study did not induce any effect on cell viability. Furthermore, we found a similar decrease of the membrane potential by wuweizisu C in PC12 neuronal cells. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the decrease in the membrane potential and the modulation of [Ca 2+ ]i concentration by wuweizisu C could be important action mechanisms of wuweizisu C.

Previously, we reported on the distinct effects of bioactive lysophospholipids, including lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), and sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC), on membrane potentials in rat C6 glioma cells. In the present report we have tested lysophosphatidylserine (LPS), another bioactive lysophospholipid, on membrane potentials in the same cell line. Membrane potentials were estimated by measuring the fluorescence changes of DiBAC-loaded glioma cells. LPS largely increased membrane potentials in a concentration-dependent manner. The LPS-induced membrane potential increases were not affected by treatment with pertussis toxin, implying no involvement of Gi/o proteins. In contrast to other lysophospholipids, the LPS-induced membrane potential increase was not diminished by a Na(+)-free media but was enhanced by suramin. Furthermore, this change was blunted by EIPA, an inhibitor of Na(+)/H(+) exchanger, but not by SITS, a specific inhibitor of bicarbonate transporter. Our observations suggest that LPS acts on membrane potentials in a unique manner in the C6 glioma cells, although the precise action mechanism requires additional investigation.

No abstract