@article{IjomoneIroegbuMorcilloetal.2022,
  author    = {Ijomone, Omamuyovwi M. and Iroegbu, Joy D. and Morcillo, Patricia and Ayodele, Akinyemi J. and Ijomone, Olayemi K. and Bornhorst, Julia and Schwerdtle, Tanja and Aschner, Michael},
  title     = {Sex-dependent metal accumulation and immunoexpression of Hsp70 and Nrf2 in rats' brain following manganese exposure},
  series = {Environmental toxicology},
  volume    = {37},
  journal   = {Environmental toxicology},
  number    = {9},
  publisher = {Wiley},
  address   = {New York, NY},
  issn      = {1520-4081},
  doi       = {10.1002/tox.23583},
  pages     = {2167 -- 2177},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Manganese (Mn), although important for multiple cellular processes, has posed environmental health concerns due to its neurotoxic effects. In recent years, there have been extensive studies on the mechanism of Mn-induced neuropathology, as well as the sex-dependent vulnerability to its neurotoxic effects. Nonetheless, cellular mechanisms influenced by sex differences in susceptibility to Mn have yet to be adequately characterized. Since oxidative stress is a key mechanism of Mn neurotoxicity, here, we have probed Hsp70 and Nrf2 proteins to investigate the sex-dependent changes following exposure to Mn. Male and female rats were administered intraperitoneal injections of MnCl2 (10 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg) 48 hourly for a total of eight injections (15 days). We evaluated changes in body weight, as well as Mn accumulation, Nrf2 and Hsp70 expression across four brain regions; striatum, cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum in both sexes. Our results showed sex-specific changes in body-weight, specifically in males but not in females. Additionally, we noted sex-dependent accumulation of Mn in the brain, as well as in expression levels of Nrf2 and Hsp70 proteins. These findings revealed sex-dependent susceptibility to Mn-induced neurotoxicity corresponding to differential Mn accumulation, and expression of Hsp70 and Nrf2 across several brain regions.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{FerrerPeresdosSantosetal.2018,
  author    = {Ferrer, Beatriz and Peres, Tanara Vieira and dos Santos, Alessandra Antunes and Bornhorst, Julia and Morcillo, Patricia and Goncalves, Cinara Ludvig and Aschner, Michael},
  title     = {Methylmercury affects the expression of hypothalamic neuropeptides that control body weight in C57BL/6J mice},
  series = {Toxicological sciences},
  volume    = {163},
  journal   = {Toxicological sciences},
  number    = {2},
  publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press},
  address   = {Oxford},
  issn      = {1096-6080},
  doi       = {10.1093/toxsci/kfy052},
  pages     = {557 -- 568},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Methylmercury (MeHg) is an environmental pollutant that affects primarily the central nervous system (CNS), causing neurological alterations. An early symptom of MeHg poisoning is the loss of body weight and appetite. Moreover, the CNS has an important role in controlling energy homeostasis. It is known that in the hypothalamus nutrient and hormonal signals converge to orchestrate control of body weight and food intake. In this study, we investigated if MeHg is able to induce changes in the expression of key hypothalamic neuropeptides that regulate energy homeostasis. Thus, hypothalamic neuronal mouse cell line GT 1-7 was treated with MeHg at different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, and 5 mu M). MeHg induced the expression of the anorexigenic neuropeptide pro-omiomelanocortin (Pomc) and the orexigenic peptide Agouti-related peptide (Agrp) in a concentration-dependent manner, suggesting deregulation of mechanisms that control body weight. To confirm these in vitro observations, 8-week-old C57BL/6J mice (males and females) were exposed to MeHg in drinking water, modeling the most prevalent exposure route to this metal. After 30-day exposure, no changes in body weight were detected. However, MeHg treated males showed a significant decrease in fat depots. Moreover, MeHg affected the expression of hypothalamic neuropeptides that control food intake and body weight in a gender-and dose-dependent manner. Thus, MeHg increases Pomc mRNA only in males in a dose-dependent way, and it does not have effects on the expression of Agrp mRNA. The present study shows, for first time, that MeHg is able to induce changes in hypothalamic neuropeptides that regulate energy homeostasis, favoring an anorexigenic/catabolic profile.},
  language  = {en}
}