Taghizadehghalehjoughi, Ali; Hacimuftuoglu, Ahmet; Yilmaz, Aysegul; Çıçek, Betül

Cortical neuron and SH-SY5Y cells are widely used in glutamate excitotoxicity studies, but it is unclear which one better reflects this model. Generally, glutamate induces toxicity conditions by leading to L and L/N-Ca2+channels activation and cell death via lethal Ca2+ influx. To evaluate this hypothesis, the effects of L and L/N-Ca2+ channel blockers, lacidipine, and amlodipine under excitotoxic conditions were evaluated. At the same time, in this study, we aimed to determine that these two cell lines better reflect this model. To induce excitotoxicity, cortical neuron and SH-SY5Y cells were incubated with glutamate 10-5 mM. After 30 min incubation with glutamate, different concentration (1, 2 and 4 µg lacidipine and 20, 50 and 100 µM amlodipine) were applied these cells. Possible neuroprotective roles of lacidipine and amlodipine were investigated through cell viability, oxidative stress, and apoptotic alterations. Our results showed that SH-SY5Y cells are the more ideal cell line for oxidative stress-mediated glutamate toxicity. In addition, 4 µg lacidipine and 100 µM amlodipine had significant neuroprotective roles in these cells, but the most protective effect was also determined in SH-SY5Y cells at 100 µM amlodipine. The highest viability rate on cell lines was found at 88,8 % in SH-SY5Y cells treated with 100 μM amlodipine. Results from the TAC, TOS, LDH assays, and flow cytometry analysis were correlated to our MTT results. Taken together, our results indicate that SH-SY5Y cells are more effective at reflecting glutamate-induced excitotoxicity and 100μM amlodipine has a more protective effect in treating this toxicity.

Mutlu, Cengiz; Bayır, İsmail

Heavy metals may be harmful to human health over the short and long term. Consumption of fish, one of the most important sources of protein in human life is one of the most common ways of heavy metal exposure. In this study for determine some heavy metals (Li, Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Ag, Cd, Pb and U) concentration in different tissues as muscle, liver and gill of common carp (Cyprinus carpio, L., 1758) and pike barb (Luciobarbus esocinus, H., 1843) collected from Karasu River (Erzincan, Turkey) along the upper Euphrates Basin were collected between November 2019 and October 2020 on monthly. Heavy metal analysis was performed by ICP-MS -Bruker 820-MS. The results of heavy metals in tissues were compared to acceptable international limits. The studied metals were found at a considerable level in all seasons, indicating that the Karasu River biota is particularly vulnerable to heavy metal intake. Consequently, research has shown a strong connection between various elements and in addition, the human health risk assessment (HHRA) reveals are hazardous for consumption of fish.

Akbayir, Serdal; Osma, Etem; Varol, Tuğçe

In this study, heavy metal concentrations (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Pb, Ni, Cr, Cd) were detected in the samples of bark, leaf and soil belonging to P. orientalis which were collected from coast sides of Fatih, Beşiktaş, Kadıköy, Tuzla, Pendik and Sarıyer district in İstanbul which is one of the most crowded metropols in the world. The aim of this study is to determine the level of heavy metal pollution in İstanbul that has the highest population and industrialization in our country. After plant and soil samples were preprocessed, the analyses of heavy metals were performed on ICP-MS. Data obtained from the parts of the plant and the soil collected from different districts was statistically evaluated on SPSS and it is detected that there are significant differences between the regions. It is also determined that there are differences between washed and unwashed leaves in terms of heavy metal concentrations. When the obtained data was examined, it is found that the concentration of Cr, Cu, Fe, Zn and Ni heavy metals were higher in the plant parts collected in Tuzla district where the organized industrial area and shipyard were produced. Consequently, it is decided that P. orientalis which commonly grows in cities can be a biomonitor to determine heavy metal contamination.