Paraquat: model for oxidant-initiated toxicity.

Paraquat: model for oxidant-initiated toxicity.

Paraquat, a quaternary ammonium bipyridyl herbicide, produces degenerative lesions in the lung after systemic administration to man and animals. The pulmonary toxicity of paraquat resembles in several ways the toxicity of several other lung toxins, including oxygen, nitrofurantoin and bleomycin. Although a definitive mechanism of toxicity of paraquat has not been delineated, a cyclic single ele...

The toxicity of paraquat.

Toxicity of paraquat to microorganisms.

The biochemical response of the microorganisms Lipomyces starkeyi (Lod & Rij), Escherichia coli K-12 W3110, Bacillus subtilis 168 (Marburg) and Pseudomonas sp. strain TTO1 to the presence of growth-inhibitory concentrations of paraquat was studied. Paraquat was added to each culture at a concentration previously determined to reduce the culture growth rate by up to 50%. The changes in activity ...

ATTENUATION OF PARAQUAT TOXICITY IN MICE

Paraquat (PQ) is a widely used herbicide. However, a large number of cases of accidental or suicidal poisoning from PQ has been reported. Membrane damage induced by lipid peroxidation, inactivation of protein or damage to DNA by radical formation have been suggested as toxicity mechanisms of PQ. In the present work, the effects of atropine, propranolol, procainamide and dipyridamole on PQ-...

Erythrocytes as targets for gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase initiated pro-oxidant reaction.

Gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) is a well known cell plasma membrane and serum circulating enzyme. In clinical chemistry, GGT is used as a marker of alcohol consumption and drug uptake. Serum GGT activity varies in hepatobiliary diseases and cancer. This enzyme is involved in glutathione (GSH) metabolism, which is generally associated with antioxidant properties. However, in recent years, fi...