Mother-fetus transference of lead and cadmium in rats: involvement of metallothionein
M.A. Benitez1, M. Mendez-Armenta2, S. Montes3, D. Rembao2, L.H. Sanin4 and C. Rios3
1Nutrition Department, Research Center for Food and Development, Sonora, Mexico, 2Neuropathology Department, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Mexico City, Mexico, 3Neurochemistry Department, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Mexico City, Mexico and 4Nursery School, University of Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico.
Offprint requests to: Camilo Ríos, Departamento de Neuroquímica, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía “Manuel Velasco Suárez”, Insurgentes Sur 3877, La Fama, Tlalpan, 14269, Mexico city, Mexico. e-mail: crios@correo.xoc.uam.mx
Summary. This study was designed to assess the effect of Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) exposure during pregnancy in rats and their correlation with metallothionein (MT). Rats were exposed to either 10 ppm Cd or 300 ppm Pb through drinking water during pregnancy. Both metals were measured in placenta, fetus brain and fetal and maternal blood. MT was quantified in placenta and fetus brain and it was also observed in placenta by immunohistochemical technique. Offspring weight was found to be significantly lower for the Cd exposure group than for the control group. A Cd increase in the placenta of the exposed group was accompanied by MT induction; these effects were related to a limited accumulation of Cd in fetus brain. In contrast, dam Pb exposure caused an accumulation of Pb in the fetus brain and induced damage to placenta. The results account for differences in the transference of these metals during pregnancy that could be related to their toxicity. Histol Histopathol 24, 1523-1530 (2009)
Key words: Cadmium, Lead, Placenta, Fetus, Transference, Metallothionein
DOI: 10.14670/HH-24.1523