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Occurrence of lead in placenta--important information for prenatal and postnatal development of child

Janka Foltinová1, Viktor Foltin, Eva Neu

  • 1Institute of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, SK-81108 Bratislava, Slovakia.

Neuro Endocrinology Letters
|August 19, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Lead exposure during pregnancy harms fetal development, impacting placental function and potentially causing hyperkinetic syndrome in children. This study reveals lead

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Developmental Biology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Lead exposure poses significant risks to prenatal and postnatal child development.
  • The mechanisms of lead transfer and its impact on placental function require further elucidation.
  • Maternal lead exposure is a potential risk factor for adverse child neurodevelopmental outcomes, including hyperkinetic syndrome.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the consequences of lead exposure on fetal development and placental function.
  • To elucidate the pathway of lead transfer from maternal erythrocytes to the fetal syncytiotrophoblast.
  • To explore the association between maternal lead exposure, placental morphology, and potential neurodevelopmental effects in children.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a novel method for detecting lead in placental tissue.
  • Utilized scanning electron microscopy to examine placental villi morphology.
  • Verified lead presence using infrared spectroscopy.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated lead release from maternal erythrocytes and uptake by the villous syncytiotrophoblast.
  • Identified abundant, thin terminal villi, suggesting impaired oxygen and carbon dioxide transport.
  • Observed fibrin deposit layer alterations prior to childbirth.

Conclusions:

  • Lead exposure significantly impacts placental function and fetal development.
  • Maternal lead exposure is linked to placental structural abnormalities and potential oxygen deficiency for the fetus.
  • Findings suggest a possible link between maternal lead exposure and the development of hyperkinetic syndrome in children.

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