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Updated: Jun 20, 2026
Quantitating Iron Transport Across the Mouse Placenta In Vivo Using Nonradioactive Iron Isotopes
Published on: May 10, 2022
Monoamine oxidase activity in placenta in relation to manganese, cadmium, lead, and mercury at delivery
Nadia Abdelouahab1, Guy Huel, Alexander Suvorov
1Département Obstétrique Gynécologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
Background:
Environmental prenatal exposure to potentially neurotoxic metals poses a particular challenge with regard to the study of early toxic effects. Monoamine oxidase activity, shown to be influenced by metals in experimental studies, could be a useful biomarker in humans.
Objective:
To examine the relationship between blood metal concentrations at delivery and placenta MAO activity.
Methods:
The study was performed in 163 pregnancies. Maternal and cord blood samples were obtained for manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) determination. Mercury (Hg) was also analysed in maternal hair. Placental samples were stored immediately after expulsion and total MAO activity was measured.
Results:
MAO activity was significantly positively correlated with maternal and cord blood Mn concentrations in subjects with high MAO activity. In subjects with low MAO activity, maternal hair Hg was negatively correlated with MAO.
Conclusion:
Our results suggest the use of placental MAO as a potential surrogate marker of Mn toxicity in the newborn and its correlation with psychomotor development should be further investigated.
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