Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

2.6K
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
2.6K
Types of Toxins01:36

Types of Toxins

1.9K
Humans continually engage with an environment rich in potentially harmful chemicals. These are introduced to our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. These chemicals exist in various forms, such as air and environmental pollutants, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, and heavy metals.
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
1.9K
Toxic Reactions: Overview01:26

Toxic Reactions: Overview

1.1K
When toxic substances penetrate the human body, they disseminate to various tissues, undergoing metabolic changes. This process yields reactive metabolites that may covalently bind with specific target molecules, resulting in toxicity.
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
1.1K
Gonadal and Placental Hormones01:24

Gonadal and Placental Hormones

1.6K
The gonads, namely the testes in males and the ovaries in females, are pivotal in producing gonadal hormones that orchestrate the intricate processes of sexual development and reproduction.
In males, testosterone is the primary gonadal androgen. It plays a central role in the maturation of male reproductive organs — the penis and testes. Additionally, testosterone is instrumental in the development of secondary sexual characteristics — a deep voice as well as facial and pubic hair...
1.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Maternal vitamin D status and preterm birth: an eight-year retrospective cohort study in the Southeastern United States.

Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association·2026
Same author

Childhood neurodevelopmental outcomes following hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Pregnancy hypertension·2026
Same author

Seminal plasma trace elements: reliability as biomarkers and associations with sperm quality in male IVF patients.

International journal of environmental epidemiology·2026
Same author

Maternal Cardiac Disease and Congenital Heart Disease Risk in Offspring.

JAMA network open·2026
Same author

The association of prenatal adiposity characteristics with early childhood overweight and obesity: findings from a large and diverse mother-child cohort.

International journal of obesity (2005)·2026
Same author

Placental histopathology and early childhood neurodevelopment in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes cohort.

American journal of obstetrics and gynecology·2026
Same journal

A risk-based classification of late-onset fetal growth disorders according to intrapartum fetal compromise.

Best practice & research. Clinical obstetrics & gynaecology·2026
Same journal

The Cardiac-Fetal-Placental Unit: links between umbilical venous flow and maternal hemodynamics in fetal growth restriction.

Best practice & research. Clinical obstetrics & gynaecology·2026
Same journal

Psychosocial interventions for women who are pregnant following a previous reproductive loss: A scoping review.

Best practice & research. Clinical obstetrics & gynaecology·2026
Same journal

Controversies in fetal therapy.

Best practice & research. Clinical obstetrics & gynaecology·2026
Same journal

Alloimmunisation in pregnancy: current management and future perspectives.

Best practice & research. Clinical obstetrics & gynaecology·2026
Same journal

Consensus in prenatal management of Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn.

Best practice & research. Clinical obstetrics & gynaecology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 24, 2025

Determination of the Transport Rate of Xenobiotics and Nanomaterials Across the Placenta using the ex vivo Human Placental Perfusion Model
08:08

Determination of the Transport Rate of Xenobiotics and Nanomaterials Across the Placenta using the ex vivo Human Placental Perfusion Model

Published on: June 18, 2013

17.4K

Environmental toxicants and placental function.

Michael S Bloom1, Meghana Varde1, Roger B Newman2

  • 1Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, 4400 University Dr., MS 5B7, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA.

Best Practice & Research. Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology
|October 23, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The placenta allows harmful environmental toxins like toxic trace elements (TEs), PFAS, and phenols to reach the fetus, impacting development. Understanding placental transfer is key for clinical interventions during pregnancy.

Keywords:
Environmental phenolsMetalsParabensPerfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substancesPlacentaReproductive toxicity

More Related Videos

Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
07:08

Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants

Published on: March 6, 2018

6.2K
Author Spotlight: Modeling an Aspect of Preeclampsia in Female Mice Using Hypoxic Human Placenta-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles
05:31

Author Spotlight: Modeling an Aspect of Preeclampsia in Female Mice Using Hypoxic Human Placenta-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles

Published on: January 26, 2024

902

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 24, 2025

Determination of the Transport Rate of Xenobiotics and Nanomaterials Across the Placenta using the ex vivo Human Placental Perfusion Model
08:08

Determination of the Transport Rate of Xenobiotics and Nanomaterials Across the Placenta using the ex vivo Human Placental Perfusion Model

Published on: June 18, 2013

17.4K
Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
07:08

Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants

Published on: March 6, 2018

6.2K
Author Spotlight: Modeling an Aspect of Preeclampsia in Female Mice Using Hypoxic Human Placenta-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles
05:31

Author Spotlight: Modeling an Aspect of Preeclampsia in Female Mice Using Hypoxic Human Placenta-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles

Published on: January 26, 2024

902

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Toxicology
  • Reproductive Biology

Background:

  • The placenta is a vital temporary organ for maternal-fetal exchange.
  • It is often considered a barrier against environmental toxicants.
  • However, the placenta is permeable to certain hazardous substances.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the placenta's role in transferring environmental hazards to the fetus.
  • To discuss the implications of placental transfer of toxic trace elements (TEs), perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and environmental phenols (EPs).
  • To emphasize the need for clinical awareness of placental toxicity and transfer risks.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on placental transfer mechanisms.
  • Analysis of the impact of TEs, PFAS, and EPs on fetal development.
  • Discussion of endocrine disruption, oxidative stress, and epigenetic changes caused by these agents.

Main Results:

  • The placenta is not fully opaque to environmental toxicants.
  • TEs, PFAS, and EPs are transferred to the fetal compartment.
  • These substances can cause direct fetal harm or indirect harm via placental accumulation.

Conclusions:

  • Clinicians must understand the placental transfer and toxicity of common environmental agents.
  • Knowledge of these risks is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
  • Protecting fetal development requires managing maternal exposure to environmental hazards during pregnancy.