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The role of the placenta in fetal exposure to heavy metals

Die Bedeutung der Plazenta für die fetale Belastung mit Schwermetallen

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Zusammenfassung

Seit langem ist bekannt, dass die Schwermetalle Quecksilber, Blei und Cadmium plazentagängig sind und in fetalen Geweben akkumulieren. Pränatale Quecksilber- und Blei-Belastungen können die neurologische Entwicklung beeinträchtigen. Fetale Blei- und Cadmium-Belastungen korrelieren mit verringertem Geburtsgewicht und verringerter Geburtslänge. Während Quecksilber und Blei die Plazenta ungehindert passieren, gelangt nur wenig Cadmium zum Fetus. Dies dürfte daran liegen, dass Cadmium in höherem Ausmaß an Metallothionein bindet als Quecksilber und Blei. Die Plazenta stellt für Cadmium also zumindest eine partielle Barriere dar. Unklar ist, welche Proteine am plazentaren Metalltransport beteiligt sind und wo solche Transporter in der Plazentaschranke lokalisiert sind. Bislang sind also nur wenige Aspekte der Metall-Toxikokinetik in Plazenta bekannt. Quecksilber, Blei und Cadmium schädigen nachweislich die Plazentazellen. Beides, der metallspezifische Transfer über die Plazenta aber auch die metall-induzierte Schädigung der Plazenta können den Zusammenhang zwischen pränataler Metall-Belastung und den beobachteten Schadwirkungen auf die kindliche Entwicklung erklären.

Summary

The heavy metals mercury, lead, and cadmium are toxicants, which are well-known to cross the placenta and to accumulate in fetal tissues. Prenatal exposure to mercury and lead poses a health threat particularly to the developing brain. Fetal exposures to lead and cadmium correlate with reduced birth weight and birth size. The placental passage of cadmium is limited suggesting a partial barrier for this metal. It is very likely that metallothionein is responsible for placental storage of the metals especially of cadmium. It is unclear, however, which proteins are involved in placental uptake and efflux of the metals and where the transporters are located at the placental barrier. Hence, only certain aspects of placental metal toxicokinetics are known so far. The metals have also been shown to adversely affect placental functions. Both metal-specific placental transfer and impairment of placental function can explain the relationships between prenatal metal exposures and adverse effects on intrauterine growth and (neuro)development.

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Correspondence to Claudia Gundacker.

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Gundacker, C., Hengstschläger, M. The role of the placenta in fetal exposure to heavy metals. Wien Med Wochenschr 162, 201–206 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10354-012-0074-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10354-012-0074-3

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