engleski

Oral cadmium exsposure during pregnancy: Assessment of microelement distribution in mother rat and foetus at term

The effects of oral cadmium exposure on microelement distribution in Wistar rats orally exposed to 50 mg Cd/L of demineralised water (prepared from CdCl2xH2O) during 20 days of pregnancy were evaluated. Control rats received demineralised water. Non-pregnant rats were treated under the same experimental conditions. The rats were supplied standard pelleted feed (Mucedola, Italy). All rats were then euthanized in general anaesthesia and samples of blood, liver, kidney, placenta, and foetus were dissected and prepared for element analyses (by AAS). Cadmium body retention was higher in pregnant than in non- pregnant exposed rats as evidenced by higher cadmium blood levels and organ cadmium contents. Liver zinc increased in all of the exposed rats. Iron levels decreased in liver and kidney of exposed pregnant rats. Placental zinc and foetal iron decreased. In all of the pregnant vs. non- pregnant rats, copper levels were lower in liver and higher in kidney. In conclusion, cadmium accumulation and tissue perturbations of essential microelements were more pronounced in exposed pregnant than exposed non-pregnant rats. Maternally-mediated oral cadmium exposure disrupts transplacental passage of iron and zinc and thus may compromise perinatal growth and development.

cadmium; oral exposure; pregnancy; placenta; foetus; micronutrients

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