Medical Research Unit in Clinical Epidemiology of the Mexican Social Security Institute, 3 Ave. Ocampo y Deza y Ulloa S/N, Colonia Centro, Chihuahua, Mexico.
Hum Exp Toxicol. 2009 Aug;28(8):451-9. doi: 10.1177/0960327109107045. Epub 2009 Sep 10.
It is known that pesticides cross the placental barrier and can cause alterations in the development of placental structures resulting in adverse effects in reproduction. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of pesticide exposure during pregnancy on placental maturity and to evaluate the relationship between placental maturity, gestational age and birth weight. We collected the placentas from singleton pregnancies from women exposed (n = 9) and non-exposed (n = 45 full-term and n = 31 preterm) to pesticides as evaluated geographically, by questionnaire and by acetylcholinesterase levels. Placental morphometry from the central and peripheral regions was examined by microscopy and staining with hematoxylin and eosin. The placental maturity index (PMI) was estimated by dividing the number of epithelial plates in terminal villi to their thickness in 1 mm(2) of the placental parenchyma. Gestational age, birth weight and the following characteristics of the mother were also recorded: pre-pregnancy body mass index, weight gain during pregnancy and hemoglobin concentrations. Birth weight and the gestational age were correlated with PMI (r = .54 and r = .44, respectively; p < .01). Pesticide exposure was associated with a higher PMI (beta = 7.38, p = .01) after adjusting by variables related to placental maturity. In conclusion, the results suggest a relationship between prenatal exposure to pesticides and placental maturity and may potentially affect the nutrient transport from the mother to the fetus.
已知农药会穿过胎盘屏障，并可能导致胎盘结构发育异常，从而对生殖产生不良影响。本研究的目的是调查怀孕期间暴露于农药对胎盘成熟度的影响，并评估胎盘成熟度、胎龄和出生体重之间的关系。我们收集了来自单胎妊娠妇女的胎盘，这些妇女被暴露（n = 9）和未暴露（n = 45 例足月和 n = 31 例早产）于农药，通过问卷调查和乙酰胆碱酯酶水平进行评估。通过显微镜检查和苏木精-伊红染色对胎盘中央和周边区域的形态进行检查。通过将终末绒毛上皮板的数量除以胎盘实质 1mm² 内的厚度来估计胎盘成熟指数（PMI）。还记录了胎龄、出生体重和母亲的以下特征：孕前体重指数、孕期体重增加和血红蛋白浓度。出生体重和胎龄与 PMI 呈正相关（r =.54 和 r =.44，分别为；p <.01）。在调整与胎盘成熟度相关的变量后，暴露于农药与较高的 PMI 相关（β = 7.38，p =.01）。总之，这些结果表明产前暴露于农药与胎盘成熟度之间存在关系，可能会影响营养物质从母体向胎儿的转运。
