Department of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Pharmacology Department, National Organization for Drug Control and Research, Giza, Egypt.
J Biochem Mol Toxicol. 2021 Aug;35(8):e22816. doi: 10.1002/jbt.22816. Epub 2021 May 27.
The present study was conducted to investigate the potential adverse effect of Pb on pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats and their fetuses after maternal exposure, on gestational days (GD) 7-16. The possible protective role of taurine (TA), administered throughout the gestation period (GD 1-20) against Pb toxicity, was also evaluated. Pregnant rats were divided into four groups: Group 1 (control) was given distilled water; Group 2 was exposed to Pb (250 ppm) in drinking water (GD 7-16), whereas Group 3 received TA (50 mg/kg/day) by oral gavage (GD 1-20); Group 4 was exposed to Pb (GD 7-16), whereas pretreated with TA from GD 1 till the end of the gestation period. After termination on GD 20, maternal and embryo-fetal outcomes were evaluated. Blood samples were collected for hematological and biochemical parameters assessment. The results showed that, Pb induced a significant reduction in the maternal body weight, weight gain, uterine and placental weight, in addition to a high incidence of abortion and fetal resorption. Meanwhile, fetuses demonstrated decreased body weight and length, with a high rate of mortality as well as external and skeletal abnormalities. Additionally, Pb induced severe hematological and biochemical alterations in both dams and fetuses. The toxicity of Pb was further emphasized by placental histopathological examination and hepatic DNA fragmentation. Pretreatment with TA greatly attenuated the impact of Pb on both maternal and fetal parameters. Moreover, TA alleviated the incidence of placental damage and hepatic DNA fragmentation. The results highlight the potential prophylaxis role of TA against maternal and developmental Pb toxicity.
本研究旨在探讨母体在妊娠第 7-16 天期间接触 Pb 对怀孕 Sprague-Dawley 大鼠及其胎儿的潜在不良影响，并评估牛磺酸（TA）在整个妊娠期（GD 1-20）给药对 Pb 毒性的可能保护作用。将怀孕大鼠分为四组：第 1 组（对照组）给予蒸馏水；第 2 组在饮水中暴露于 Pb（250ppm）（GD 7-16），而第 3 组经口服灌胃给予 TA（50mg/kg/天）（GD 1-20）；第 4 组在 GD 7-16 期间暴露于 Pb，而从 GD 1 开始用 TA 预处理直至妊娠期结束。在 GD 20 终止后，评估母体和胚胎-胎儿结局。采集血液样本用于评估血液学和生化参数。结果表明，Pb 导致母体体重、体重增加、子宫和胎盘重量显著下降，流产和胎儿吸收发生率高。同时，胎儿的体重和长度降低，死亡率以及外部和骨骼异常率高。此外，Pb 导致母体和胎儿的血液学和生化发生严重改变。胎盘组织病理学检查和肝 DNA 片段化进一步强调了 Pb 的毒性。TA 的预处理大大减轻了 Pb 对母体和胎儿参数的影响。此外，TA 减轻了胎盘损伤和肝 DNA 片段化的发生率。研究结果突出了 TA 对母体和发育性 Pb 毒性的潜在预防作用。
