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Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research

Preeclampsia induced by cadmium in rats is related to abnormal local glucocorticoid synthesis in placenta

Authors: Fan Wang, Qiong Zhang, Xiaojie Zhang, Shunqun Luo, Duyun Ye, Yi Guo, Sisi Chen, Yinping Huang

Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

Cadmium (Cd) is a major environmental pollutant that causes multiple adverse health effects in humans and animals. In this study, we investigated Cd-mediated toxic effects in rats during pregnancy and endocrine intervention in the placenta.

Methods

We exposed pregnant rats to intraperitoneal Cd (CdCl2) at various doses (0, 0.25, and 0.5 mg/kg BW/day) from days 5 to 19 of pregnancy and evaluated the maternal-placental-fetal parameters linked to preeclampsia. We measured the corticosterone level in rat serum and placental tissue by sensitive ELISA and also analyzed the expression of glucocorticoid synthesis enzymes in the placenta.

Results

Key features of preeclampsia (PE), including hypertension, proteinuria, glomerular endotheliosis, placental abnormalities and small fetal size, appeared in pregnant rats after injection with 0.5 mg/kg BW/day Cd. The placental corticosterone production and maternal and fetal plasma corticosterone levels were increased in rats treated with 0.5 mg/kg BW/day Cd (P <0.01). The expression of 21-hydroxylase (CYP21) and 11beta-hydroxylase (CYP11B1), enzymes essential for corticosteroid synthesis, were increased in Cd-exposed placenta (P <0.01). 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD2), a dominant negative regulator of local glucocorticoid levels, was decreased in Cd-exposed placenta (P <0.01).

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates for the first time that changes in placental glucocorticoid synthesis induced by Cd exposure during pregnancy could contribute to preeclamptic conditions in rats.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Preeclampsia induced by cadmium in rats is related to abnormal local glucocorticoid synthesis in placenta
Authors
Fan Wang
Qiong Zhang
Xiaojie Zhang
Shunqun Luo
Duyun Ye
Yi Guo
Sisi Chen
Yinping Huang
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7827
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7827-12-77

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