Zinc has been implicated to have a protective role against heart malformations during fetal development. Metallothionein 1 (MT-1) and zinc transporter 1 (ZnT-1) are two major metabolic factors that are associated with zinc metabolism. The present work aimed to investigate the association of placental MT-1 and ZnT-1 expressions with fetal heart malformations resulting from maternal zinc deficiency. Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly divided into five groups of extremely low-zinc, low-zinc, moderately low-zinc, marginally low-zinc and normal zinc (n = 9-12), and were fed diets with controlled zinc content at 1.0 ± 0.3, 8.4 ± 1.8, 15.4 ± 2.8, 22.4 ± 4.1 and 29.4 ± 5.3 [mean ± standard deviation (SD)] mg of zinc/kg, respectively, from day 25 of preconception until day 19 of gestation. The female rats were bred, their fetuses were harvested at day 19 of gestation after killing the dams, and fetal hearts were morphologically examined. Zinc concentration and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in maternal venous blood sera were tested, and MT-1 and ZnT-1 mRNA expressions in the placenta were assayed. Zinc concentrations and ALP activities in the blood were low in all zinc-deficient diet groups in a dose-dependent fashion. The incidences of heart malformations were increased, and the levels of placental MT-1 and ZnT-1 mRNA expressions were decreased in the extremely low-zinc, low-zinc and moderately low-zinc groups compared with the normal zinc group. Specifically, mRNA levels of placental MT-1 or ZnT-1 were significantly decreased and were lower than the specific threshold values in the fetuses with heart malformations but not in the fetuses without heart malformations in all the groups. These data indicate that maternal zinc deficiency resulted in an elevated incidence of fetal heart malformations, which was associated with significant decreases in placental MT-1 and ZnT-1 mRNA expressions to the levels below the threshold values that may be a crucial factor to determine the presence of fetal heart malformations.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12012-014-9256-0 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Usefulness of the "En face view" method for diagnosing perimembranous ventricular septal defects.
J Echocardiogr
December 2024
Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Nagano Children's Hospital, Nagano, Japan.
Background: Perimembranous ventricular septal defect (VSD) can be classified as having trabecular, inlet, or outlet extension. The surgical approach used in patch closure depends on the which valve of the tricuspid valve to suture around and the avoidance of the specialized conducting system. This retrospective study evaluated the usefulness of the "En face view" method for classifying perimembranous VSD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLung transplantation for diffuse pulmonary arteriovenous malformations associated with juvenile polyposis-hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia overlap syndrome: a case report.
Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg Cases
December 2024
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
Background: Lung transplantation is a viable lifesaving option for patients with diffuse pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). We present a case of diffuse pulmonary AVMs associated with juvenile polyposis and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (JP-HHT) that was successfully managed by lung transplantation.
Case Presentation: A 19-year-old woman developed severe hypoxemia due to pulmonary AVMs diagnosed at 4 years of age.
The Relationship Between Maternal Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and the Incidence of Congenital Heart Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Metabolites
December 2024
Department of Family and Community Medicine and Medical Education, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Madinah 42353, Saudi Arabia.
Background: Congenital heart diseases are among the most common birth defects, significantly impacting infant health. Recent evidence suggests that exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals may contribute to the incidence of congenital heart diseases. This study systematically reviews and analyzes the association between maternal endocrine-disrupting chemicals exposure and congenital heart diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRisk factors for isolated congenital heart defects in infants from Western Mexico.
Congenit Anom (Kyoto)
December 2024
Center for Registry and Research in Congenital Anomalies (CRIAC), Service of Genetics and Cytogenetics Unit, Pediatrics Division, "Dr. Juan I. Menchaca" Civil Hospital of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are caused by a complex interaction between numerous genetic and environmental risk factors, some of which may differ between different populations. A case-control study was conducted among 1232 newborns, including 308 patients with isolated CHDs (cases) and 924 infants without birth defects (controls), born all during the period 2009-2023 at the Hospital Civil de Guadalajara "Dr. Juan I.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrenatal echocardiographic diagnosis of a discontinuous left pulmonary artery with Taussig-Bing syndrome: a case report and literature review.
Front Pediatr
December 2024
Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, China.
Background: Unilateral pulmonary artery discontinuity (UPAD) is a rare fetal abnormality, for which a prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis remains challenging. We report a case of left pulmonary artery discontinuity in association with Taussig-Bing syndrome, which has rarely been reported in the literature thus far.
Case Presentation: A pregnant woman with a fetus with congenital heart disease (CHD) at 23 weeks gestation was referred to our center.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!