Altered Maternal Zinc Metabolism Following Exposure to Diverse DevelopmentalToxicants (Revised)

摘要

The hypothesis that hepatic metallothionein (MT) induction in the pregnant animalresults in a zinc (Zn) deficiency in the embryo was tested by treating pregnant rats with alpha-hederin, reported to induce MT in rat liver. Morphological development was assessed in term fetuses. A single dose of alpha-hederin, of 3-300 micromodes/kg, caused a dosage-related increase in maternal hepatic MT. These data support the hypothesis that systematic changes in Zn status, brought about by induction of hepatic MT, maybe a mechanism for maternally-mediated abnormal development.