Accumulation of Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr and Co in the Human Liver before Birth

Widdowson, E. M.; Chan, Howard H.W.; Harrison, G. E.; Milner, R. D. G.

doi:10.1159/000240478

Cited by 106 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…14,15,54,55 In humans, fetal Cu concentrations reportedly increased or remained stable through gestation. 5,51,53 Bovine maternal and fetal Cu were positively correlated in this and previous reports. 14,15,35 In contrast to our study, however, Canadian and Australian fetuses had more liver Cu than did cows.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

“…51,52 Similar to bovine fetuses in the present study, human fetal hepatic Mn did not change through gestation. 51,52 Fetal hepatic Mn concentrations in stillborn infants and neonatal infants dying within 24 hours of birth were similar to adult values. 5 In contrast, in another study bovine and ovine fetuses had 2-fold higher fetal Mn than their dams and maternal and fetal Mn were not correlated.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

“…14,15 Human fetuses obtained after therapeutic abortion had similar liver Mn concentrations (n = 30; 0.0236 µmoles Mn/g wet weight; 1.3 µg/g) as bovine fetuses in this and the Canadian study. 14,15,51,52 Similarly, women had equivalent hepatic Mn (0.0328 µmoles Mn/g wet weight; 1.8 µg/g) as did pregnant Canadian cows, but these concentrations were half that of cows in this study. 51,52 Similar to bovine fetuses in the present study, human fetal hepatic Mn did not change through gestation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 48%

“…14,15,51,52 Similarly, women had equivalent hepatic Mn (0.0328 µmoles Mn/g wet weight; 1.8 µg/g) as did pregnant Canadian cows, but these concentrations were half that of cows in this study. 51,52 Similar to bovine fetuses in the present study, human fetal hepatic Mn did not change through gestation. 51,52 Fetal hepatic Mn concentrations in stillborn infants and neonatal infants dying within 24 hours of birth were similar to adult values.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 48%

“…20 Our current work, Canadian data, human data, and reports for laboratory animal species suggest that these bovine and ovine data may be the exception. 5,14,15,18,28,51,52 It is likely that fetal Mn is usually less than maternal Mn and directly dependent on adequate maternal reserves. A consequence of a positive maternal-fetal Mn relationship can be inadequate maternal Mn delivery to the fetus, resulting in abnormalities in bone growth for calves born to deficient dams.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Relationships between Maternal and Fetal Liver Copper, Iron, Manganese, and Zinc Concentrations and Fetal Development in California Holstein Dairy Cows

et al. 1994

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Abstract. Associations between maternal trace element deficiencies and abortion have been made for many mammalian species. Objectives of this study were to estimate and correlate maternal and fetal hepatic Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn concentrations through gestation. Additionally, aborted fetuses, stratified by cause of abortion (infectious or noninfectious), were compared to size-matched nonaborted fetuses to examine for magnitude and direction of change in hepatic trace element status. Dam and fetal liver were removed at slaughter from 103 Holstein dairy cows judged grossly normal by ante-and postmortem examination. Liver samples were collected from fetuses submitted by veterinarians for routine diagnosis of abortion (n = 80). Hepatic Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn concentrations were determined by flame spectrophotometry. Comparisons of groups, estimations of correlations, and derived prediction equations were made by least-squares methods. Maternal liver Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn concentrations did not vary during gestation. Compared with the dam, fetal liver Fe and Zn concentrations were higher (P < 0.05), fetal Cu concentrations were similar (P > 0.05), and fetal liver Mn concentrations were lower (P < 0.05). As fetal size increased, fetal liver Cu and Zn concentrations increased ( P < 0.05), fetal liver Fe concentration decreased (P < 0.05), and fetal liver Mn did not change (P > 0.05). Aborted fetuses had lower liver Cu, Mn, and Zn concentrations than did nonaborted fetuses (P < 0.05). Liver Fe concentration was lower in aborted fetuses than in nonaborted fetuses in the second trimester only ( P < 0.05). Consistently lower liver Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn concentrations in aborted fetuses suggest a nonspecific change in trace element status, which implies an effect of abortion, not a cause of abortion.Associations between maternal mineral deficiencies and abnormal fetal development, including fetal loss, have been made for many mammalian species in controlled experiments and under field conditions. 7,16,21,27 Abnormal fetal development can include structural and metabolic defects and result in direct fetal loss from abortion. In cattle and women, only 20-40% of aborted fetuses submitted for diagnosis have a defined etiologic cause. 1,32,33 Although many infectious agents have been associated with bovine abortion, little is known about the multicausality of abortion, particularly with respect to trace elements. It is uncommon for diagnosticians to examine abortion cases for trace element deficiencies, in part because we do not have accurate estimates of maternal and fetal trace element status, through ges- Received for publication March 4, 1993. tation, from cows with adequate trace element reserves. Hepatic concentrations of trace elements are commonly used to estimate trace element storage pools because dietary intake is rarely available and nutrient interactions affect availability or retention. 25,44 In cattle, relationships of hepatic maternal and fetal trace elements have been reported for Cu, Mn, and sulfur, Se and vitamin E, ...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%