Expression and significance of metallothionein in the placenta of women with low level lead exposure during pregnancy / 中华妇产科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the significance of metallothionein (MT) expression in the placenta of women exposed to low level lead during pregnancy. Methods Sixty-seven pregnant women with blood lead level ranging from 1.5 ?mol/L to 4.8 ?mol/L were randomly selected from the Department of Obstetrics of Qingdao Municipal Hospital between Mar 2005 and Mar 2006. Among them, 35 were with blood lead level less than 2.9 ?mol/L(group A) and 32 more than 2.9 ?mol/L(group B). Immunohistochemical streptavidin-peroxidase-biotin methods were used to observe the expression of MT in the placental tissue. Results (1)Among the 67 pregnant women,the highest level of blood lead was 4.7 ?mol/L , and the lowest level was 1.6 ?mol/L .The blood lead level of groups A and B was (1.7?0.3) ?mol/L, and (3.1?0.4) ?mol/L, with a significant difference between them(P