Additivity of protein deficiency and carbon monoxide on placental carboxyhemoglobin in mice

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9378(11)91599-3Get rights and content

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to estimate maternal and placental carboxyhemoglobin in protein-deficient and carbon monoxide-exposed mice.

STUDY DESIGN: Pregnant CD-1 mice were placed on diets containing 27% (control), 16%, 8%, or 4% protein on gestation day 1. The dams were exposed to carbon monoxide concentrations of 0 (control), 65, 125, 250, or 500 ppm from gestation days 8 to 18. The dams were killed on gestation day 18, and blood samples were collected from the maternal hearts and placentas for carboxyhemoglobin determination.

RESULTS: Maternal carboxyhemoglobin levels were related to the carbon monoxide exposure levels and were not affected by protein deficiency. Placental carboxyhemoglobin levels were higher than maternal carboxyhemoglobin levels, were related to carbon monoxide exposure levels, and were inversely related to dietary protein levels.

CONCLUSION: The data suggest that maternal protein deficiency enhances the placental carboxyhemoglobin levels resulting from carbon monoxide exposure and exacerbates hypoxic conditions for the developing fetus. Special groups at risk may include drug abusers and cigarette or marijuana smokers.

References (22)

  • WG Pond et al.

    Fetal organ response to maternal protein deprivation during pregnancy in swine

    J Nutr

    (1991)
  • NC Klendshoj et al.

    The spectro-photometric determination of carbon monoxide

    J Biol Chem

    (1950)

  • National air quality and emissions trends report, 1986. U.S. EPA-450/488-001

    (1988)
  • JM Samet et al.

    Health effects and sources of indoor air pollution, part I

    Am Rev Respir Dis

    (1987)
  • BD Cox et al.

    Carbon monoxide levels in the breath of smokers and nonsmokers: effect of domestic heating systems

    J Epidemiol Community Health

    (1985)
  • NL Nagda et al.

    Microenvironmental and total exposure to carbon monoxide for three population subgroups

    J Air Pollut Control Assoc

    (1985)
  • LA Wallace

    Carbon monoxide in air and breath of employees in an underground office

    J Air Pollut Control Assoc

    (1983)
  • JE Yocom

    Indoor-outdoor air quality relationships: a critical review

    J Air Pollut Control Assoc

    (1982)
  • MC Fiore et al.

    Trends in cigarette smoking in the United States: the changing influence of gender and age

    JAMA

    (1989)
  • . Singh J, Moore-Cheatum L. Gestational protein deficiency enhances fetotoxicity of carbon monoxide. Ann N Y Acad Sci...
  • J Singh et al.

    Threshold of carbon monoxide induced fetotoxicity

    Teratology

    (1984)

    • Supported by National Institutes of Health grant No. RR02867.

    Presented at the annual meeting of the Teratology Society, Richmond, Virginia, June 3–8, 1989.

    a

    From the Department of Biology, Stillman College.

    View full text
    Copyright © 1992 Mosby. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.