Lead concentrates in ovarian follicle compromises pregnancy.
Following absorption, lead can concentrate in bodily compartments where it disrupts cellular processes and can result in detrimental health consequences. The concentration and impact of lead within follicular fluid has not been characterized and we used inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) to determine lead levels in blood and follicular fluid from nine patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Lead levels within follicular fluid were found to be significantly higher in non-pregnant patients compared to pregnant patients suggesting that elevated concentrations of the environmental toxicant lead adversely affect female reproduction.
Silberstein
Tali
T
Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women and Infants' Hospital of Rhode Island Brown Medical School Providence, Rhode Island 02905, USA. talisil@bgu.ac.il
Saphier
Oshra
O
Paz-Tal
Ofra
O
Trimarchi
James R
JR
Gonzalez
Liliana
L
Keefe
David L
DL
D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000737:chemistry*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D007854:Lead