title: Placenta - organ important for fetus and interesting for the rise of the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Syndrome - interdisciplinary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This work is aiming at broadening knowledge about placenta and giving evidence that lead penetrates through transplacental barrier. We have intended to find further possible reasons of the rise of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and to suggest ways of preventing development of this syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  For revealing presence of lead in placenta and umbilical cord blood we used histochemical methods, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis of element composition and infrared spectroscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We are presenting new findings that emphasize importance of Hofbauer cells. These cells have high phagocyting activity and form filter regulating entering lead into umbilical cord blood and thus influence possibility of the ADHD rise. We found positivity on lipids in placenta. Importance of this finding consists in the fact that lead is lipophilic metal and tissue containing lipid is available path for the transport of lead. We explained why just striatum is affected with toxic action of lead in case of ADHD syndrome. We have also shown that more blood elements circulate in umbilical cord blood than in a common circulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High number of patients with the ADHD syndrome inspired us to suggest establishment of centers where these children would be registered. Staff of specialists consisting of psychologist, physician and physicist (responsible for application of methods of early diagnosis) will take care of the development of their health conditions and further treatment.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Natural Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Slovak University of Technology - Physical Division, Bratislava, Slovakia. viktor.foltin@stuba.sk
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Foltin
authors.forename: Janka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Foltinova
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Neu
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morvova
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lettrichova
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared
chemical_list: D007854:Lead