title: Passage of 4-nonylphenol across the human placenta.
abstract: 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) is an estrogenic endocrine active chemical that is present in detergents and is known to contaminate food and drinking water. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether 4-NP crosses the human placenta and if so, to what extent. Human placentae obtained from healthy term singleton pregnancies were utilized in a dual ex-vivo re-circulating model of placental perfusion. Six placentae were perfused for 180 min following addition of 4-NP (30 ng/mL) to the maternal perfusate. Antipyrine and FITC dextran were used as positive and negative controls respectively to validate the integrity of the circuits. 4-NP was measured by High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Fluorescence Detection (HPLC-FD). After 180 min of perfusion the transfer percentages for antipyrine and 4-NP were 25.6 ± 1.4% (mean ± s.e.m, n = 6) and 22.75 ± 3.76% respectively and the transfer index for 4-NP was 0.8. We conclude that the intact form of 4-NP at environmentally relevant concentrations can transfer across the human placenta albeit at a slow rate.
authors.affiliation: The Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, 2-6 Park Avenue, Grafton, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. b.balakrishnan@auckland.ac.nz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Balakrishnan
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thorstensen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ponnampalam
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010636:Phenols / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D010636:Phenols; C041594:4-nonylphenol