title: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) decrease the placental syncytiotrophoblast volume and increase Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) in the placenta of normal pregnancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class of biologically active, highly stable compounds. Exposure risks include consumption of fatty fish, meat, dairy products and human breast milk, as well as environmental and occupational settings. Numerous reports have described PCB-dependent adverse effects on human fetal growth, including increased risk for IUGR, changes in endocrine function and hormone metabolism, and immunosuppressive and neurological deficits. Here we test the prediction that in utero PCB exposure adversely effects placental morphology, potentially leading to placental insufficiency en route to fetal growth restriction.
  
  
  METHODS
  PCB homologs (10) were measured in the maternal and fetal blood of a small cohort of normotensive pregnancies (22) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. PCB levels were compared with angiogenesis associated proteins Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) and sFlt-1, determined by ELISA, and the total estimated syncytiotrophoblast (ST) volume.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant associations between PCB exposure and both PlGF and ST volume were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCB effects on placenta morphology and predicted function are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate that the human placenta, including ST, is a target of PCB toxicity, and that current environmental PCB exposure levels are a risk to reproductive health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aiko
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawamoto
authors.lastname: T Hachisuga
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kooriyama
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Myoga
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tomonaga
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujisawa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Suga
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shibata
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D010920:Placenta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; C501162:FLT1 protein, human; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1