title: Zinc Content in Cord Blood Is Associated with Maternal Age and Parity.
abstract: At childbirth (parturition), zinc (Zn) homeostasis in cord blood (CB) can be affected by a number of factors: Zn in maternal blood, parturition related stress as well as metallothionein (MT). Both Zn and stress are known inducers of MT which is primarily involved in Zn homeostasis. This study analyzed Zn concentration [Zn], in CB components and MT-2A transcription in CB mononuclear cells (MNC) in relation to primiparous and multiparous childbirth. [Zn] in CB (n = 47) plasma, erythrocytes, and MNCs were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (λ = 213.9 nm). The MT-2A transcription in CB-MNC was quantified using real-time PCR. Significant correlations (Pearson r) were found between: plasma-[Zn] and erythrocyte-[Zn] (p = 0.002); [Zn] and MT-2A messenger RNA (mRNA) (p = 0.000) in CB-MNC. Student's t tests showed higher levels of MT-2A mRNA and MNC-[Zn] in CB of older (≥25 years) compared to younger mothers (≤24 years) (p = 0.043 and p = 0.016, respectively). Significantly higher [Zn] was found in CB plasma (p = 0.017) and MNC (p = 0.041) of older primiparous compared to the younger primiparous and older multiparous mothers respectively. MT-2A mRNA in CB-MNC was significantly lower in CB of younger primiparous mothers compared to their older counterparts (p = 0.001). Path analysis showed that MNC-[Zn] (β = 0.83; p = 0.000) had a greater influence on MT-2A mRNA expression, compared to parity (β = -0.14; p = 0.033). Higher [Zn] in CB of primiparous mothers could be linked to higher stress during parturition, however, might be beneficial for the growth and development of the child. Together MNC-[Zn] and parity contributed ~70 % of the MT-2A transcription in CB-MNC.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Istana, Bandar Indera Mahkota, 25200, Kuantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ayman Lee
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Youssof
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Istana, Bandar Indera Mahkota, 25200, Kuantan, Malaysia. dr.noorlide@gmail.com.|Faculty of Nursing, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia. dr.noorlide@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Noor Lide Abu
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Kassim
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Istana, Bandar Indera Mahkota, 25200, Kuantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Siti Aishah
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rashid
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200G, Box 2413, B-3001, Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Ley
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, University Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. m.tariqur.rahman@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohammad Tariqur
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Rahman
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000097:blood; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D008668:Metallothionein; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Catecholamines; Erythrocytes; Mononuclear cells; Parturition; Plasma; Stress