title: Involvement of Zn Depletion in Cd-Induced Toxicity on Prenatal Bone Formation in Rat.
abstract: This study explored the potential toxicity of Cd on the Zn bone depletion in prenatal bone formation. Female rats received either tap water, Cd, Zn, or Cd + Zn in their drinking water during gestation, and some markers of bone formation were studied in their fetuses removed at the 20th day of pregnancy (GD20). Cd exposure induced maternal hypozincemia and Zn depletion in the femur of the fetuses. A striking inhibition of bone formation in fetuses, expressed by decreases in femur length, width, and area, by the shortening of diaphysis, and by a decrease in length and area of distal and proximal proliferative zones, was observed in fetuses from Cd-exposed mothers. At the molecular level, Cd caused upregulation of MT-1 and ZIP2 genes and significantly depressed the expression of the ZnT5, colα1, osteocalcin, and ALP genes in the femur. Interestingly, Zn treatment ameliorated the Cd-induced maternal hypozincemia and femoral changes and partially restored the normal histomorphometry of the femur. These results suggest that the observed toxic effects of Cd are, at least in part, mediated by the disruption of maternal Zn metabolism during pregnancy leading to Zn depletion and thus to perturbation of prenatal bone formation.
authors.affiliation: LR11ES41: Génétique, Biodiversité et Valorisation des Bioressources, Institut de Biotechnologie, Université de Monastir, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Sana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boughammoura
authors.affiliation: LR11ES41: Génétique, Biodiversité et Valorisation des Bioressources, Institut de Biotechnologie, Université de Monastir, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Marouane
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chemek
authors.affiliation: LR11ES41: Génétique, Biodiversité et Valorisation des Bioressources, Institut de Biotechnologie, Université de Monastir, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Safa Ben
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Mimouna
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biochimie et Toxicologie Environnementale, ISA Chott-Mariem, 4042, Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banni
authors.affiliation: LR11ES41: Génétique, Biodiversité et Valorisation des Bioressources, Institut de Biotechnologie, Université de Monastir, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia. imed_messaoudi@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Imed
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4025-8765
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Messaoudi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D010920:Placenta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000172:deficiency*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C525355:metallothionein-1, mouse; D002104:Cadmium; D008668:Metallothionein; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Cadmium; Gene expression; Histomorphometry; Pregnancy; Prenatal femur; Zinc