Narrow Results

PIXE technique was applied to the measurement of elements in the placenta, maternal blood and cord blood of human. The elements determined in these samples include Cl, K, Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn. The values obtained by PIXE were compared with those by ICP-AES to test the accuracy of the method. In placental samples, the mean values of K, Fe, Cu and Zn concentrations obtained by the two methods agree, while Ca concentration is lower in PIXE analysis. The values from PIXE, however, show larger variations resulting from inhomogeneity of the placental samples composed of various tissues different in histological functions. In the analysis of blood samples, the results of the two methods agree for Cl, K, Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn, although the standard deviations tend to be larger in PIXE. These results indicate that PIXE is a useful method for the determination of elements in placental and blood samples, although the preparation to homogenize sample is necessary to obtain accurate results.

Toki-shakuyaku-san (TSS), an herbal formula based on traditional Chinese medicine, is commonly used in obstetrics. To examine the effects of TSS on the normal mouse fetus and placenta, TSS was administered to normal pregnant mice and their placentas and fetuses were studied. First, the effects of maternal TSS treatment on implantation were investigated. Administration of TSS from gestation day 0.5 (G0.5) to G6.5 showed that litter size was not altered at embryonic day 11.5 (E11.5), but the number of resorbed fetuses was slightly decreased. Then, to investigate effects on fetal and placental growths after implantation, TSS was administered from G5.5. At E14.5, the body weight of fetuses from TSS-treated dams was significantly increased. Gene expression of insulin-like growth factor 2 (Igf2), one of the most important modulators of fetal growth, was significantly increased in the placentas and fetuses of TSS-treated dams. In addition, the expression of particular placental developmental genes and nutrient transporter genes was significantly increased in TSS-treated placentas. At E18.5, after longer-term administration of TSS, fetal and placental weights were not altered, but the expression of the placental developmental and nutrient transporter genes remained elevated compared with controls. These results suggest that maternal TSS treatment in normal mice enhances the expression of Igf2, placental developmental genes and nutrient transporter genes, resulting in increased fetal weight. No obvious changes were observed in the expression of these genes after longer-term maternal TSS treatment.

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