• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.38 no.5
• /
• pp.295-302
• /
• 2008

In the present study, we examined the changes of uptake and efflux of taurine under various conditions inducing oxidative stress using rat conditionally immortalized syncytiotrophoblast cell line, TR-TBT cell, as blood-placental barrier in vitro model. In addition, we identified the characteristics of taurine transport in TR-TBT cells including general features, besides effect of calcium ion on taurine transport. Taurine uptake showed time, $Na^+$ and $Cl^-$ dependency, and was decreased by PKC activator in TR-TBT cells. Also, calcium free condition decreased taurine uptake and evoked taurine efflux in the cells. Oxidative stress induced the change of taurine transport in TR-TBT cells, but the changes were different depending on the types of stimulation inducing oxidative stress. The taurine uptake was increased by TNF-$\alpha$, LPS and DEM stimulation but decreased by $H_2O_2$ and NO stimulation. Also, the taurine efflux was regulated by TNF-$\alpha$ stimulation. In conclusion, the taurine transport through the blood-placental barrier was regulated in oxidative stress conditions, and these results demonstrated that oxidative stress affected the taurine supplies to fetus and taurine level of fetus.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 1984

In order to determine the extent of the placental transfer of Lithium ion, pregnant rabbits at $27{\sim}29$ days of gestation, which has hemochorial placenta similar to the human placenta, received 2 mM/Kg of $Li^+$ in the form of LiCl intravenously. Maternal arterial blood, placental sinus blood, fetal blood, amniotic fluid and maternal urine were drawn two hours after the single dose of LiCl. Concentrations of $Li^+$, $Na^+$, $K^+$ and osmolarity were measured in plasma of collected bloods, amniotic fluid and urine. Followings are the results obtained. 1) Evident level of $Li^+$ was detected in fetal blood, although fetal plasma concentration of $Li^+$ found to be almost one third of maternal plasma. 2) Plasma concentration of $Li^+$ in placental sinus blood was higher than that in fetal plasma but lower than that in maternal plasma. It means that downward concentration gradient of $Li^+$ from mother to fetus was still remarkable two hours after the injection. 3) Significant level of $Li^+$ was also detected in amniotic fluid. It seemed likely that $Li^+$, at least in part, excreted by the fetal urinary tract. 4) There were no differences in $Na^+$ and osmolar concentration between fetal and maternal blood. 5) From above results, it was concluded that $Li^+$ may transfer across the placenta but limited passage capacity through placental barrier for $Li^+$ is significant, beacause net transfer assumed to be going on even at two hours, at which time maternal equlibrium has been reached.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.23-33
• /
• 1987

This study was carried out to investigate the characteristics of lithium concentration difference between maternal and fetal plasma and the effect of previous lithium loading on rapid transplacental transport of large amounts of lithium. Pregnant rabbits at $20{\sim}22\;days$ of gestation were divided into two groups: chronic $Li^+$ injection group and chronic plus acute $Li^+$ injection group. Small amounts of LiCl (1 mmol/kg per day) were given intraperitoneally to all rabbits of both group, for 5 days before sacrifice. The rabbits of chronic plus acute injection group, received additional intravenous injections of large amounts of LiCl (2 mmol/kg) one hour before sacrifice. Maternal arterial blood, placental sinus blood, fetal blood and amniotic fluid were drawn and analyzed for the plasma concentrations of $Li^+$, $Na^+$ and $K^+$ and for osmolartiy. Followings are the results obtained. 1) There was no difference in the $Li^+$ concentration between maternal plasma and placental sinus plasma in chronic lithium group, although the $Li^+$ concentration of placental sinus plasma was slightly lower than that of maternal arterial plasma in the chronic plus acute lithium group. 2) The $Li^+$ concentration of fetal plasma was much lower than that of placental sinus plasma in both groups, the ratio being $0.76{\pm}0.250$ ($mean{\pm}95%$ confidence interval) for the chronic $Li^+$ group and $0.78{\pm}0.366$ for the chronic plus acute $Li^+$ group. 3) The ratio of $Li^+$ concentration of fetal plasma to maternal arterial plasma was $0.71{\pm}0.196$ in the chronic group and $0.59{\pm}0.261$ in the chronic plus acute group. 4) $Li^+$ concentration of amniotic fluid was much higher than that of fetal plasma in the chronic $Li^+$ group but not significantly different in the chronic plus acute $Li^+$ group. 5) An acute loading of $Li^+$ did not produce any detectable changes in $Na^+$ and $K^+$ concentrations and osmolarity of the maternal plasma. The above results may suggest that: (a) The placental barrier maintains steady state lithium concentration gradient between placental sinus plasma and fetal plasma. (b) In rabbits chronically treated with $Li^+$ the steady state $Li^+$ gradient is established within one hour after an acute $Li^+$ loading, provided that the $Li^+$ concentration in the maternal plasma is less than 4 mmole/l.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.68-72
• /
• 2014

When chemotherapy is administered during pregnancy, it is important to consider the fetus chemotherapy exposure, because it may lead to fetal consequences. Paclitaxel has become widely used in the metastatic and adjuvant settings for woman with cancer including breast and ovarian cancer. Therefore, we attempted to clarify the transport mechanisms of paclitaxel through blood-placenta barrier using rat conditionally immortalized syncytiotrophoblast cell lines (TR-TBTs). The uptake of paclitaxel was time- and temperature-dependent. Paclitaxel was eliminated about 50% from the cells within 30 min. The uptake of paclitaxel was saturable with $K_m$ of $168{\mu}M$ and $371{\mu}M$ in TR-TBT 18d-1 and TR-TBT 18d-2, respectively. [$^3H$]Paclitaxel uptake was markedly inhibited by cyclosporine and verapamil, well-known substrates of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) transporter. However, several MRP substrates and organic anions had no effect on [$^3H$]paclitaxel uptake in TR-TBT cells. These results suggest that P-gp may be involved in paclitaxel transport at the placenta. TR-TBT cells expressed mRNA of P-gp. These findings are important for therapy of breast and ovarian cancer of pregnant women, and should be useful data in elucidating teratogenicity of paclitaxel during pregnancy.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.43-49
• /
• 2002

The present study was conducted to investigate the placental transfer and pharmacokinetics of the flu-oroquinolone antibacterial DW-116 in pregnant rats. The placental transfer and pharmacokinetics of DW-116 were examined after a single oral dose of 500 mg $^{14}C$ DW-116/kg on gestational day 18. Maternal and fetal tissues were collected at 0.17 0.5,1,2,4,8, and 24 h after dosing. Maximum radioactivity was detected in maternal plasma, placenta, and whole fetus at 1 h, and in amniotic plasma at 4 h after dosing. Thereafter, radioactivity gradually disappeared from these tissues and was 16~28% of maximum levels at 24 h after dosing. Radioactivity in whole fetus were higher than those in the maternal plasma and placenta. The $T_{1/2,abs}$, $T_{1/2,{\beta}},$ AUC, $T_{max},$ and $C_{max}$ in the maternal plasma were approximately 6 min, 13.3 h, 1620 $ug^*hr/ml,$ 0.5 h, and 136 ug/ml, respectively. Those in the placenta were approximately 20 min, 12.3 h, 2150 $ug^*h/$m\ell$,$ 1.0 h, and 172 ug/ml, respectively. Those in the whole fetus were 13 min, 12.8 h,2549 $ug^*h/$m\ell$,$ 1 h, and 191 ug/ml, respectively. In the amniotic fluid of maternal uterus, the 4T_1/2,abs}$, $T1/2,{\beta},$ AUC, $T_{max},$ and $C_{max}$ were approximately 1.3 h,9.3 h,2508 $ug^*h/$m\ell$,$ 4.4 h, and 135 ug/ml, respectively. While DW-116 disappeared biphasically from maternal plasma, whole fetus and placenta, it was eliminated monophasically from amniotic fluid. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the absorption and distribution of DW-116 in maternal plasma and placenta were extensively rapid, and that the test chemical well passed the blood-placenta barrier and was transferred to the fetus.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.145-151
• /
• 1982

Breslau's report on the two stillbirths induced by illuminating gas poisoning made many investigators explore the hazards. of carbon monoxide(CO) poisoning to pregnancy. The pregnant woman, her fetus, and the newborn infant have been identified to be particularly vulnerable to CO even in low concentration. Several factors, such as placental barrier, membrane resistance of maternal and fetal red blood cells etc., were considered to be related to the delayed elimination of CO from fetus. Slower elimination of CO from fetus than from mother was confirmed in several in vivo studies. But there are few studies which have confirmed the difference of carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) dissociation in adult and fetal bloods. Author investigated the effects of hemoglobin itself on the elimination of CO from mother and fetus. By observing the difference of CO dissociation from adult and fetal hemoglobin at the various partial pressures of oxygen, the author tries to suggest the base of the proper treatment measure for the CO poisoning of pregnant woman and newborn infant. The results were as follows: 1. The total hemoglobin amounts of adults and fetal bloods were $16.1{\pm}0.50gm%\;and\;15.7{\pm}0.32gm%$, respectively. The fetal hemoglobin proportions in adult and fetal bloods were $1.2{\pm}0.15%\;and\;72.7{\pm}3.01%$, respectively. 2. Adult and fetal bloods saturated by CO to 100% HbCO were exposed to ambient air$(21%\;O_2),\;100%\;O_2\;and\;3\;ATAO_2$. After 30 minutes exposure, the HbCO saturations of adult blood were 96.7%, 70.9%, and 52.8%, respectively, and those of fetal blood were 98.5%, 76.1%, and 62.2%, respectively. HbCO dissociation was proportional to the partial pressure of oxygen and the most marked dissociation was shown under 3 ATA $O_2$, HbCO dissociation of fetal blood was slower than that of adult blood in all conditions. According to the above results, it is possible that CO poisoning make more serious damage to the fetus and newborn infant than to the adult due to the delayed dissociation of HbCO. Thus in the treatment of CO poisoning of pregnant woman and newborn infant, hyperbaric oxygen therapy seems to be the most eflective treatment measure, but the duration of hyperbaric oxygenation should be lengthened accordingly.