The implantation inhibiting effect of an intravenous injection of 75 ppm of lead chloride, giving blood levels of about 32 mumol/l, could be counteracted by exogenous steroid hormones. Subcutaneous injections of 0.1 microgram of oestradiol-17 beta and 1 mg of progesterone were given together with the lead on day 4 of pregnancy, and the same hormone doses were given also on day 5. The frequency of animals having implantations on day 6 of pregnancy in this group was the same as in the control group (75%), whereas in animals given lead and no hormones, the frequency of pregnancies was only 20%. Morphological examination by light microscopy of implantation sites on day 6 of pregnancy in the lead + hormone-treated group showed that the decidual swellings contained implanted embryos of a normal appearance. Serum levels of oestradiol-17 beta and progesterone in nontreated and lead-treated mice were not significantly different between the two groups on day 5 of pregnancy. It is suggested that the implantation failure may be due to an effect of lead on uterine responsiveness to ovarian steroids.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Mariann Wide (1980) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: