Folic acid uptake by the human syncytiotrophoblast: Interference by pharmacotherapy, drugs of abuse and pathological conditions

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2009

Authors

Elisa Keating (Author) FMUP; Gonçalves P (Author) FMUP; Campos, I (Author) Other; Costa, F (Author) Other; Martel, F (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Reproductive Toxicology

Vol. 28

Pages: 511-520

ISSN: 0890-6238

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 37 Citations

Scopus - 39 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-E7C

DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2009.07.001

Abstract (EN): Folic acid (FA) is crucial for fetal development. We aimed to study the modulation of FA placental uptake by: hyperserotoninemia and hyperglycaemia, anti-hypertensives, insulin and drugs of abuse. For this, we characterized (3)H-FA uptake by primary cultures of human cytotrophoblasts (TB cells) and tested the effects of these compounds upon 3H-FA uptake, TB cell viability and gene expression. Our results show that: (a) acutely, 3H-FA uptake was decreased by labetalol (0.1-1000 mu M), ecstasy and amphetamine (0.025-25 mu M); and (b) chronically, (3)H-FA uptake was decreased by high glucose (30 mM), atenolol, nicotine (0.1 and 10 mu M), ethanol (0.01 and 10 mM), ecstasy, amphetamine (0.25 and 1 mu M) and tetrahydrocannabinol (1 and 100 nM). Moreover, many of these drugs were cytotoxic and they differentially modulated the mRNA expression of FA placental transport systems. Our results suggest that inhibition of FA placental uptake may constitute one of the mechanisms involved in the fetortoxicity of many of the compounds tested.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10