Document Detail


Evidence for altered hippocampal volume and brain metabolites in workers occupationally exposed to lead: a study by magnetic resonance imaging and (1)H magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18692119     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Environmental and occupational exposure to lead (Pb) remains to be a major public health issue. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to use non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS) techniques to investigate whether chronic exposure to Pb in an occupational setting altered brain structure and function of Pb-exposed workers. The Pb-exposed group consisted of 15 workers recruited from either a Pb-smelting factory or a Pb-battery manufacturer. The control group had 19 healthy volunteers who had no history of Pb exposure in working environment or at home. The average airborne Pb concentrations in fume and dust were 0.43 and 0.44 mg/m(3), respectively, in the smeltery, and 0.10 and 1.06 mg/m(3), respectively, in the Pb battery workshop. The average blood Pb concentrations (BPb) in Pb-exposed and control workers were 63.5 and 8.7 microg/dL, respectively. The MRI examination showed that brain hippocampal volume among Pb-exposed workers was significantly diminished in comparison to age-matched control subjects (p < 0.01), although the extent of this reduction was relatively small (5-6% of the control values). Linear regression analyses revealed significant inverse associations between BPb and the decreased hippocampal volume on both sides of brain hemisphere. Among five brain metabolites investigated by MRS, i.e., N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr), choline (Cho), inosine (mI), glutamate/glutamine (Glx) and lipids (Lip), a significant decrease in NAA/Cr ratio (7% of controls, p < 0.05) and a remarkable increase in Lip/Cr ratio (40%, p < 0.01) were observed in the brains of Pb-exposed workers as compared to controls. Furthermore, the increased Lip/Cr ratio was significantly associated with BPb (r = 0.46, p < 0.01). Taken together, this study suggests that occupational exposure to Pb may cause subtle structural and functional alteration in human brains. The MRI and MRS brain imaging techniques can be used as the non-invasive means to evaluate Pb-induced neurotoxicity.
Authors:
Yue-Ming Jiang; Li-Ling Long; Xia-Yan Zhu; Hong Zheng; Xue Fu; Shi-Yan Ou; Dong-Lu Wei; Hai-Lin Zhou; Wei Zheng
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2008-07-23
Journal Detail:
Title:  Toxicology letters     Volume:  181     ISSN:  0378-4274     ISO Abbreviation:  Toxicol. Lett.     Publication Date:  2008 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-09-09     Completed Date:  2008-11-25     Revised Date:  2011-09-26    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7709027     Medline TA:  Toxicol Lett     Country:  Netherlands    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  118-25     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Aspartic Acid / analogs & derivatives,  analysis
Creatine / analysis
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Hippocampus / drug effects*,  metabolism,  pathology
Humans
Lead / toxicity*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods*
Male
Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
ES-08164/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS; R01 ES008146-11/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
56-84-8/Aspartic Acid; 57-00-1/Creatine; 7439-92-1/Lead; 997-55-7/N-acetylaspartate
Comments/Corrections

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