Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

N Weber

Publications and source records attributed to N Weber.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Increased adsorption of high molecular weight kininogen to heparin-coated artificial surfaces and correlation to hemocompatibility.

During the past 10 years investigations have demonstrated that heparin-coated devices used for extracorporeal circuits show an improved hemocompatibility. We investigated the pathway of adsorption of plasma proteins at heparin-coated artificial surfaces and the further activation of the humoral and cellular defense mechanisms of the blood. Twenty milliliters of fresh human blood (1 IU heparin/ml) filled a 50 cm long tubes (with and without covalent heparin-coating), prepared as an in vitro "Closed-Loop" model and recirculated at a temperature of 37 degrees C. After 5, 15, 30, 60 and 120 min fibrinogen and high molecular weight kininogen (HMWK) adsorption was measured by a newly developed modified ELISA technique. In addition, changes in coagulation and platelet activation were measured by well established assays. High concentrations of fibrinogen were detected after very short blood material contact, both on uncoated as well as heparin-coated tubes. However, high amounts of HMWK were only found on the heparin-bonded surfaces. In addition, the concentrations of the soluble coagulation marker prothrombin fragment F1+2 and the marker for platelet activation beta-thromboglobulin were significantly higher in the non-coated tubes. We presume that adsorption of HMWK to heparin-coated surfaces contributes to the improved hemocompatibility of these bondings.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1999

Adipose tissue triacylglycerols of rats are modulated differently by dietary isomeric octadecenoic acids from coriander oil and high oleic sunflower oil.

Earlier feeding studies of rats revealed that petroselinic acid [18:1(n-12)] from triacylglycerols of coriander (Coriandrum sativum) oil is extensively incorporated into the lipids of heart and liver and metabolized via beta-oxidation and chain elongation. We report here the composition and stereospecific distribution of acyl moieties, particularly isomeric octadecenoyl moieties, in adipose tissue triacylglycerols of male weaned Wistar rats fed diets containing, in addition to 20 g corn oil/kg feed, 120 g coriander oil per kg feed at a level of 63 g 18:1(n-12) moieties/100 g acyl moieties of the oil for 10 wk. For comparison, a group of rats was fed a similar corn oil-containing isocaloric diet with large proportions of oleoyl moieties [18:1(n-9)] from high oleic sunflower oil [72 g 18:1(n-9)/100 g acyl moieties of the oil]. The composition of the triacylglycerols of epididymal, subcutaneous and perirenal adipose tissues was very similar for each feeding group, broadly reflecting the composition of the dietary oils. Feeding coriander oil, compared with high oleic sunflower oil, led to extensive incorporation of 18:1(n-12) into the triacylglycerols of the adipose tissues with a concomitant significantly and dramatically lower 18:1(n-9) concentration and, as a consequence, to the generation of triacylglycerol species containing 18:1(n-12) moieties. Petroselinoyl moieties from coriander oil were esterified predominantly at the sn-1,3 positions of the adipose tissue triacylglycerols; 18:1(n-9) moieties from high oleic sunflower oil were fairly evenly distributed between the sn-1,3 and sn-2 positions. We suggest that acyltransferases involved in the biosynthesis of adipose tissue triacylglycerols direct 18:1(n-12) moieties preferentially to sn-1,3-positions.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1998

S-methyl derivatives from thiol compounds by the pyrolytic reaction with trimethylsulfonium hydroxide.

Base-catalyzed transesterification of acyl lipids with methanol in the presence of trimethylsulfonium hydroxide (TMSH) is an easy and convenient method for the preparation of fatty acid methyl esters for gas chromatography (GC) analyses. Free fatty acids are converted to fatty acid methyl esters by the pyrolytic reaction with TMSH as well. We have found that lipids and other compounds containing thiol groups are also converted easily to the corresponding methyl sulfides (methyl thioethers) by the pyrolytic reaction with TMSH occurring in the injector of the gas chromatograph. For example, alkane thiols such as dodecane thiol and octadecane thiol are converted to the corresponding alkyl methyl sulfides, whereas bis(methylthio) derivatives are formed from alpha,omega-alkane dithiols, e.g., 1,8-octanedithiol, and from 2,3-dimercaptopropan-1-ol (dimercaprol). Furthermore, 3beta-mercaptocholest-5-ene (thiocholesterol) is converted to 3-methylthiocholest-5-ene by the same reaction. The S-methylation reactions which finally lead to the corresponding methylthio derivatives of lipids and other compounds with thiol groups may be of diagnostic value for the structural analysis of such compounds by GC and GC/mass spectrometry.

Biochemistry↗
PubMed1998

Diagnosis of emphysema in patients with chronic bronchitis: a new approach.

Aerosol-derived airway morphometry (ADAM) and aerosol bolus dispersion (D) are altered in patients or animal models with lung emphysema. This study was performed to examine the sensitivity and specificity of ADAM and D in the detection of emphysema in vivo compared with conventional lung function parameters. The study comprised patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis (COB) without emphysema (group COB; n=19, age 56+/-8 yrs, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/vital capacity (VC) 66+/-12% predicted) and patients with chronic bronchitis with high-resolution computed tomography-confirmed emphysema (group COB-E; n=20), age 65+/-7 yrs, FEV1/VC 44+/-16% pred). Using monodisperse aerosol particles ADAM assessed the calibres of peripheral airspaces, while D measured convective gas mixing. Among all lung function parameters, ADAM and D showed the highest sensitivity and specificity for separating patients with COB from those with COB-E (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (pROC) 0.99 and 1.0, respectively). In patients with COB aerosol parameters did not differ from those found in the control group, whereas patients with COB-E exhibited a two-fold increase in peripheral airspace dimensions compared with subjects with COB (0.86+/-0.07 versus 0.37+/-0.02 mm, p=0.0001) and an increase in D by >50% (541+/-74 versus 345+/-42 cm3, p=0.0001). In conclusion, aerosol-derived airway morphometry and aerosol bolus dispersion are powerful tools in the differential diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1997

Detection of impaired intrapulmonary convective mixing by aerosol bolus dispersion in patients with emphysema.

The broadening of an inhaled aerosol bolus (aerosol bolus dispersion) during respiration provides a noninvasive, nonradioactive, and easy to perform technique which is a measure of the extent of convective gas mixing processes in the lung and symmetry of ventilation during the breathing cycle. In this study, this technique was evaluated for the ability to detect ventilation inhomogeneities in pulmonary emphysema (PE). An aerosol bolus undergoes changes in shape between its inspiration and expiration. In comparison with the inhaled bolus, the exhaled bolus is more spread because of convective mixing and may have a shift in the location of the mode caused by asymmetries of filling and emptying of lung units. We hypothesized that in PE these changes differ from healthy subjects and are related to lung health. Twenty nine patients with PE inhaled 25 ml boluses containing 0.9 micron monodisperse aerosol particles into volumetric lung depths of 200, 400, 600, and 800 cm3. The control group were 79 healthy subjects. As each bolus was expired, we measured bolus dispersion (volumetric width at one-half aerosol concentration peak height) and mode shift. In patients with PE exhaled boluses were significantly broader than those exhaled by normal subjects at all volumetric lung depths. At a lung depth of 800 cm3, patients showed a bolus dispersion that was 52% greater than that of healthy subjects (p < 0.0001) and they exhaled the bolus mode earlier (p < 0.0001). Aerosol bolus parameters were not influenced by anthropometric data. Pulmonary function parameters indicating obstruction showed a weak negative correlation with aerosol bolus parameters (R2 < 0.4). The bolus parameters appeared to be supplemental to conventional lung function tests and significantly indicated marked ventilation asymmetry and altered convective gas transport in pulmonary emphysema. The results support the use of the aerosol bolus dispersion test in assessing peripheral parenchymal lung injury.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1996

Fat infiltration in liver of rats induced by different dietary plant oils: high oleic-, medium oleic- and high petroselinic acid-oils.

Beneficial effects on health parameters by ingestion of plant oils having high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids such as oleic (cis-9-octadecenoic) acid have been described in several studies. Recently, we have shown that feeding of coriander oil containing high proportions of a positional isomer of oleic acid, i.e. petroselinic (cis-6-octadecenoic) acid, led to significantly decreasing proportions of arachidonic (all cis-5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic) acid in the cellular lipids. Here, we report histopathological findings in male Wistar rats fed isocaloric diets containing 2% corn oil and 12% (w/w), each, of different plant oils (high-oleic and conventional sunflower oil, olive oil, rapeseed oil as well as coriander oil) containing varying levels of monounsaturated fatty acids, i.e. oleic or petroselinic acids. One group of animals was fed a standard diet containing 4% (w/w) of fat as control. Liver, heart, aorta, stomach, and spleen were anatomically and histologically examined. Livers of animals from all the groups that had received high-fat diets-except the coriander oil group-showed moderate non-degenerative fat infiltrations of the hepatocytes beginning in the periportal fields. Marked to severe fat infiltration was observed in hepatocytes of animals fed coriander oil. In this experimental group the livers were found to contain fatty cysts in addition to hepatocytes with mixed-size lipid vesicles. Moreover, enlarged nuclei were observed in numerous hepatocytes without fat infiltration. Fat infiltration was not observed in livers of animals fed a rat standard diet. In the cells of all other organs and tissues studied, in particular heart and aorta, neither non-degenerative fat infiltrations nor other degenerative changes were observed for any group. Our results show that feeding of fat-rich diets containing varying proportions of C18 cis-monoenoic fatty acids induced different histopathological alterations in the livers of rats, depending on position of the double bond. Plant oils containing varying proportions of oleic acid lead exclusively to moderate fat infiltration in the hepatocytes, whereas in the animals fed high-petroselinic coriander oil degenerative alterations (fatty cysts) as well as -in several cases-enlarged nuclei were found that are likely due to a non-specific stimulation of the hepatocytes resulting from the cell degeneration observed.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Reaction of lipids containing hydroxy groups with trimethylsulfonium hydroxide: formation of O-methyl derivatives.

Base-catalyzed transesterification of acyl lipids with trimethylsulfonium hydroxide (TMSH) is an easy and convenient method for the preparation of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) for gas chromatography (GC) analyses. We have found, however, that lipids containing hydroxy groups are partially converted to the corresponding O-methyl ether derivatives which may interfere with FAME in GC separations. For example, long-chain alcohols are found to be converted to alkyl methyl ethers, rac-1-O-alkylglycerols to the corresponding 2-O- and 3-O-monomethyl ethers, as well as 2,3-di-O-methyl ethers, hydroxy fatty acids to methoxy FAME, and cholesterol to cholesteryl 3 beta-methyl ether. From our results, it is obvious that TMSH derivatization method is not recommended without limitation for lipids containing hydroxy groups; it may be, however, of some diagnostic value for the analysis of such lipids by GC/mass spectrometry.

Alcohols↗
PubMed1995

Petroselinic acid from dietary triacylglycerols reduces the concentration of arachidonic acid in tissue lipids of rats.

Studies in vitro have revealed that triacylglycerols containing petroselinoyl [18:1(n-12)] moieties are hydrolyzed by pancreatic lipase at much lower rates than other triacylglycerols. To assess the lipolysis and absorption in vivo of such unusual triacylglycerols, diets containing 120 g seed oil triacylglycerols of coriander (Coriandrum sativum) per kg diet at a level of 72 g 18:1(n-12) moieties/100 g oil were fed to a group of weaned male Wistar rats without restriction for a period of 10 wk. For comparison, groups of rats were fed similar isocaloric diets containing plant oil triacylglycerols with various levels of oleoyl [18:1(n-9)] moieties, e.g., high oleic sunflower seed oil [75 g 18:1(n-9)/100 g oil], olive oil [(66 g 18:1(n-9)/100 g oil], medium oleic rapeseed oil [54 g 18:1(n-9)/100 g oil] and conventional high linoleic sunflower seed oil [25 g 18:1(n-9)/100 g oil]. All diets were supplemented with 20 g corn oil/kg diet. Consumption of coriander oil, compared with the other oils, led to significantly greater liver weights. No significant differences were observed among the groups fed various levels of oleic acid in body weight, the weights of heart, liver, kidneys, spleen or testes, lipid content of heart, or total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations of blood plasma. Ingestion of coriander oil led to incorporation of 18:1(n-12) into heart, liver and blood lipids and to a significant reduction in the concentration of arachidonic acid in the lipids of heart, liver and blood with a concomitant increase in the concentration of linoleic acid compared with results for the other groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Chain elongation of fatty acids in the fish parasite Paratenuisentis ambiguus (Acanthocephala).

An active enzyme system for fatty acid chain elongation exists in Paratenuisentis ambiguus (Acanthocephala), which elongates [1-14C]palmitic acid consecutively to stearic and arachidic acid. Highest specific activity of radioactive elongation products was detected in phosphatidylethanolamines that seem to play an outstanding role as acceptors of saturated long-chain and very long-chain fatty acids. In contrast, incubation of P. ambiguus with monounsaturated [1-14C]oleic acid under similar conditions led to small proportions of labeled eicosenoic acid only. Analysis of the fatty acid pattern and stereospecific distribution at the glycerol backbone of phospholipids revealed that saturated acyl moieties with 18, 20, and 22 carbon atoms were esterified almost exclusively in the sn-1 position of phosphatidylethanolamines and -cholines, whereas polyunsaturated fatty acids were found predominantly in the sn-2 position of these phospholipids. From these results it may be concluded that the parasite channels saturated long-chain and very long-chain fatty acids predominantly to the sn-1 position of phospholipids in order to compensate for increasing membrane fluidity caused by the incorporation of high proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids of aquatic feed.

Acanthocephala↗
PubMed1994

Metabolism of long-chain fatty acids, alcohols and alkylglycerols in the fish parasite Paratenuisentis ambiguus (Acanthocephala).

Specific differences between the acyl composition of lipids of the helminth Paratenuisentis ambiguus and its host eel, as shown previously, prompted us to study the lipid metabolism in this intestinal fish parasite. Adults and larvae of P. ambiguus were fed various lipid precursors, e.g., fatty acids, long-chain alcohols and 1-O-alkylglycerols, which may occur as common nutrients of intestinal parasites. Incorporation of [1-14C]palmitic acid into neutral and polar lipids was found to be similar under aerobic and near-anaerobic conditions. In adult parasites maintained in culture medium supplemented with glucose, [1-14C]palmitic acid was incorporated mainly into triacylglycerols and phosphatidylcholines, whereas [1-14C]oleic acid was incorporated preferentially into triacylglycerols. In fasted adults, as well as in larvae, [1-14C]oleic acid was mainly transferred to phosphatidylcholines. Lipolytic activity was detected in adult parasites that had been incubated with radioactive trioleoylglycerol. [1-14C]Hexadecan-1-ol was oxidized in P. ambiguus at a high rate to labeled palmitic acid, which was incorporated into various lipid classes of P. ambiguus. Small but significant proportions of radioactivity from hexadecan-1-ol were incorporated into ether glycerolipids of the parasite. A more direct precursor in ether glycerolipid metabolism, i.e., rac-1-O-[1'-14C]hexadecylglycerol, was incorporated into alkyl and 1'-alkenyl moieties of choline and etha-nolamine ether-glycerophospholipids of P. ambiguus in high yield. High proportions of labeled diacylglycerols, triacylglycerols and steryl esters were detected in surface lipids as well as lipid extracts of the culture media after incubation of P. ambiguus with [1-14C]palmitic or [1-14C]oleic acids.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acanthocephala↗
PubMed1994

Sterol and fatty acid composition of neutral lipids of Paratenuisentis ambiguus and its host eel.

The sterol composition of free sterol and steryl ester fractions of the fish parasite Paratenuisentis ambiguus was determined. In addition, the fatty acid composition of various neutral lipid classes, i.e., wax esters, steryl esters, triacylglycerols and free fatty acids, as well as the composition of the 1-O-alkyl moieties of total ether glycerolipids of the parasite, were investigated. The results of these studies were compared with those obtained on the intestinal tract tissue of its host, the eel (Anguilla anguilla). Cholesterol is the major sterol in both P. ambiguus and A. anguilla. However, the sterols of P. ambiguus contain high proportions (> 20%) of other sterols, such as campesterol and various dehydrosterols. [e.g., 7-dehydrocholesterol and cholesta-5,22(E)-dienol]. The presence of these minor sterols agrees with the known biotransformations of exogenous sterols in various helminths. Considerable differences are found in the fatty acid composition of neutral lipid fractions, as well as the total lipid extract from the endoparasite as compared to the host tissue. In particular, eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3), other polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as 20:4n-6, 22:5n-3 and 22:6n-3, as well as long-chain saturated fatty acids, such as 20:0, are generally enriched in the neutral lipid fractions of the parasite as compared to those of infected eel intestine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acanthocephala↗
PubMed1994

3 beta-Chlorosteroids: artefacts and possible contaminants in food and feed--toxicological effects in mice.

3 beta-Chlorosteroids, such as cholesteryl beta-chloride and sitosteryl beta-chloride, are formed during the production of protein hydrolysates, which are useful flavour enhancers. These chlorinated steroids may also attract attention as environmental contaminants if they are released from liquid crystal display devices. The effects of orally administered 3 beta-chlorosteroids were tested in female NMRI mice. The animals were fed cholesteryl beta-chloride or sitosteryl beta-chloride at doses of 1 mg and 10 mg/animal/day, that is, 33 mg and 330 mg/body weight/day, over a period of 3 months. Feed intake, body weight and organ weights of the animals, as well as concentration of 3 beta-chlorosteroids in faeces and various organs and tissues showed that cholesteryl beta-chloride and sitosteryl beta-chloride are not acutely toxic compounds. However, chronic toxicity cannot be excluded because small amounts of 3 beta-chlorosteroids, in particular cholesteryl beta-chloride, were absorbed by the intestinal tract and accumulated in adipose tissue. Histopathological examination of sections of organs and tissues showed no indication of irreversible cell damage in the stomach, duodenum, liver, kidneys and spleen caused by the chlorinated steroids.

Absorption↗
PubMed1993

On the function of subunit PsaE in chloroplast Photosystem I.

Treatment of thylakoids from spinach with NaSCN removes extrinsic stroma-exposed subunits of the Photosystem I complex in addition to CF1 and some other surface proteins. By increasing the NaSCN concentration, PsaE is released first, followed by PsaD and PsaC. At 0.5 M NaSCN, about 80% of PsaE is resolved without significant loss of other PS I polypeptides. Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy showed no significant alteration of PS I isolated from membranes thus treated with regard to energy transfer within the antennas as well as primary charge separation. Washing of thylakoids with NaSCN results in inhibition of electron transport from an artificial electron donor (ascorbate/DAD) to either methylviologen or NADP. Although higher NaSCN concentrations are required for inhibition than for resolution of PsaE, electron transport is restored by reconstitution with isolated PsaE from Synechococcus. We conclude that inhibition is due to dislocation of PsaC as a consequence of PsaE resolution, impeding efficient electron transfer from Fx to FA/FB. An antibody raised against PsaC inhibits methylviologen reduction only when PsaE has been removed previously. An antibody raised against PsaE inhibits electron transport to NADP, but not to methylviologen. We conclude that binding of this antibody sterically hinders the access of ferredoxin either to the FA/FB center or the catalytic site of ferredoxin:NADP oxidoreductase (FNR). Our results suggest an essential role of PsaE in stabilization of the acceptor side of PS I, in particular in maintenance of the functional integrity between the FA/FB protein and the membrane-integral sector of the PS I core.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Sex differences and the effects of alcohol on immune response in male and female rats.

Although it is clear that both alcohol and sex hormones impact immune function, very little information is available on the effects of alcohol on immune response in males versus females. We decided to determine if the alterations in immune response resulting from alcohol feeding might be expressed differently in males and females. To accomplish this we utilized pair-fed male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were fed a liquid diet for 60 days containing 30% of their calories as ethanol, and after 1 week this concentration was increased to 45% ethanol. Controls received liquid control diet of the same caloric and nutritional composition, and immune status was monitored with in vivo and in vitro techniques. Ethanol feeding significantly reduced the phytohemagglutinin skin response in males (p = 0.020) and females (p = 0.012). The concanavalin A blastogenic response of spleen cells prepared from female rats fed ethanol was significantly depressed with respect to spleen cells prepared from female rats fed the control diet (p = 0.0071). Alcohol also appeared to depress spleen cell blastogenic response in males, but this trend did not quite reach significance (p = 0.071). Spleen cells from groups of ethanol and control male and female rats were labeled with fluorescent monoclonal antibodies and run on a Fluorescent-Activated Cell Sorter. Ethanol significantly increased the percentage population of CD4 (T-helper cell) in males (p = 0.017), but not in females, and promoted an apparent, although nonsignificant, increase in the CD4/CD8 ratio in both sexes. An ELISA was used to measure IgM and IgG antibody elaborated by pokeweed mitogen-stimulated spleen cells in cultures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1992

Biosynthesis of storage lipids in plant cell and embryo cultures.

The biosynthesis of storage lipids in plant cell and embryo cultures is discussed in the light of their significance in the breeding of agriculturally important oil seed crops. After a short introduction to the biosynthesis of storage lipids, i.e. triacylglycerols and wax esters, this review covers the occurrence and biosynthesis of storage lipids in plant cell and embryo cultures. Plant cells in culture generally contain low levels of both unusual fatty acids and triacylglycerols indicating that these cells are quite different from cells of oil storage tissues. There are a few exceptions to this rule which demonstrate that induction of genes involved in the expression of fatty acid modification and triacylglycerol assembly is possible in plant cell cultures. Such biosynthetically active plant cells may be of particular interest in future studies of storage lipid assembly. Both somatic and gametophytic embryos of oil plants exhibit high capacities for storage lipid biosynthesis and accumulation in vitro compared to cultured plant cells. Above all, the microspore-derived embryo system is recommended to both plant breeders and plant biochemists for the selection and multiplication of plants of superior quality.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1992

Stereoselectivity of lipases: esterification reactions of octadecylglycerol.

Stereoselectivity of several triacylglycerol lipases (EC 3.1.1.3) has been investigated in the enzymatic esterification of rac-1-O-octadecylglycerol with oleic acid in the presence of organic solvents, such as hexane. X-1(3)-O-Octadecylmonooleoylglycerols were the only products formed with most lipases; considerable proportions of X-1(3)-O-octadecyldioleoylglycerols were also formed with the lipase from Candida cylindracea. The mixtures of unesterified enantiomeric substrates, i.e., X-1(3)-O-octadecylglycerols were converted to their 3,5-dinitrophenylurethane derivatives and subsequently resolved into sn-1 and sn-3 enantiomers by HPLC on a chiral stationary phase (Sumichiral OA 2100). The data on enantiomeric excess (ee) and enantiomeric ratio (E) in the unesterified substrate revealed for the lipases from porcine pancreas, Rhizopus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Candida cylindracea, Chromobacterium viscosum and Penicillium cyclopium a distinct preference for 1-O-octadecyl-sn-glycerol over its enantiomer indicating stereoselectivity for the sn-3 position. For the lipase from Rhizomucor miehei a slight stereoselectivity for the sn-1 position was observed. Solvents, such as diethyl ether and dichloromethane, strongly inhibited the esterification reaction, but the enzymatic activity could be restored upon removal of such solvents by washing with hexane indicating reversible inhibition.

Esterification↗
PubMed1992

Chlorinated hydrocarbon content of fetal and maternal body tissues and fluids in full term pregnant women: a comparison of Germany versus Tanzania.

Chlorinated hydrocarbons are distributed worldwide and due to their lipophilic properties and chemical stability they accumulate in the foodchain. The concentrations of 19 different chlorinated hydrocarbons (hexachlorohexane (HCH), DDT and various metabolites and nine different polychlorinated phenyl (PCB) congeners were detected in various body tissues and fluids (maternal and fetal serum, adipose tissue, placenta, amniotic fluid) of full term pregnant women from Germany and Tanzania. Great variation of total toxin burden and toxin distribution within the different body compartments was found. This was in part due to local differences of exposure to some of the chlorinated hydrocarbons. Comparing samples from Germany and Tanzania, typical distribution patterns reflected the specific economic situation of the two countries with a high burden of insecticides (DDT and Dieldrin) in the agricultural country and high levels of constituents of industrial products (hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and PCBs) in Germany. Different chlorinated hydrocarbons seem to show different distribution patterns in body tissues, probably due to their chemical structure, the lipid content of the compartment and the overall toxin burden of the individual. A 10 to 100 fold accumulation of chlorinated hydrocarbons was observed in maternal adipose tissue compared with the other compartments. The concentrations of certain toxins in fetal cord serum and placenta were higher than in maternal serum.

Adipose Tissue↗