Abstract
BackgroundIron is involved in important vital functions as an essential component of the oxygen-transporting heme mechanism. In this study we aimed to evaluate whether oxidative metabolites from maternal cigarette smoke could affect iron homeostasis in the brain of victims of sudden unexplained fetal and infant death, maybe through the induction of maternal hemoglobin damage, such as in case of methemoglobinemia.MethodsHistochemical investigations by Prussian blue reaction were made on brain nonheme ferric iron deposits, gaining detailed data on their localization in the brainstem and cerebellum of victims of sudden death and controls. The Gless and Marsland's modification of Bielschowsky's was used to identify neuronal cell bodies and neurofilaments.ResultsOur approach highlighted accumulations of blue granulations, indicative of iron positive reactions, in the brainstem and cerebellum of 33% of victims of sudden death and in none of the control group. The modified Bielschowsky's method confirmed that the cells with iron accumulations were neuronal cells.ConclusionsWe propose that the free iron deposition in the brain of sudden fetal and infant death victims could be a catabolic product of maternal methemoglobinemia, a biomarker of oxidative stress likely due to nicotine absorption.
Highlights
Iron is involved in important vital functions as an essential component of the oxygen-transporting heme mechanism
We previously reported a high susceptibility of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) to oxidative stress caused by maternal cigarette smoking in pregnancy, with consequent alterations of nuclei and/or structures controlling the vital activities, in victims of sudden fetal and infant death [14,15,16,17]
Iron deposits were widespread in brain parenchyma or localized in specific areas showing a variable extent and intensity
Summary
Iron is involved in important vital functions as an essential component of the oxygen-transporting heme mechanism. In this study we aimed to evaluate whether oxidative metabolites from maternal cigarette smoke could affect iron homeostasis in the brain of victims of sudden unexplained fetal and infant death, maybe through the induction of maternal hemoglobin damage, such as in case of methemoglobinemia. Iron is a vital constituent of the oxygencarrrier hemoglobin (Hb). Human Hb is a tetramer consisting of a pair of a-like globin chains and a pair of blike chains. Each chain is bound to a prosthetic heme group, consisting of an iron atom in the ferrous state located at the center of a porphyrin ring; this structure has a high affinity for oxygen. There are numerous causes of hemoglobin-related diseases. A distinction can be made between genetically inherited diseases, such as thalassemias and sickle cell disease [4,5,6], and acquired disorders, such as methemoglobinemia [7,8,9], a rare condition characterized by the presence of a greater concentration than the normal physiological range of 1-2% methemoglobin in erythrocytes
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