Impact assessment of endocrine disruptors on sudden intrauterine and infant death syndromes

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The endocrine disruptors (EDs) are able to interfere with the endocrine \nsystem, mimicking or antagonizing the hormonal activity. They can persist in the environment, due to their \ndegradation resistance. The aim of our research has been to analyze the possible link between unexplained \nintrauterine and infant mortality and chronic exposure to EDs. Materials and Methods: We have investigated \n16 cases of sudden intrauterine unexplained death syndrome (SIUDS) and 8 cases of sudden infant death \nsyndrome (SIDS), collected over a 3-year period (2012-2014). Brain samples were submitted to chemical \nanalysis of 25 EDs, consisting in a liquid-solid extraction procedure, followed by a purification step and by a \ngas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Results: The analytical method to detect the presence of \nEDs in brain samples has been successfully applied to SIUDS and SIDS victims. At the level of the brainstem, \nthe frequent association between the hypoplasia of the facial/parafacial complex and the hypoplasia of the \nraphe system has been ascertained. In particular, the hypo development of the parafacial nucleus, consisting \nof “pre-inspiratory” neurons with the main function of hierarchical modulation of breathing circuitry, appears \nan exclusive finding of unexplained stillbirths. Conclusions: The environmental EDs have been found able \nto cross the placental barrier, reaching also the brain nuclei assigned to the control of vita…