Abstract:To explore the effect of maternal lead exposure on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 mRNA expression in the kidney of mouse offspring, an animal model was established using lead-contaminated drinking water. A total of 40 female mice were given free access to water containing lead acetate solutions at dosages of either 1.0 g/L, 5.0 g/L, or 10.0 g/L from day 1 of pregnancy to postnatal day 21. A control group was given distilled water. The contents of lead in blood and kidneys were measured, and the kidney tissues were collected to detect the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNAs by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). The results showed that compared with the control group, the lead levels in the blood and kidneys of 21-day-old mouse pups in the lead-treated groups were significantly higher (p<0.05). Real-time PCR showed that the expression of MMP-2 mRNA in the kidneys of low, medium, and high lead exposure groups was higher than that of the control group (p<0.05), but no significant differences were found between the expression of MMP-2 mRNA in the kidneys of the lead exposure group and those of the control group (p>0.05). The MMP-9 mRNA expression in kidneys from the lead-exposed groups was significantly higher than that of the control group; the expression level increased with increasing dose, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Maternal lead exposure could induce lead accumulation in the mouse offspring, and kidney damage and neurotoxicity could be caused, most likely due to the enhancement of MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA expression in the kidneys of the offspring.
