Heavy Metal Toxicity and Female Infertility, Pregnancy Disorders, Fetal Growth and Development

Dear Colleagues,

Heavy metals may be categorized into four groups: (i) those with the greatest toxicological significance that are widespread in the human environment (e.g., arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), chromium (Cr), and uranium (U)); (ii) essential trace metals (e.g., copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn)); (iii) other metals with evident biological or toxicological interest (e.g., nickel (Ni) and vanadium (V)); and (iv) metals of pharmacological interest (e.g., aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), and lithium (Li)) (Banu, 2013). The focus of this Special Issue is two-fold: (1) it examines the adverse effects of heavy metals on female reproductive function and (2) presents intervention strategies to inhibit or mitigate the adverse effects of heavy metals on female reproductive function. Women who are exposed to metals in occupational or environmental settings experience various gynecological and pregnancy-related health issues, such as infertility, endometriosis, preeclampsia (PE), pre-term labor, premature ovarian failure (POF), Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), and fetal growth restriction (FGR). Pregnancy disorders adversely affect the development, growth, and survival of fetuses, making them vulnerable and compromising their survival. As a result, these babies have birth defects or are prone to develop diseases at a later age. The causes of female infertility and pregnancy disorders are highly complex and include various molecular pathways, such as oxidative stress, immune or genetic imbalance, exposure to environmental chemicals (endocrine disruptors), stress, and maternal age.

Interestingly, these pathogenic factors disrupt the molecular dialogue between the maternal and fetal environments’ cellular milieu. Trophoblasts play an essential role in embryo implantation; they interact with the endometrium and replace endothelial cells in the uterine spiral arteries as they remodel these vessels to support blood flow to the fetus. These complex cascades' molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways are only partially understood.

This Special Issue aims to compile the molecular toxicological mechanisms of female infertility, pregnancy disorders, and fetal development due to heavy metal exposure. Research papers and review articles on various topics related to female infertility are welcome. Clinical studies will only be accepted if they incorporate molecular mechanisms. Experimental studies focusing on molecular signaling pathways are also welcome. Endometrial or ovarian cancers and their associated infertility are beyond the scope of this Special Issue.

Dr. Sakhila K. Banu
Guest Editor

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• pregnancy disorders
• preeclampsia
• pre-term labor
• endometriosis
• infertility
• uterine artery remodeling
• ovarian failure
• polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and premature ovarian failure (POF)]
• fetal growth restriction
• placental pathogenesis