Influence of prenatal protein malnutrition and low doses caffeine administration on pregnancy outcome and on growth and development of albino rat fetuses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the independent and combined effects of prenatal protein malnutrition and caffeine administration on the outcome of pregnancy and on the growth and development of the 20-day albino rat fetuses. Twenty-four pregnant albino rats were divided equally into 4 groups; control group [20% protein], caffeine group [20% protein + caffeine], protein malnourished group [6% protein] and combined group [6% protein + caffeine]. Protein malnutrition started from the first day of gestation, while low dose caffeine [25 mg/kg BW, IG] was given daily from day 6-12 of gestation. Fetuses were collected by caesarian section at the 20th day of gestation. External examination was done before and after their fixation in Bouin's solution. Internal examination was done using Wilson's hand razor blade technique. The results revealed that prenatal protein malnutrition alone increased pre-implantation loss, decreased placental weight, delayed growth of the fetuses leading to intra uterine growth retardation [IUGR] as revealed from the reduction in fetal weight, crown rump length, head length and biparietal diameter. It also led to high incidence of internal hematomas in the fetuses. These findings became more pronounced in the fetuses of the combined group that showed also some abnormal findings like loss of the wrinkled skin, mild micrognathia, presence of small cranial subcutaneous hematomas and kinky tail. However, low doses caffeine administration in the caffeine group produced mild suppressive effects on fetal growth and reduction in placental weight

Skeletal ossification of 20-day albino rat fetuses under the influence of maternal protein malnutrition and low doses caffeine administration during pregnancy

The purpose of the present work was to study skeletal ossification of the 20-day albino rat fetus under the influence of maternal protein malnutrition and the administration of low subtoxic doses of caffeine which are known to produce minimal effects on the fetus. Twenty-four pregnant albino rats were divided equally into 4 groups; control group [20% protein], caffeine group [20% protein + caffeine], protein malnourished group [6% protein] and combined group [6% protein + caffeine]. Maternal protein malnutrition started from the first day of gestation, while low dose caffeine [25 mg/kg BW, IG] was given daily to the mothers from day 6-12 of gestation. Fetuses were collected by caesarian section at the 20th day of gestation. Bones were stained by alizarin red using Dawson's then ossification was assessed. The results revealed that low doses of caffeine administration have mild effects on ossification of fetal bones, while maternal protein malnutrition delayed ossification markedly. The combination of caffeine and protein malnutrition increased the delaying of ossification in the combined of caffeine and protein malnutrition increased the delaying of ossification in the combined group as compared to all other studied group. A significant delay in ossification was especially noticed in sternum, cervical and sacral vertebrae, pubis and metacarpal bones of the fetuses of the combined group as compared to the caffeine group which indicates that caffeine has a synergistic role to protein malnutrition in the combined group

Effects of melatonin on the teratogenicity of alcohol in albino rat

Teratogenicity of alcohol has been widely studied in humans and laboratory animals. Alcohol seems to produce its deleterious effects through its capability to release harmful free radicals. The aim of the present study was to determine the potential role of exogenous melatonin as a free radical scavenger [antioxidant] against the teratogenicity of alcohol. Twenty four pregnant albino rats were randomly divided into four equal groups: control, alcohol, melatonin and melatonin-alcohol. Treatment was given intragastrically daily from day 6 through day 12 of gestation. Twenty days full term rat fetuses were then collected. Two thirds of the fetuses were fixed in Bouin's solution for external and visceral examinations. Skeletons of the remaining third of the fetuses were stained with alizarin red for their evaluation. The present study revealed the teratogenicity of alcohol even in its mild dose of 15 ml/kg BW [ethanol, 25% v/v]. In the experimental rats, it increased the rate of resorptions and delayed the fetal growth. It also affected the ossification of the skeletal system and produced different congenital abnormalities. Exogenous melatonin given in this study in a dose of 9 mg/kg BW did not affect significantly the fetal growth and development and did not produce any congenital abnormalities. However, all developmental parameters assessed in this study were found to be normal in the melatonin-alcohol group when compared to the control group. Also, no congenital abnormalities were detected. The results obtained from this study indicate that melatonin probably acts as a negative coteratogen as it counteracts the teratogenic effects of alcohol. The present results also support those reported by previous workers which indicated the role of free radicals in mediating the teratogenicity of alcohol. According to the present findings, it is suggested that any substance known to release free radicals should be prohibited during pregnancy. If it is necessary, it should be combined with a potent antioxidant, to avoid its teratogenic effects