Morphometric study of cerebrum in fetuses of diabetic mothers

In pregnant mothers maternal diabetes happens when the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin, so blood glucose increases in the mother and then in the fetus, resulting in several injuries in neonates. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of maternal diabetes on fetal cerebrum. Sixteen adult female rats were divided in two equal groups. Diabetes was induced in one group by alloxan. Both groups became pregnant by natural mating. At days 17, 18, 19 and 20 of pregnancy, the cerebrum was collected from the fetuses of all rats, also the body weight and number of fetuses was measured. Various histological parameters were determined using routine histological techniques. Results revealed a significant decrease in the ratio of gray matter to white matter and also the number of cells in gray matter and white matter in all days. There was also a significant decrease in thickness of gray matter at day 20 of pregnancy in the cerebrum of fetuses of diabetic mothers [FDM] as compared with the control group. The body weight of FDM was significantly [P<0.05] more than that of the control group and the number of fetuses in FDM was significantly [P<0.05] less than the control group. Maternal hyperglycemia exhibited deleterious effects on cerebrum during fetal life, which affected: cell number, gray matter to white matter ratio and thickness of gray and white matter

[Evaluation of maternal diabetes effects on lumbosacral portion of spinal cord in neonate rats by morphometry]

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate effects of maternal diabetes on lumbosacral region of spinal cord in offspring of diabetic mothers [ODM] in comparison with normal mothers. In this study sixteen adult female rats were divided in two groups. Diabetes was induced in one group by Alloxan [145 mg/kg]. Both groups became pregnant by natural matting. After delivery lumbosacral samples were prepared from 7 day, 14 day, 21 day and 28 day old offspring of both groups. After applying histological techniques, various histological parameters were determined. Weight of infants was measured at the same time and compared with the other group. Data were analyzed by student t-test. Our results showed that the weight of ODM were significantly [21.2%] more than the control group [P<0.05]. There is a significant decrease in transverse and vertical diameters of spinal cord and decrease in number of neurons in grays matter of spinal cord of ODM compared to the control group [P<0.05]. Hyperglycaemia caused by maternal diabetes can disturb natural formation of spinal cord, especially in the lumbosacral region. This defect leads to different malformations, such as change in the shape of spinal cord and also decrease in the number of neurons in grays mater. These problems are formed in fetal period and remain in the body after birth and lead to offspring disability in several actions

Morphological changes in the brachial enlargement of the spinal cord in offspring of diabetic rat

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of maternal diabetes on fetal spinal structure, especially in brachial enlargement. Sixteen adult female rats were divided into two groups. Diabetes was induced in one group by alloxan agent. Both groups became pregnant by natural matting. On days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after birth, the brachial enlargement of the spinal cord was collected from offspring of all rats and the weight of neonates was measured. Various histological parameters were determined using histological techniques. The results revealed a significant decrease in transverse spinal diameter and number of neurons of gray matter and an increase in vertical spinal diameter in spinal cord of offspring of diabetic mothers [ODM] as compared with the control group. The body weight of ODM was significantly more than that of the control group [P<0.05]. Maternal hyperglycemia exhibited deleterious effects on spinal cord, especially brachial enlargement during fetal life which remained persistent during postneonatal period

Arginase status in the ewe reproductive system

Seven healthy and sexually adult ewes were slaughtered. Immediately after slaughter, whole reproductive systems of animals were collected. Different tissues including: corpus luteum, ovary, muscular and mucosal layers of uterine horn, uterine body, cervix, vagina and vestibula were carefully separated and arginase specific activity [ASA] was determined in tissue extract and compared by modified paranitrophenylglyoxal [PNPG] method. The result of this study indicate that although all the tissues contained different amounts of arginase activity, based on the level of ASA, ewe reproductive system may be categorized in two groups which have significant difference [P<0,05]. The mucosal layer of vagina showed lowest ASA [32.85 IU/mg tissue soluble protein] in the first group and in the second group, mucosal layer of cervix had highest ASA level [85.14 IU/mg tissue protein]. Presence of this enzyme at different levels in all parts of ewe reproductive system may be related to different rate of cell proliferation, differentiation or some other unknown physiological and biochemical activities of the enzyme in this system