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OBJECTIVE: To compare the different effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Zusanli" (ST36) and "Chize" (LU5) of mother rats exposed to Nicotine during pregnancy and lactation on lung function and morphological changes in offspring rats, so as to explore the most effective acupoint for improving the development of lung in neonatal rats. METHODS: A total of 24 female pregnancy SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control, model, EA-ST36 and EA-LU5 (n＝6 rats in each group). Rats of the normal group were treated by subcutaneous injection of normal saline, and those of the other 3 groups treated by subcutaneous injection of nicotine (1 mg•kg－1•d－1) beginning from the 6th day to about the 21st day of pregnancy (childbirth day) for nicotine exposure during pregnancy and lactation. The daily EA treatment (2 Hz /15 Hz，1 mA) was applied to bilateral ST36 and LU5 for 20 min, beginning from the 6th day of pregnancy to the 21st day (childbirth day). The lung function of the offspring rats including the peak inspiratory flow (PIF), peak expiratory flow (PEF), lung resistance (RL), exhalation resistance (RE)and lung dynamic compliance (Cdyn) was detected by using a lung function analysis system. Histopathological changes (severity of alveolarization) of the offspring rats' lung tissue were observed under microscope after H．E. stain. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the PIF, RL and RE values were significantly increased (P0.05)．. CONCLUSION: EA of ST36 and LU5 of mother rats experiencing nicotine exposure during pregnancy and lactation can improve the lung function and morphological changes in neonatal rats, and the effect of ST36 is relatively better.
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Objective To investigate the relevance of liver function and neurobehavior of offspring of SD rats ex-posed to sodium valproate in the second trimester. Methods 30 SD rats at 12. 5 d of pregnance were randomly di-vided into three groups: low-dose group (300 mg/kg VPA was injected into abdominal cavity), high-dose group (600 mg/kg VPA);control group (normal saline). The offspring of low-dose groupe were grouped as VPA-low-dose;the offspring of high-dose groupe were grouped as VPA-high-dose; and the offspring of control group were grouped as control group. Then, we tested the liver and neurological function of each group of offspring, respective-ly, and analyzed their relevance. Results The levels of serum total protein and albumin of the high-dose group were considerably lower than these of the low-dose group which were significantly lower than these of control group ( P<0. 01 for both total protein and albumin);the levels of ALT, AST and blood ammonia of the high dose group were drastically higher than these of the low dose group, which were dramatically higher than these of control group ( P<0. 01 ) . The duration and of stereotyped movement disorder in experimental group was markedly longer than this of the control group, while this of the high-dose group was notably longer than this of the low-dose group ( P<0. 01 );the frequency of the stereotyped movement disorder of experimental group was significantly more than this of the control group, while this of high-dose group was obviously more than this of the control group (P<0. 01). In the Morris water maze, the escape latency of the high-dose group was remarkably longer than this of low-dose group, which was observably longer than this of control group (P<0. 01);the swimming distance of the high-dose group was tremendously shorter than this of low-dose group, which was considerably shorter than this of control group ( P<0. 05 , P<0. 01 ) . Correlation analysis of liver function and neural behavior showed that the neurobe-havioral abnormalities were negatively correlated with level of total protein and albumin, and were positively related with the level of blood ammonia, ALT and AST ( P<0. 01 ) . Conclusion The VPA exposure in the second tri-mester leads to the decrement of serum albumin and total protein and to the increment of AIL, AST and blood am-monia;and it also causes the neurobehavioral abnormalities of offspring. The reduction of synthesis of liver albumin and the rise of ALT, AST and blood ammonia can influence the neurobehavioral abnormalities. And there were both of the factors which result in the neurobehavioral abnormalities of offspring exposured to VPA in the second trimes-ter.
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ObjectiveTo observe the effect of alcohol exposure during pregnancy on learning and memory and content of hydrogen sulfide(H2S) in the hippocampus of infant rats.MethodsThe animal models of alcohol exposure during pregnancy were made,and the learning and memory were evaluated by Y-maze in adult offspring.Content of H2S and activity of cystathionine-beta-synthase(GBS) in the hippocampus of the brain were evaluated with spectrophotometry;and CBS protein expression in the hippocampus was detected by immunohistochemistry.ResultsThe learning and memory ( (43.00 ± 15.33 ) times) of alcohol exposure during pregnancy group was significantly decreased compared with that of control and drinking groups (( 25.13 ± 12.35 )times and (26.12 ±11.95 ) times,P ＜ 0.05 ) ; spectrophotometry results showed that the content of H2S ( ( 30.32 ± 5.84 ) nmoL/g) of alcohol exposure during pregnancy group was significantly increased compared with that of control ( ( 52.51 ±7.85 ) nmol/g) and drinking groups( (49.93 ± 4.29 ) nmol/g),and the activity of CBS( ( 55.13 ± 4.45 ) nmol/g)of alcohol exposure during pregnancy group was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.01 ) compared with that of control ( (71.06 ± 5.58 ) nmol/g) and drinking groups( (69.96 ± 6.13 ) nmol/g) ; immunohistochemistry showed that the expressionof CBSproteinofalcoholexposureduringpregnancygroupwassignificantlyincreased.ConclusionThe damage effect of alcohol exposure during pregnancy on nerve system of infant rats may interrelate with down-regulation of H2S/CBS in the hippocampus.
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PURPOSE: In Korea, pregnancy termination is frequently reported among women who took medications for an acute or chronic disease during pregnancy, for fear of teratogenic risk. We have previously shown that a service providing evidence-based information is helpful for women who week counseling to make a rational decision regarding their pregnancies. This study aimed to evaluate whether termination of pregnancy based on such perceptions, is justified using the 'DRug Exposure and risk Assessment in Moms' (DREAM) registry. METHODS: The study included 5,032 consenting pregnant women from the clinic and call center at the Korean Motherisk Program, from November 1999 to October 2008. The DREAM registry recorded the pregnancy outcomes (preterm birth, low birth weight, intrauterine fetal death, and congenital anomaly) of 3,328 women. RESULTS: Among women exposed to medications, time of exposure ranged from 3.5-4.6 weeks of gestation. There were 1,308 different drugs prescribed to these women. The drug most frequently prescribed was acetaminophen followed by chlorpheniramine maleate, and pseudoephedrine. There were 4.7% (n=156/3,328) women who underwent a voluntary abortion for fear of birth defects. We compared frequency of birth defects between exposed women and unexposed pregnant women in our institution during gestation. The frequency of major congenital malformations was 2.5% (n=74/2,977) in exposed group and 2.9% (n=75/2,573) in unexposed group (P=0.32). There was no statistically significant difference between exposed and control group in the rate of preterm births, intrauterine fetal death and low-birth weight babies. CONCLUSION: We did not observe increased risk of congenital malformations and adverse pregnancy outcomes in a population of pregnant women exposed to a variety of medications. Therefore these medications are not considered teratogen.