Maternal exposure to Cochlospermum regium: a toxicological evaluation

Cochlospermum regium (Schrank) Pilg., Bixaceae, is a Brazilian plant widely used as a folk medicine in the southwestern of the Brazil to treat inflammation and infection diseases. However, the effects of C. regium hydroethanolic extract on pregnant rats have not been assessed. To evaluate the effects of the C. regium on pregnant rats during the organogenic period, the hydroethanolic extract was administered via gavage at a dose of 11.5 mg/kg/day to rats from 6th to 15th day of pregnancy. No clinical signs of maternal toxicity were observed. The placenta's and fetuses' weight were similar in control and treated animals. The term fetuses dis not present malformations or anomalies although the number of live fetuses and birth rate were significantly decreased. In conclusion, the C. regium hydroethanolic extract is nontoxicant to the pregnant rat although it would be likely to interfere in the progress of the embryofetal development.

Effect of Gestational Exposure to Bisphenol A on Cell Proliferation and Differentiation in the Neonatal Rat Brain / 대한소아신경학회지

PURPOSE: Bisphenol A (BPA), a plasticizer, shows estrogenic activity at low concentrations in cells expressing estrogen receptors, and therefore, it is classified as an endocrine disruptor. Although many studies have focused on the toxicity of BPA to the reproductive and immune systems, relatively less attention has been given to the effect of BPA on the central nervous system. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in cell proliferation and differentiation during infant brain development in BPA-exposed pregnant rats. METHODS: Two different doses of BPA were exposed to pregnant rats: (1) a low dose (0.01 mg/kg-bw/day) and (2) a high dose (1 mg/kg-bw/day). Infant brains were excised at days 3, 7, and 14 after birth, and tissues were processed for histological and biochemical analyses. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) showed that although cells in the cerebral cortex at days 3 and 7 after birth were highly proliferating, the cells at day 14 divided less often. Immunopositive cells for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were observed from days 7 to 14 in control tissues. Western blotting clearly showed that exposure to BPA in pregnant rats resulted in increased GFAP protein expression in the infant rat brain compared to the controls. CONCLUSION: Exposure to BPA during the gestational period might result in precocious neurogenesis in the infant rat brain.

The effects of etomidate on the contraction of pregnant rat uterine smooth muscle / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that etomidate has the relaxant effects on vascular, tracheal, and non-pregnant uterine smooth muscle in vitro. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relaxant effects of etomidate on the contraction of the pregnant rat uterine smooth muscle. METHODS: Uterine muscle tissues were obtained from pregnant rats (n = 15). The uterine segments were mounted in organ baths filled with Krebs solution. After oxytocin-induced contractile activity had been established, etomidate in incremental concentrations (10(-7) to 10(-3) M) was added cumulatively to the bath, each administered 20 min apart, and resultant changes in contractile activity were continuously recorded. EC5 (effective concentration of 5% reduction), EC25, EC50, EC75, and EC95 on active tension were calculated using a probit model. RESULTS: Etomidate (10(-7) to 10(-3) M) induced dose-dependent decreases in amplitude and frequency of uterine contraction. The EC50 of etomidate on active tension were 5.91 x 10(-5) M. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that etomidate had inhibitory effects on pregnant rat uterine muscle at supraclinical concentration (5.91 x 10(-5) M).

Effects of chemical compounds exposure and hyperthermal environment to pregnant rats on hippocampus neuronal morphology and neurobehavioral development of offsprings / 第三军医大学学报

Objective To observe the effects of chemical compounds exposure and hyperthermal environment to pregnant rats on the hippocampus neuronal morphology and neurobehavioral development of their offsprings. MethodsPregnant rats were divided into 4 groups randomly: the control group; chemical compounds exposure group, chemical compounds combined hyperthermal exposure group and hyperthermal group. The control group was living in normal condition; the chemical compounds exposure group in a cabin with benzene (20.26?0.80) mg/m3, toluene (39.66?4.23) mg/m3, dimethylbenzene (42.40?2.85) mg/m3, and formaldehyde (23.13?1.30) mg/m3; the hyperthermal group was kept in an atmosphere of 38.5 ℃; and the combined group was exposed to the chemical compounds and high temperature at the same time. All animals were treated respectively 2 h per day for 10 d since their pregnancy. Their offspring were lived in normal condition. The development of brain and changes of hippocampus neuronal morphology were observed just or 1 month after born. The primary reflex activity of new-born rats was also examined. ResultsThere was no abnormality in the brain of new born rats from 4 groups. In the chemical compounds exposure and the combined exposure groups, the number of degeneration and necrosis neurons in CA1 region of hippocampus were significantly more than those in control and hyperthermal groups (P

Immunigical effect of CpG oligodeoxynucleotide as immune adjuvant of hepatitis B vaccine on pregnant mice and neonatal mice / 实用儿科临床杂志

0.05); serum HBsAb levels of pregnant mice and neonatal mice in group with CpG-1826 (20 ?g)+hepatitis B vaccine significantly higher than those in group with CpG-1826 (10 ?g, 40 ?g)+ hepatitis B vaccine,hepatitis B vaccine and control respectively(P0.05).Conclusions Combination injection of CpG-1826 20 ?g and hepatitis B vaccine can markedly increase serum antibody levels of pregnant mice and neonatal mice, but don′t affect the survival quantity, the growth and development of neonatal mice.CpG-1826 is an ideal immune adjuvant for neonates with immature immune system during pregnancy.

Effect of Morphine , Meperidine , Diazepam and Ketamine on Pregnant Rat Uteri , in Vitro / 대한마취과학회지

For many years it had been universally taught that administration of the commonly used analgesic agents retards the progress of labor. It was therefore advised that these agents should not be administered until the labor was active and progress was rapid. In recent years, more scientific analysis of the progress of labor and accurate recording of uterine contractility revealed that this classical teaching was inaccurate. Despite the increasing use of regional analgesia during labor, systemic medications are still widely used to relieve pain and anxiety. There is no ideal, generally applicable analgesic agent for use during childbirth. All systemic medications used for pain relief in labor cross the placenta and may have a depressant effect on the fetus and injudicious administration of an overdose can cause some depression of uterine activity. It is suggested that elimination of pain or anxiety will decrease adrenal medullary release of epinephrine. Since epinephrine is a known inhibitor of uterine activity, a decrease in its serum level should lead to increased uterine activity. Thus it was decided to make an objective estimation of the effects of morphine, meperidine, diazepam and ketamine upon uterine contractility of pregnant rat uteri, in vitro. The results are as follows: 1) Morphine caused a significant concentration dependent decrease in the contractility of pregnant rat uteri. 2) Meperidene did not cause any significant change in the contractility of pregnant rat uteri. 3) Diazempam caused a concentration dependent decrease in the contractility and the contraction disappeared at a concentration of 80 ug/100ml. 4) Ketamine caused a significant concentration dependent decrease in the contractility of pregnant rat uteri. 5) Addition of CaCl2 to the K-H solution did not cause any significant change in the result.

THE EFFECTS OF ACTINIDIA CHINENSIS PLANCH IN THE PREVENTION OF CANCERⅥ. INHIBITORY EFFECTS ON THE FORMATION OFN-NITROSOPROLINE IN VIVO IN PREGNANTRATS AND WOMEN / 营养学报

This paper deals with the inhibitory effect of Actinidia chinensis Planch (AC) juice on the formation of N-nitrosoproline (NPRO) in pregnant rats and women. In 21 Wistar pregnant rats and 27 pregnant women studies, it was found that NPRO formed in vivo might be transferred into the fetus, and AC juice might block it by inhibiting the NPRO formation in vivo. This was the first time to report that N-nitrosamino acid could be transferred into the fetus

EFFECT OF THE CIGARETTE SMOKING ON LEARNING, MEMORY AND NERVE GROWTH FACTOR OF HIPPOCAMPUS IN DESCENDANTS OF PASSIVE SMOKING PREGNANT RAT / 解剖学报

Objective To study the effects of cigarette smoking on learning and memory ability in rat descendants and its mechanism. Methods Spatial water maze test was applied.Nerve growth factor contents in hippocampus was determimed by IRMA. Results The learning and memory abilities were declined and the nerve growth factor contents in the hippocampus were significantly depressed.Conclusion The effects of cigarette smoking on learning and memory function are highly correlated with the changes in nerve growth factor contents in the hippocampus. [