[Teratogenic effects of Origanum Vulgare in mice fetals]

A number of studies on reproduction have mentioned Origanum Vulgare extract's ability to reduce mortality rates and improve fertility rates. However, other studies have suggested that it is possible to use Origanum Vulgare extract to induce abortion. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different doses of Origanum Vulgare on embryo survival and macroscopic abnormalities in mice. In this study, 24 mice Balb/c female weighting approximately 25-30 g were divided into 4 groups. Origanum Vulgare extract was prepared; different concentrations [2.5, 12.5, and 25 mg in 0.25 ml distilled water] were administered, by oral gavage, to three experimental groups of mice between day 6 [starting gastrulation] until day 15 of pregnancy [end of organogenesis]. The control group consisted of six mice that received 0.25 ml of distilled water daily. On day 16 of study, pregnant mice were anesthetized by chloroform and fetuses were removed and stained with Alcian Blue, Alizarin Red s and microwave irradiation. Morphological and skeletal abnormalities were investigated by light and stereomicroscopes. The results of this study showed that high doses of the Origanum Vulgare extract significantly decreased the mean number of embryos [10 +/- 0.5, P>0.05], mean number of live embryos [7 +/- 0.5, P>0.05] in each mouse and resulted in significant reduction in mean weight[1184 +/- 8 mg, P>0.05] and crown-rump length[11.9 +/- 0.23 mm, P>0.05] and the overall size of fetuses compared to control group, whereas there was no significant difference between the groups receiving low dose of Origanum Vulgare extract with control group. In addition, under the effect of the Origanum Vulgare extract the subcutaneous bleeding seemed [2 +/- 0.1, P>0.05] significantly more frequent compared to the control group. Origanum Vulgare extract did not have any positive effect on fetal development; and high dosages led to an increased incidence rate of abortion and fetal malformations in the fetuses of women who received it.

[Surveying the effects of Hypericum perforatum on Balb/C rats' pregnancy]

The present study was achieved to investigate the effect of Hypericum perforatum extract on abortion and any changes on embryonic development and oogenesis in pregnant mice. A dose of 1.457g/kg body weight [approximate oral dose in human per day] of dried alchoholic extract of the plant dissolved in water were given orally to Balb/C mice strain, once a day for 7 days [after vaginal plug observation as day 0 of pregnancy up to day 7]. Then experimental embryos were removed from uterus on day 15 of gestation and compared with 15 days control embryos. The external and internal morphological properties of all embryos and the survival rate were determined. In all experiments, no conspicuous external or internal abnormalities in embryos were detected. The gross conditions of nervous system, liver, kidney and their development were normal as compared with sham and controls. There was no significant difference in the thickness of uterus wall and the number of endometrial glands among experimental, sham and control pregnant mice. However, in ovaries there were significant differences in some investigated parameters such as the number of corpus lutei cells and their diameters, and the number of degenerating follicles. Hormonal analysis of pregnant mice serum on day 15 of gestation showed a significant increase in the level of FSH and LH and a significant decrease in the level of progesteron as compared with those of controls. Therefore, according to our results, it can be concluded that using Hypericum perforatum extract during pregnancy has no effect on embryos. It does not produce any abnormalities or change in development, and the significant decrease in the level of progesteron is not sufficient to produce abortion

Dairy cow abortion associated with Neospora caninum and other infectious agents

Trinta e cinco vacas de rebanhos leiteiros da região Norte do estado do Paraná, com histórico de abortamento, foram pesquisadas sorologicamente para verificar a presença de anticorpos contra Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii, Leptospira spp., Brucella abortus, BHV-1 e BVDV. Vinte e uma vacas apresentaram títulos sorológicos compatíveis com infecção. Todas elas, soropositivas para N. caninum, foram também soropositivas para outros agentes infecciosos, sugerindo a possibilidade de associação desses agentes nos problemas reprodutivos de bovinos, no estado do Paraná.

Active immunization against riboflavin carrier protein results in peri-implantation embryonic loss leading to pregnancy termination in rats: use of alternate adjuvants.

To investigate the mechanism of pregnancy termination following immuno-neutralization of riboflavin carrier protein (RCP) and to use acceptable adjuvants, we actively immunized female rats with reduced and carboxymethylated RCP (RCM-RCP) using various adjuvants (during primary immunization) such as sodium phthalylated lipopolysaccharide (SPLPS), purified S. typhi outer membrane proteins (porins) and a combination of them. Rats (5-14 per group) were immunized with alugel adsorbed RCM-RCP (100 microg/dose) either alone or with SPLPS or porins or SPLPS+porins. Control animals received RCM-RCP emulsified with Fruend's completelincomplete adjuvants (FCA/FIA). All animals received five boosters at intervals of 21 days. The lowest (4 X 10(-3)) and the highest (> 70 X 10(-3)) anti-RCM-RCP antibody titers were observed in alugel adsorbed-RCM-RCP group and control groups, respectively. Immunized animals showed reduced fertility following 3rd, 4th and 5th boosters. Reduction in fertility was 30-60% in alugel adsorbed RCM-RCP group, 90-100% in FCA-RCM-RCP group and 80-90% in SPLPS+porins group. Fertility reduction was not strictly correlatable with the serum antibody titers. RCP-specific IgG could be localized in the uterine endometrial glands and luminal epithelial cells in the immunized animals. Animals in the FCA/FIA group showed abnormal implantation/resorption sites and their histological sections showed degenerated embryos. But, day 5 preimplantation embryos were normal. These results show that (a) SPLPS+porins can be used as adjuvants in place of FCA/FIA for active immunization against RCM-RCP and (b) early termination of pregnancy in the immunized animals is due largely to the failure of normal embryo implantation.

Aborto em ratas após administraçäo de barbatimäo (Stryphnodendron pollyphyllum M.) / Abortion in rats after administration of barbatimäo (Stryphnodendron pollyphyllum M.)

Administrou-se Barbatimäo (Stryphnodendron pollyphyllum M.) a ratas grávidas, desde o 1§ até o 8§ dia de gestaçao, para verificar o período em que ocorre seu efeito abortivo. Observou-se que ele se verifica no período de implantaçäo (5§ - 6§ dia) e após implantaçäo imediata (7§ - 8§ dias)