Effect of feeding graded doses of Citrinin on clinical and teratology in female Wistar rats.

Citrinin is the one of the well-known mycotoxins, which is possibly spread all over the world. The graded doses of citrinin (1, 3 and 5 ppm CIT in feed) in female Wistar rats 10 weeks prior to mating, during mating and during organogenesis resulted in resorptions and post implantation losses, decreased fetal body weights and crown-rump lengths in fetuses of all groups. Various developmental anomalies recorded in fetuses of treated rats included gross (wrist drop, curled tail, stretched forelimb, subcutaneous haematoma), skeletal (incomplete ossification of skull bones, incomplete fusion of vertebral bodies, complete and partial agenesis of sternaebrae, metacarpals, metatarsals and phalanges, fused ribs and swing out ribs) and visceral (internal and external hydrocephalus, cerebellar hypoplasia, microphthalmia, roundening of heart, contracted kidneys, dilated renal pelvis and cryptorchid testes). The results suggest that CIT has adverse effects on fetal development which may be due to the longer bioavailability of citrinin in the animals.

Abnormalities of digestive tract innervation in rat fetus treated with ethylenethiourea / Anomalias da inervação do trato digestório de fetos de ratas expostas à etilenotioureia

PURPOSE: The pathophysiology of abnormalities associated with myenteric plexus lesions remains imperfectly understood. Such abnormalities have been correlated with subocclusive intestinal conditions in children with Hirschsprung's disease, cases of chronic constipation and, postoperatively, in cases of anorectal anomalies. This study evaluated abnormalities of the myenteric plexus in fetus from female rats that received ethylenethiourea. METHODS: Female rats were exposed to ethylenethiourea on the 11th day of pregnancy (experimental group) or to 0.9 percent physiological solution (control group). Abnormalities were only found in the experimental group. The digestive tract muscle layer was analyzed morphometrically and changes to the frequencies of nerve plexus cells and interstitial cells of Cajal were evaluated, using hematoxylin-eosin, S-100 protein, neuron-specific enolase and C-Kit, respectively. RESULTS: Muscle and skeletal abnormalities were observed in 100 percent, anorectal anomalies in 86 percent, absent tail in 71 percent, short tail in 29 percent, duodenal atresia in 5 percent, esophageal atresia in 5 percent and persistent omphalomesenteric duct in 5 percent. Histopathological analysis showed a thinner muscle layer associated with lower frequencies of ganglion cells and interstitial cells of Cajal, in all gastrointestinal tract. CONCLUSION: Severe nerve plexus abnormalities associated with muscle layer atrophy were observed throughout the gastrointestinal tract in newborn rats exposed to ethylenethiourea.

OBJETIVO: As anomalias associadas a lesões dos plexos mioentéricos permanecem sem plena compreensão da sua fisiopatologia. Alterações nos plexos nervosos têm sido correlacionadas com quadros suboclusivos intestinais em crianças portadoras de doença de Hirschsprung, em constipação crônica e no pós-operatório de anomalias anorretais. Este estudo avaliou as anomalias do plexo mioentérico em fetos de ratos fêmea que ingeriram etilenotioureia (ETU). MÉTODOS: Ratos fêmea foram expostos no 11º dia de gestação a ETU 1 por cento no Grupo Experimento e a solução fisiológica 0,9 por cento no Grupo Controle. Foram observadas anomalias apenas no Grupo experimento, sendo realizada morfometria da camada muscular e avaliadas alterações da frequência celular nos gânglios do plexo mioentérico e nas células intersticiais de Cajal (CIC) utilizando hematoxilina-eosina, P S-100, Enolase Neurônio Específica e C-KIT. RESULTADOS: Foram observadas anomalias musculoesqueléticas (100 por cento), anorretais (86 por cento), ausência de cauda (71 por cento), cauda curta (29 por cento), atresia duodenal (5 por cento), atresia esofágica (5 por cento) e conduto onfalomesentérico persistente (5 por cento). A análise histopatológica mostrou adelgaçamento da camada muscular associada às alterações da frequência das células ganglionares e das CIC em todos os segmentos do trato gastrointestinal. CONCLUSÃO: Foram observadas alterações graves nos plexos nervosos associadas ao adelgaçamento da camada muscular de todo o trato gastrointestinal nos fetos expostos a ETU.

Reconstrução nasal neonatal na Síndrome do Warfarin Fetal / Neonatal nasal reconstruction in Fetal Warfarin Syndrome

O objetivo deste trabalho é relatar um caso de reconstrução nasal precoce em um paciente com síndrome do Warfarin fetal, onde um paciente de 23 dias com apresentava hipoplasia nasal isolada. O ganho ponderal estava estagnado e não havia possibilidade de introdução de sonda nasoentérica devido à deformidade. Foi realizada rinoplastia aberta com incisão transcolumelar. Dois enxertos de cartilagem tragal foram confeccionados e introduzidos na região da ponta, porção cranial do septo cartilaginoso e alares. O paciente apresentou melhoria da permeabilidade ventilatória, diminuição do ruído inspiratório, ganho de peso e também da forma. Após um ano de seguimento o resultado continuava satisfatório. Concluímos que a intervenção precoce é satisfatória e pode minimizar ou mesmo prevenir procedimentos futuros.

The aim of this work is to report a case of early nasal reconstruction in a 23-day-old patient with fetal Warfarin syndrome and isolated nasal hypoplasia. Weight gain was arrested and the deformity precluded the use of a nasogastric tube. An open rhinoplasty with transcolumellar incision was performed. Two grafts of tragal cartilage were made and introduced in the tip area, cranial portion of the cartilaginous septum, and alar cartilages. The patient presented improved ventilatory permeability, decrease of inspiratory noise, and weight and shape gains. At the one-year follow-up the result was still satisfactory. We concluded that early intervention is satisfactory and may minimize or even prevent future procedures.

Assessment of teratogenecity and embryotoxicity of sludge from textile industries at Pali (India) in Swiss albino mice exposed during organogenetic period.

The present investigation was carried out to assess the teratological effects of in-utero exposure of sludge leachate from textile and dyeing industries located in Pali, Rajasthan. Sludge was collected at the combined effluent treatment plant (CETP). Two groups of 10 pregnant Swiss albino mice each, were given sludge leachate of 1/10 and 1/100 dilutions with water ad libitum from 6th day to 15th day of gestation covering the critical period of organogenesis. Cesarean sections were performed on day 18 of gestation and all foetuses were examined for reproductive and teratological tests. Sludge induced maternal toxicity was evidenced by significant increase in leachate consumption, reduction in body weight gain and reduction in fur of the body. Developmental toxicity was evidenced by a significant decrease in foetal weight per litter increase in the number of resorptions and an increase in total number of foetuses showing bone retardation and skeletal variations (specially of skull, sternebrae and vertebrae). The leachate of the sludge that is being dumped in the open areas of the town Pall seems to elicit teratogenic as well as embryotoxic potential as indicated by the findings of the present investigation.

Aspirin by virtue of its acidic property may act as teratogen in early chick embryo.

Aspirin (acetylsalicyclic acid) was dissolved either in normal saline or in phosphate buffer and was used in two doses to find out whether teratogenic potential of aspirin in chick blastoderm model is due to its acidic property or due to drug action. Drug was injected sub-blastodermally by window technique in fresh embryonated eggs after 17 hours of incubation at 39 degrees C. Eggs were re-incubated and harvested at 40 hours. Normal development of embryos was seen with normal saline and percentage of normal embryos with 30 micrograms (pH-3.19) and 120 micrograms (pH-2.64) aspirin was 31.7 and 4.9 respectively. Buffer produced 80.8% normal embryos and buffered 30 micrograms (pH-6.87) and 120 micrograms (pH-6.69) aspirin produced 67.7% and 30.8% normal embryos respectively. Changing the pH of aspirin to near neutral decreased the defect induced by aspirin but a significant effect of aspirin was observed at higher dose which could be independent of pH action.

Alteraciones feto-placentarias inducidas en ratas por la cepa TC 83 del virus de la encefalitis equina venezolana / Fetal-placental changes induced in rats by venezuelan equine encephalitis virus strain TC 83

El estudio macroscópico y microscópico de los fetos de ratas Sprague-Dawley inoculadas con el virus de la EEv, cepa Guajira y cepa atenuada TC 83 demostró, durante la primera semana de gestación, muerte y reabsorción de todos los fetos con cepa Guajira y una disminución considerable en el número de crías, cuando se inocularon con la cepa TC-83. El estudio histológico del sistema nervioso central de las crías nacidas vivas no demostró lesiones. Ratas inoculadas al 4to. y 7mo. día de gestación con TC-83 y sacrificadas el día 15 de la gestación mostraron lesiones placentarias, principalmente en los vasos miometriales en los fetos de aspecto viable, así como muerte y necrosis de otros fetos. Se compara la patogenia de la infección con el virus de la EEV a las lesiones inducidas en humanos por el virus de la rubeola y con estudios previos sobre el efecto intrauterino de otros Togavirus, y se destaca la necesidad de examinar cuidadosamente a las mujeres embarazadas y a sus hijos en las áreas de riesgo epidémico así como proscribir el uso de la vacuna TC 83 durante la gestación