[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.

effect of N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester [L-NAME] on the Thickness and number of circular smooth muscle cells of pylor in rat embryo

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of one nitric oxide inhibitor on the thickness and number of circular smooth muscle cells of pylor in rat embryo. To determine the influence of nitric oxide reduction on the muscular layer of pylor in rat embryo, in the present study, pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats received the NO synthase inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester [L-NAME]. A dose of 80mg/kg of L-NAME solution in saline was injected to the rats intraperitoneally [IP] during the middle week and last week of the pregnancy period per day. The embryos were removed on the expected day of delivery. Their stomach and duodenum were dissected, fixed by Bouin solution and tissue processing was carried out. By using a rotary microtome 5 micro serial cross sections were obtained and stained with Trichrom-Mason and Pop-Nicola. Then sections were evaluated for thickness and number of circular smooth muscle cells under a light microscope using a scaled lens and a checkered lens eye-piece. Statistical analysis [One-Way ANOVA- Duncan]of light microscopic findings indicated that 80mg/kg of L-NAME in the last week of pregnancy [the first trial group] results in pyloric hypertrophy and hyperplasia. On the basis of these results we believe that reductions of nitric oxide production in the third trimester of pregnancy could be one of the reasons of pyloric stenosis in infants

[Incidence of gross congenital malformations after short-term exposure to aluminium chloride in mice]

Aluminium [Al], the third common element in the earth's crust has a significant toxin potential for humans. Although the knowledge of AL toxicity has markedly improved in recent years, there is relatively little information regarding the embryotoxic and teratogenic potential of AL. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of a short-term exposure of pregnant mice to aluminium chloride on the external organ formation of their fetuses. Mature NMRI mice [24-33g] were used in this study. Day 0 of pregnancy defined as the day in which the vaginal plug was found. Plug-positive mice were randomly divided into size groups. The first, secound and third groups of animals were given IP injection of single dose of Alcl3 at 150 mg/kg/day on days 10, 11 and 12 of gestation respectively. Mice in the 3 other groups [controls] received single injection of 0.3ml saline on days 10,11 and 12 respectively. Mice were killed on day 15 of gestation. Live fetuses were weighed and examined for external abnormalities. The fetal body weight was significantly reduced in all Al-treated groups [P<0.05]. The proportions of external malformations in 10th, 11th and 12th days treated were 47.0%, 37.0% and 33.1% groups respectively with significantly increase comparing to controls [P<0.05]. It is concluded that a single dose of the AL administered to pregnant mice can cause external malformations in their fetuses

Effects of Protein Source and Energy Substrates on the In Vitro Development of Bovine Embryos in a Two-step Culture System

In this study, we examined the effects of a two-step culture system, which involves the use of different culture media for early cleavage and later stage embryos, on the in vitro development of bovine embryos. We also investigated the effect of glucose, phosphate and citrate on the in vitro early developmental period of bovine embryos in a two-step culture system. Moreover, the supplementation of different protein sources (BSA-V, BSA-FAF and FBS) during IVC did not affect the frequency of blastocyst development. Using two-step culture, embryos were cultured in protein-free media for an initial 5 days. This was then followed by the same culture media or an FBS supplemented media. The developmental rates of blastocysts in the FBS containing group were significantly higher than in the replaced with no serum containing group. Embryos cultured in mSOF supplemented with 1.5 mM glucose plus 1.2 mM phosphate were significantly inhibited. The inhibition of developmental competence by glucose plus phosphate was consistent with the existence of 0.5 mM sodium citrate. This study indicates that a two-step culture system, which applies different conditions for early cleavage embryos, i.e., serum-free media, vs. later stage embryos, with serum containing media, may be effective for in vitro production systems. In addition, the developmental competence of bovine embryos was depressed in the presence of glucose plus phosphate as compared to either alone or the absence of both. Therefore, the avoidance of this negative effect should allow more optimal conditions to be developed for in vitro production.

effect of gibberellic acid on fresh, processed pear and consuming impact hazards

Gibberellic acid [GA3] is the most widely used growth regulator for increasing the yield of Le-Conte pears. Twenty ppm of GA3 were sprayed three times on pear trees during the growing period. The effects of GA3 on the physical and chemical properties of fresh Le-Conte pears were studied. Also, its effects on some chemical characteristics of syrup and quarters of canned pears were determined. The residuals of GA3 in treated fresh and processed Le-Conte pears were 18.41 and 8.75 ppm, respectively, by using gas liquid chromatography. However, no residuals were detected in control fresh and canned pears. The effects of gibberellic acid embryotoxicity and morphological malformation were determined by using fertile eggs which were injected with 0, 5, 20, 60 and 200 ppm concentration of GA3. During the incubation period, the lowest concentration of GA3 [5 ppm] caused relatively the highest reduction in egg weight and vice versa. At the end of incubation period, the numbers of hatching eggs of total ten for each concentration were 10, 7, 5, 3, 2 for the treatments 0, 5, 20, 60 and 200 ppm of GA3, respectively. These results revealed that the high concentrations of GA3 were more toxic on embryos compared with control

Estrogen - induced congenital hypospadias in developing rat embryos

Hypospadius is a defect of the urethra and penis in the male. In this research the incidence of the male hypospadius induced by estrogen [estradiol] administration was investigated during embryonic development. Three groups of pregnant rats were exposed to 0.15mg/kg estradiol valerate via a single intramuscular injection on one of the following gestational days: 12, 14 or 16 and named as experimental groups 1,2 and 3 respectively. All the pregnant rats were sacrificed on the last day of pregnancy [day 20]. The fetuses collected and counted and the external genitalas examined for detection of hypospadius as well as other malformations. The data showed that in addition to the significant reduction in the size of the litters in experimental groups, the incidence of the male hypospadius is high, especially in the group 1. Furthermore, most of the fetuses had severe malformations including anencephaly, exencephaly, agnatha, syndactyly and tetradactyly

Protective effects of garlic juice against embryotoxicity of methylmercuric chloride administered to pregnant Fischer 344 rats

In order to investigate the beneficial effects of 0.5 or 1.0 g/kg Korean garlic juice against the embryotoxicity of 20 mg/kg methylmercury chloride (MMC, CH3HgCl), pregnant Fisher 344 rats were simultaneously orally administered on day 7 of gestation. On day 20 of gestation the dams were laparotomized under ether anesthesia, and the fetuses were removed and examined for toxicity of methylmercury. Garlic juice depressed the toxicity in terms of some parameters. In the case of simultaneous treatment with 0.1 g/kg garlic juice and MMC, rates of increase were 17.5% in maternal body weight, 13.2% and 41.9% in fetal and litters' weight respectively, and 37.0% in fetal survival rate. Decreasing rates were 10.0% in maternal death rate, and 6.9% and 31.3% in pre- and post-implantation loss respectively. Decreasing rates of mercury levels in dams were 67.2% in liver, 57.6% in brain, 47.2% in kidney, 42.1% in spleen and 40.9% in blood. As well, decreasing rates of mercury level in fetuses were 54.9% in all body burden, 55.9% in liver, 46.7% in kidney and 37% in brain, respectively. The number of fetal ossification centers were reduced by 23.8% to 58.0% following simultaneous treatment with 1.0 g/kg garlic juice. These findings indicated that garlic juice effectively inhibited the embryotoxicity of methylmercury in pregnant Fischer 344 rats.

Embyotoxicity of norfloxacin in mice

In this investigation the embryotoxicity of norfloxacin has been studied. Oral administration of norfloxacin to pregnant female mice in the first two weeks of pregnancy of a dose of 550mg/kg/day significant decreases litter size and increases fetal resorption rate. There is no evidence of teratogenic effects. The rate of embryonic lost was also increased in treated group as compared with control

Dehidroepiandrosterona y preñez en la rata / pregnancy and dehydroepiandrosterone in rats

Se estudió en ratas el efecto de la DHEA sobre la preñez. El esteroide se administró durante los primeros 5 días de la preñez y al decimoquinto día las ratas fueron sacrificadas. Las ratas que recibieron la DHEA en dosis de 5 mg/kg no se inhibió la preñez y en las tratadas con 10 y 20 mg/kg los porcentajes de preñez fueron del 27 por ciento y 0 por ciento , respectivamente. Al 5 día, los niveles séricos de estradiol, progesterona y testosterona, obtenidos en las ratas tratadas con DHEA, fueron más elevados que en las cotroles. El número de blastocistos normales se redujo significativamente. Estos resultados demuestran que la administración de DHEA durante los primeros días de la preñez inhibe la blastogénesis y que este efecto, dosis dependiente, no parece ser debido a una falta de soporte hormonal sino más bien a una acción directa de la DHEA sobre el embrión.

Electron Microscopic Studies of Mouse Oocytes and Two-cell Embryos exposed to Progesterone in Vitro

This experiment was undertaken in order to find out if there is any morphological change in oocytes and two-cell embryos whose development have been suppressed by progesterone for six hours in vitro. It can be observed that some part of the outer side of nuclear membrane of the suppressed oocytes was damaged. The number of nuclear pores has decreased in suppressed oocytes and this suggests that progesterone might suppress the transport of intermediary metabolites between cytoplasm and nucleus. Sometimes, closely packed aggregates of parallel or irregular endoplasmic reticula were observed in suppressed oocytes. Microvilli of suppresed oocytes showed signs of degradation and the perivitelline space became apparent. Thus it is presumed that the egg membrane has constricted during cultivation under progesterone in vitro. The other cell organelles such as mitochondria, multivesicular bodies, cortical granules and fibrillar lattices showed no difference in morphology between treated and control (intact) oocytes. In two-cell embryos, there was also no evident morphological change except for the fact that many vacuoles appeared clearly in suppressed embryonal cells. In brief, there was no fundamental morphological change in the oocytes and the embryonal cells exposed to progesterone for six hours even though it inhibits their development. The action of progesterone should be investigated thoroughly.