Protective Effects of Folic Acid on Cardiac Development Related Genes GATA-4 and NKx2.5 Expression of Offspring Rats with Maternal Coxsackievirus B3 Infection / 天津医药

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of oral folic acid on cardiac development related gene expression of offspring in an experimental model of coxsackievirus B3(CVB3) infection of pregnant rats. Methods SD female rats were randomized into control group, folic acid group, CVB3 group and CVB3+folic acid group. The female rats were given folic acid by gavage for 2 weeks before pregnancy in folic acid group and CVB3+folic acid group. After conception for 7 days, rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of CVB3 for 5 days in CVB3 group and CVB3+folic acid group. After nat-ural childbirth neonatal heart was taken and stored in liquid nitrogen. The morphological changes of neonatal rat myocardial tissues were observed by HE staining. The expressions of GATA-4 and NKx2.5 mRNA were detected by RT-PCR and West-ern blot assay. Results There was significant myocardial injury, such as myocardial fiber disarray and myocardial fiber breakage, in neonatal rats in CVB3 group. These damages were improved in CVB3+folic acid group. The expression levels of GATA-4 and NKx2.5 genes in myocardial tissues were significantly lower in CVB3 group than those of control group (P<0.05). The expression levels of GATA-4 and NKx2.5 proteins in myocardial tissues were significantly higher in CVB3+folic acid group than those of CVB3 group (P<0.05). Conclusion CVB3 infection in the early pregnancy inhibited the expres-sion of neonatal rat cardiac development factor. Folic acid supplementation has obvious protective effects on the neonatal rat cardiac development.