Effects of High Fluoride and Low Iodine on Thyroid Function in Offspring Rats

Thirty-two Wistar rats were divided randomly into four groups of eight with six females and two males in each group. The rats were exposed to high fluoride drinking water （45 mg F-L^-1 from 100 mg NaF L-1）, low dietary iodine （0.0855 mg kg-1）, or both together in order to assess the effects of these three regimens on the thyroid function of the offspring rats. After the animal model was established, the offspring rats were bred and 10-, 20-, 30-, 60-, and 90-d-old rats were used for the experiment. The treatments for the offspring rats were the same as those of their parents. In comparison with control rats, the relative thyroid glands were changed by three regimens, but the mean values of thyroid weight in the experimental groups saw no marked difference. Serum TT3 levels were increased in all stages in the low iodine （LI） group. In the high fluoride （HiF） group, increase in TT3 levels was observed except in 20-d-old rats. Decrease in TT3 at 20- and 90-d and increase in TT3 at 30- and 60-d were found in HiF＋LI group. Serum TT4 levels first saw an increase, and then dropped in the LI and HiF＋LI group. However, an increase in TT4 was found in the HiF group. The levels of TSH in serum rocketed at d 20, and then dropped in the next stages in experimental groups. The results suggested that thyroid disorder could be induced by high flroride in drinking water, low iodine diet, or both of them. Exposure time to fluoride or low iodine diet was one of the important factors that fluoride can induce the development of thyroid dyfunction.

Effect of Perinatal Bisphenol A Exposure on Serum Lipids and Lipid Enzymes in Offspring Rats of Different Sex

Rats were exposed to1 or 10 μg/mL bisphenol A （BPA） in water during pregnancy and lactation. Offspring rats were given normal water and a standard diet from weaning to postnatal day （PND） 50. Perinatal exposure to BPA resulted in significantly increased body weight, visceral adipose tissue, abnormal serum lipids, and lower adiponectin （ADP） levels in both female and male offspring rats. Liver adipose triglyceride lipase （Atgl） mRNA levels and ADP protein in visceral adipose tissue were significantly decreased in BPA-exposed offspring rats. In both female or male offspring rats, obesity and dyslipidemia induced by perinatal exposure to BPA were associated with down regulation of Atgl mRNA in liver and ADP protein in visceral adipose tissue.

Microglia activation in the offspring of prenatal Poly I:C exposed rats:a PET imaging and immunohistochemistry study

Background The well-known ‘pyrotherapy’ of Julius Wagner-Jauregg might be the beginning of the study on the immunological concepts of schizophrenia. As the primary immune effector cells in the brain, microglia play a pivotal role in neuroinfammatory processes. Maternal viral infection during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk for psychiatric disorders with presumed neurodevelopmental origin, including autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia. The present study was to quantify microglia activation in vivo in the mature offspring of rats exposed to polyriboinosinic–polyribocytidilicacid （Poly I：C） during pregnancy using ^11C-PK11195 positron emission tomography （PET） and immunohistochemistry.Objective The study aimed to quantify microglia activation in vivo in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in mature offspring of prenatal Poly I：C exposed rats.Methods Offspring of Poly I：C-treated dams were the model group, offspring of saline-treated dams were the control group. Behavioural test for two groups was taken by spontaneous activity, prepulse inhibition （PPI） and latent inhibition （LI） test （including active avoidance conditioning task and passive avoidance conditioning task）. Randomly selected successful model rats were assessed by behavioural test in the model group and control group rats. 11C-PK11195 micro-PET/CT and immunohistochemistry were performed on the selected rats to measure microglia activation.Results The treatment group showed hyperlocomotion and defcits in PPI and LI compared with the control group. The treatment group also showed an increased 11C-PK11195 uptake ratio in the prefrontal cortex （t=-3.990, p=0.003） and hippocampus （t=-4.462, p=0.001）. The number of activated microglia cells was signifcantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group （hippocampus： t=8.204, p〈0.001; prefrontal： t=6.995, p〈0.001）. Within the treatment group, there were signifcant correlations between the behavioural parameters and the activation of microglia as measured by PET and immunohistochemistry.Conclusions The present study demonstrated microglia activation in vivo in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in mature offspring of prenatal Poly I：C exposed rats. This study suggests that microglia activation may play a possible or potential role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

Effects of dexmedetomidine on developmental damage of hippocampal neurons in offspring rats induced by sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia during pregnancy

Objective:To investigate the effects of developmental damage of hippocampal neurons in offspring rats induced by sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia during pregnancy and its related mechanisms.Methods:Eighteen pregnant female Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into three experimental groups:the control group(intraperitoneal injection of 0.9%sodium chloride solution 100 mL),the sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia group(inhalation of 1 MAC sevoflurane for 6 h and intraperitoneal injection of 0.9%sodium chloride solution 100 mL),and the dexmedetomidine combined with sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia group(inhalation of 1 MAC sevoflurane for 6 h and intraperitoneal injection of dexmedetomidine 100 mL),with 6 rats in each group.On the day of birth,the offspring rats of each experimental group were randomly selected.And blood gas analysis was performed with left ventricular artery blood of each offspring.The expression of cleaved-caspase-3 in hippocampal neurons was measured by Western blot.The mRNA expressions of growth-associated protein-43(GAP-43)and neuronal nitric oxide synthase(nNOS)in hippocampus of offspring rats were detected by real-time RT-PCR.The protein expressions of GAP-43 and nNOS were tested by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.Results:Compared with the control group,cleaved-caspase-3 expression in hippocampal neurons of offspring rats in sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia group increased significantly.Cleaved-caspase-3 in hippocampal neurons of offspring after dexmedetomidine combined with sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia was dramatically lower than that in sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia group.Compared with the sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia group,dexmedetomidine combined with sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia could markedly up-regulate the mRNA and protein expressions of GAP-43 and nNOS.Conclusion:Dexmedetomidine can protect hippocampal neurons from developmental damage induced by sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia during pregnancy,which may be related to the up-regulation of the mRNA and protein expressions GAP-43 and nNOS.

Sexual differences of the effects of prenatal stress on the expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinaseas in the hippocampus of offspring rats

BACKGROUND： Prenatal stress has been shown to inhibit cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus and hippocampus, reduce hippocampal volume, and cause neuronal loss and oxidative damage in the hippocampus of offspring rats, but the sexual difference of the effects on offsprings is seldom referred to. OBJECTIVE： To observe the effect of prenatal stress to adult pregnant rats on expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinases （ERK） in hippocampus of the offspring rats of different genders. DESIGN ： A randomized and control animal experiment.SETTING： Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Xi＇an Jiaotong University. MATERIALS ： The experiments were carried out in the Key Laboratory of Environment and Gene Related Diseases （Xi＇an Jiaotong University）, Ministry of Education between October 2005 and March 2006. Fifteen female and five male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were adopted. Female rats weighing 230-250 g and male rats weighing 280-350 g were used. METHODS： The virgin female rats were placed overnight with adult male rats （3：1） for mating. A total of twelve pregnant rats were randomly assigned to prenatal stress group （PNS group, n=6） and control group （n=6）. The pregnant rats of the PNS group were exposed to restraint stress on days 14-20 of pregnancy three times a day, 45 minutes for each time . The restraint device was a transparent plastic tube （6.8 cm in diameter） with air holes for breathing and closed end. The length could be adjusted to accommodate the size of the animals. To prevent habituation of animals to the daily procedure, restraint periods were randomly shifted within certain time periods （8：00-11：00, 11：00-14：00, and 16：00-19：00）. After birth, offsprings of all groups were culled to 8-10 litters in each group and housed in the same animal room, and kept together with their biologic mothers. The pregnant rats of the control group were left undisturbed. On day 21, after all the offspring were weaned, male and female pups were separated and housed four in each cage respectively until test at 30 days of age. At the end of postnatal day 30, one male and female offspring rats from the same dam were selected with a random choice and a total of 24 animals from 12 different dams were used. The experimental rats were sacrificed by decapitation under anesthesia. Bilateral hippocampal tissues were isolated and homogenized in cold condition. Alkaline carbonate buffer （BCA） method was used to detect the concentration of extracellular signal-regulated kinases （ERK）, then mixed with loading buffer, the constant voltage was 100 V. Finally, BCIP/NBT staining and electrDphoresis were performed, the absorbance （A） value for the bands was detected with the Bandscan analytical software, and the expression of ERK in hippocampus of offspring rats of different genders in each group was quantitatively analyzed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The level of ERK expression in hippocampus of offspring rats of different genders in each group was observed.RESULTS： All the 24 offspring rats were involved in the analysis of results. ① The staining results of ERP activity in the extract of brain tissue detected with Western blotting technique and specific antibody analysis showed that the ERP in hippocampus of offspring rats had two subtypes of ERK-1 and ERK-2, and the latter was the main type.② Standardized by the average A value in the control group, the quantitative data of the general A value of total ERK showed that the expression of ERK-2 in hippocampus of female offspring rats was obviously higher in the PNS group than in the control group （A value： 126±6.76,100±4.89,P〈 0.01）. ③The expression of ERK-2 had no obvious difference between the female and male offspring rats in the control group.④ The expression of ERK-2 in hippocampus of male offspring rats was a little higher in the PNS group than in the control group （A value： 104±6.27,102±5.48,P 〉 0.05）. CONCLUSION ： PNS significantly affects the increase of ERK expression in hippocampus of female offspring rats, but has no obvious influence on that of male ones.

Maternal Separation Affects Mothers’ Affective and Reproductive Behaviors as Well as Second Offspring’s Emotionality

Daily separation of rat pups from their mothers while the preweaning period has an impact on behavior and stress response of pups. We hypothesized that maternal separation may create a depression-like state in mother rats from which we separate the rat pups and decrease their reproductive function and fertility. Also, we aimed to evaluate the transmission degree of depression and anxiety across generations. Females aged 3 months were divided in two groups of 10 rats each. After a first mating and a first parturition, we conducted maternal separation 3 h during 22 days for the experienced group while the control group mothers kept their pups. At 4 months of age, females underwent behavioral tests and a second mating. Second generation’s pups were also subjected to behavioral tests. Behavioral tests showed that mothers which experienced separation were more depressive and anxious than control ones, also they had a lower litter size. Rats pups of the second generation whose mothers experienced maternal separation also revealed behavior changes akin to depression and anxiety. Thus, maternal separation causes depressive and anxious-likestates on mother rats which experienced separation and has an impact on their litter size. Also, consequences of maternal separation seem to last throughout generations.

Assessing Adverse Effects of Aroclor 1254 on Perinatally Exposed Rat Offspring

To assess the neurotoxic effects and redoxresponses of Aroclor 1254 （A1254） on perinatallyexposed rat offspring, A1254 was administered bygavage from gestational day （GD） 6 to postnatal day（PND） 21. Neurobehavioral development,antioxidant enzyme activities, lipid peroxidation（LPO）, nitric oxide （NO）, and NO synthase （NOS）levels were analyzed in the offspring.Neurobehavioral development analysis revealeddelayed appearance of the righting reflex, negativegeotaxis, and cliff drop test responses in A1254exposed group. Developmental A1254 exposurealso caused oxidative stress in the brain of PND 22offspring via reductions in the activity of SOD andGSH-Px, and by promoting a rise in the levels of NOand NOS.

Methyl Donors Supplementation Attenuates the Adverse Effects of Maternal High Fructose Diet of Offspring Emotional and Cognitive Behaviors

Free Fatty acid is an end-product of hepatic metabolism of fructose. Most of past studies have demonstrated significant relationship between gestational high fat diet and metabolic and physiology outcomes in offspring. However, there is a scarce of data extended to the effects of high fructose diet-fed dams on juveniles’ progeny. Therefore, the present experiment was designed to examine the later effects of maternal high fructose diet intake during pregnancy and lactation on juvenile offspring rats emotional behaviors and memory abilities. We tested whether methyl donors supplemented to that high fructose diet could reverse the adverse effects. We found at two months of age, anxiety-like behavior and depression-like behavior were elevated in off springs of mother fed to high fructose diet and a sex difference effect with males were more affected than females. In addition, behavioral outcomes indicated that the high fructose diet also impaired spatial working and recognition memories in the Y-maze and object recognition test respectively. Blood glucose intolerance increased significantly in juvenile males rats of dams fed with high fructose diet when compared to females. However, a supplementation of the maternal diet with methyl donors attenuated all these changes. Our study suggested a controlled fructose diet supplemented to methyl donors during critical period of brain developing (in utero and pre-weaning stage), otherwise that could induced irreversible detrimental effects on offspring behavior and cognitive health.

Effects of intrauterine infection in different periods on the placenta and endometrial blood vessel formation of pregnant mice and the growth and development of fetal rats

Objective:To investigate the effects of intrauterine infection in different periods on the placenta and endometrial blood vessel formation of pregnant rats and the growth and development of fetal rats.Methods:According to the random number table method,32 pregnant rats were divided into the early infection group,the mid-term infection group,the late infection group and the control group,with 8 rats in each group.On the 3rd,9th and 15th day of pregnancy,lipopolysaccharide was injected intraperitoneally to construct intrauterine infection models.The pregnant rats in the control group were intraperitoneally injected with the same dose of 0.9%sodium chloride solution.On the 18th day of pregnancy,the inflammatory factors[interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-(TNF-)],the blood vessel density of placenta and endometrium in the placental tissues of pregnant rats,dead fetus+absorbed fetus,the inflammatory factors IL-6,TNF-and oxidation reaction indicators[malondialdehyde(MDA)and myeloperoxidase(MPO)]in the fetal rat lung and brain tissues were detected.Results:The changing trend of IL-6 and TNF-levels in the placental tissues of pregnant rats with intrauterine infection in different periods was:the control group<the late infection group<the mid-term infection group<the early infection group,the differences were statistically significant(p<.05).The changing trend of fetal rat weight,placental weight and placental coefficient in the intrauterine infection groups in different periods was:the control group>the late infection group>the mid-term infection group>the early infection group,the differences were statistically significant(p<.05).The blood vessel density of placenta and endometrium,the mean number of fetuses,brain coefficient and lung coefficient in the late infection group were significantly increased in comparison with the early infection group and the mid-term infection group.The total number and the ratio of dead fetus+absorbed fetus,the levels of IL-6,TNF-,MDA and MPO in brain and lung tissues were significantly reduced,and the differences were statistically significant(p<.05).The blood vessel density of placenta and endometrium,brain coefficient and lung coefficient of pregnant rats in the mid-term infection group were significantly increased in comparison with the early infection group,and the differences were statistically significant(p<.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the other indicators between the two groups(p>.05).Conclusions:Intrauterine infection in different periods can inhibit placental and endometrial angiogenesis,and affect the survival rate of fetal rats and the growth and development of brain and lung.The reason may be related to the aggravation of fetal inflammatory responses and oxidative stress.The earlier the intrauterine infection occurs,the severer the adverse effects on the fetal rats will be.

Studies on Nutritional Effects of Traditional Chinese Tonics with Nutrients Fortification on Pregnant Women and Pregnant Rats

Objective: To explore the nutritional and health promoting effects of nutrient mixture (traditional Chinese tonics ＋ nutrient fortification). Methods: (1) One hundred and three primigravid women were divided randomly into the test group and the control group treated with nutrient mixture and vitamins respectively and the effects of treatment were observed. (2) Effects of nutrient mixture were also observed in pregnant rats. Results: (1) Clinical study showed the serum levels of iron, zinc, hemoglobin of the test group were allraised after treatment, and these parameters and the concentration of iron in umbilical cord blood as well as the weight of the new-born baby of the test group were higher than those of the control group (P ＜0. 05 or P＜0. 01). (2) Results of the experimental study showed that the food utilization rate, hemoglobin level, fetal growth and developing parameters of the test group were all higher than those of the control group significantly (P ＜0. 05 or P＜ 0. 01 ). Conclusion: The nutrient mixture has a good nutritional and health promoting effect on pregnancy.

Chromosomal aberrations and nucleic acids systems affected by some Egyptian medicinal plants used in treating female pregnant diabetic rats

The influences of medicinal plants Juniperus Phoenicea (Araar), Hyphaene thebaica (Doum), An-astatica hierochuntica (Kafta) and Cleome droserifolia (Sammo) as antidiabetic agents were investigated using female pregnant albino rats. Female rats were injected with 60 mg/kg b.w. alloxan to induce diabe-tes. Diabetic rats treated orally with the methanol extracts of tested plants till the 19 day of gestation. The present studies include the frequencies of chro-mosomal aberrations and nucleic acid system of liver in the female pregnant rats and their embryos. The results showed that injection of alloxan caused highly significant increase in chromosomal aberrations as well as in blood glucose levels as a result of diabetes in pregnant females. It also caused a high incidence of chromosomal deviation in embryos and decreased the liver soluble protein contents of female rats and their embryos. These effects in alloxanized animals were treated and improved by ingestion of the methanol extracts of the tested plants (Araar, Doum, Kafta and Somma) in which under their treatments, the inceased level of blood glu-cose of diabetic rats was deceased. Ingestion with the plants methanolic extracts improved and normalized the effects of diabetes in nucleic acids values of liver tissues. These were accompanied with nucleases (RNAase and DNAase) activities. The inhibited ac-tivities of both DNA ase and RNA ase of pregnant rats and their embryos were stimulated and read-justed around the normal values. Also administration of the plants methanol extracts decreased the per-centage of chromosomal aberrations in the female rats and embryos. It is concluded that there are some biochemical dynamics which might occur in the metabo-lism of glucose, nucleic acids and proteins in order to prevent or to reduce the oxidative stress of diabetes by flavonoides treatment.

Folic acid supplementation attenuates hyperhomocysteinemia-induced preeclampsia-like symptoms in rats

Folic acid participates in the metabolism of homocysteine and lowers plasma homocysteine levels directly or indirectly. To establish a hyperhomocysteinemic pregnant rat model, 2 mL of DL-homocysteine was administered daily by intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 200 mg/kg from day 10 to day 19 of gestation. Folic acid was administered by intragastric administration at a dose of 20 mg/kg during the period of preeclampsia induction. Results showed that systolic blood pressure, proteinuria/creatinine ratio, and plasma homocysteine levels in the hyperhomocysteinemic pregnant rats increased significantly, and that body weight and brain weight of rat pups significantly decreased. Folic acid supplementation markedly reversed the above-mentioned abnormal changes of hyperhomocysteinemic pregnant rats and rat pups. These findings suggest that folic acid can alleviate the symptoms of hyperhomocysteinemia- induced preeclampsia in pregnant rats without influencing brain development of rat pups.

生命早期维生素D缺乏对仔鼠生长发育和亚临床骨健康的影响

目的探讨生命早期维生素D缺乏对仔鼠生长发育和亚临床骨健康的影响。方法选择健康成年SD大鼠27只,雄性9只、雌性18只。所有雌性SD大鼠按随机数字表法随机分为对照组、维生素D缺乏组(VDD组)、维生素D补充组(VDS组),每组6只。VDD组和VDS组予维生素D缺乏饲料喂养,对照组和所有雄性SD大鼠予标准饲料喂养。喂养4周,按雌雄比2∶1合笼交配。交配成功后,对照组与VDS组予标准饲料喂养和白炽灯照明,VDD组继续予维生素D缺乏饲料喂养和正白光LED灯照明,直至仔鼠21天离乳。所有仔鼠按母鼠饲养条件喂养至出生第7周末。仔鼠出生第1、2、3、4周末,称量体质量,测量身长和尾长。仔鼠出生第7周末,麻醉后经心脏取血,离心留取血清。采用偶氮砷Ⅲ法检测血清Ca^(2+),采用双位点酶免疫法检测血清甲状旁腺激素(PTH),采用ELISA法检测血清25-羟基维生素D[25-(OH)D];采用双能X射线骨密度仪检测全身骨矿物质含量和骨密度;采用酶法检测血清磷,采用ELISA法检测血清胰岛素样生长因子1(IGF-1),采用化学发光免疫分析法检测血清Ⅰ型前胶原N端延长肽(P1NP)、碱性磷酸酶(ALP)。结果对照组和VDS组仔鼠出生第1~4周末体质量、身长、尾长均高于VDD组仔鼠同期(P均<0.05),并且VDS组仔鼠出生第1~4周末体质量、身长、尾长均高于对照组仔鼠同期(P均<0.05)。出生第7周末,对照组和VDS组仔鼠血清Ca^(2+)、25-(OH)D、ALP、磷、IGF-1水平及骨矿物质含量和骨密度均高于VDD组仔鼠,血清PTH、P1NP水平均低于VDD组仔鼠(P均<0.05);VDS组仔鼠血清ALP、磷、IGF-1水平及骨矿物质含量和骨密度均高于对照组仔鼠,血清P1NP水平低于对照组仔鼠(P均<0.05)。结论生命早期维生素D缺乏可影响仔鼠生长发育并引起亚临床骨健康,而及时补充维生素D则能促进仔鼠生长发育,逆转亚临床骨健康。

Higher Body Temperatures and Earlier Parturition in Response to Hypoxia Experienced by Pregnant Lizards

Many species are shifting towards higher altitudes in response to global wa rming, but how these upslope-shifting species will respond to hypoxic environments at high altitudes remains unclear. Hypoxia can be especially challenging for viviparous reproduction because of the limitation of oxygen supply to the female and her developing embryos. To investigate the effect of hypoxia on viviparous females and their offspring we acclimated pregnant females of a high-altitude dwelling vivipa rous liza rd(Phr ynocephalus vlangalii) to local oxygen and hypoxia conditions, respectively. We then recorded maternal body temperatures, postpartum body condition, as well as offspring morphology and locomotor performance. We found that pregnant females had higher body temperatures and advanced their parturition under hypoxic acclimation. However, maternal body condition, offspring morphology and locomotor performance were unaffected by the hypoxic conditions during gestation. Our study suggests that upslope-shifting viviparous lizards respond to hypoxic environments by plastically adjusting their body tempera tures to reduce parturition time, without short-term costs to offspring traits.

Barrier Effect of Placenta Membrane of Pregnant Rat on Mixed Rare Earth Changle

To assess the potential health risks of mixed rare earths Changle for human embryo, whether it crosses placenta membrane or placenta barrier should be determined. In order to arrive at the aim placenta tissue was observed after contamination with optical and electron microscope to show distribution and destiny of mixed rare earth Changle in placenta tissue. Meanwhile the amount of rare earths in serum of pregnant rat, amniotic fluid and extract of embryo tissue were measured by using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP MS). The rats were administered to 0 3, 2, 5 and 20 mg·kg -1 mixed rare earths Changle every day, respectively by oral from the 6th to 18th day after pregnancy. The results show that many particles are found in syncytiotrophoblast around capillaries of placental villi in contaminated groups under light microscope, and there are more particles following increased dose. It also was observed that some dense bodies with the envelope in placenta membrane and to difference extent damages the mitochondria crista within syncytiotrophoblast cytoplasm in contaminated groups under transmission electron microscope (TEM). Results of ICP MS assay indicate that the level of Ce increases with contamination dose in the serum of pregnant rats, and the level of total rare earth element remarkably rises in amniotic fluid and serum of pregnant rats for 20 mg·kg -1 group as compared with the control without change for the other groups.

Impact of electromagnetic radiation exposure during pregnancy on embryonic skeletal development in rats

Objective:To evaluate the teratogenic effect of mobile phone radiation exposure during pregnancy on embryonic skeletal development at the common used mobile phone frequency in our environment.Methods:Sixty female Sprague-Dawley rats were distributed into three experiment groups;control and two exposed groups (1 h/day, 2 h/day exposure groups) (n=20/ each group) and exposed to whole body radiation during gestation period from day 1- day 20. Electromagnetic radiofrequency signal generator was used to generate 1800 MHz GSM-like signals at specific absorption rate value 0.974 W/kg. Animals were exposed during experiment in an especial designed Plexiglas box (60 cm× 40 cm× 30 cm). At the end of exposure duration at day 20 of pregnancy animals were sacrificed and foetuses were removed, washed with normal saline and processed to Alizarin red and Alcian blue stain. Skeleton specimens were examined under a stereo microscope and skeleton's snaps were being carefully captured by built in camera fixed on the stereo microscope.Results:Intrauterine exposure to electromagneticradiation lead to variation in degree of ossification, mineralization, formation of certain parts of the skeleton majorly in head and lesser in other parts. Deformity and absence of formation of certain bones in the head, ribs, and coccygeal vertebrae were recorded in skeleton of foetuses from exposed dams compare to control group.Conclusions:The electromagnetic radiation exposure during pregnancy alter the processes of bone mineralization and the intensity of bone turnover processes, and thus impact embryonic skeleton formation and development directly.

油莎豆对大鼠的致畸作用研究

目的:评估油莎豆对SD大鼠是否存在致畸作用。方法:以100只3月龄SPF级SD大鼠为试验动物,设置0(对照)、2、4、8 g/kg共4个油莎豆浓度,在SD大鼠孕期的第6~15天,灌胃给予受试物,每天1次。分别在受孕后第0、6、9、12、15、20天称量大鼠,于妊娠第20天采用CO_(2)麻醉法处死孕鼠,剖腹取出子宫,称取子宫连胎质量,记录并检查黄体数、着床数、吸收胎、早死胎、晚死胎及活胎数,活胎鼠记录胎仔体质量、体长,并检查胎鼠外观有无畸形。结果:各剂量组孕鼠在观察期内精神状态、一般活动未发现异常体征,第20天处死后大体解剖肉眼均未见明显异常;各分组试验数据统计结果显示,油莎豆对孕鼠一般情况、体质量及其增量、胚胎发育、胎鼠外观畸形、胎鼠骨骼发育、骨骼畸胎率、胎鼠内脏发育、畸胎率、孕鼠总畸胎率均无显著影响(P>0.05)。结论:在本实验条件下,油莎豆对SD大鼠无致畸作用。

产前地塞米松暴露对雄性子代大鼠生殖功能的影响

目的 探讨孕中、后期地塞米松暴露对雄性子代大鼠生殖功能的影响。方法 SD孕鼠随机分为对照组和地塞米松产前暴露组,每组各30只。地塞米松产前暴露组大鼠在怀孕第14~18天皮下注射给予地塞米松0.4 mg/(kg·d),对照组大鼠同时期每天皮下注射生理盐水0.5mL/只。怀孕第20天时采用剖宫产的方式取雄性胎鼠,此外让另一部分孕鼠自然分娩,待其子代雄性大鼠90 d后断颈处死。取血液分离血清备用;分离右侧睾丸石蜡包埋,其他的睾丸放置于-40℃冰柜中保存备用。检测血清中激素浓度;检测睾丸组织的甾体合成急性调控蛋白(steroidogenic acute regulatory protein,Star),P450侧链裂解酶(P450 side chain cleavage enzyme,Cyp11a1),3β-hsd;进一步检测精子数量。结果 与对照组相比,地塞米松产前暴露组的胎鼠血睾酮浓度降低(P<0.05),胎睾丸间质细胞数量减少(P<0.05),Star和3β-hsd基因表达水平降低(P<0.05)。地塞米松产前暴露组的成年大鼠血睾酮浓度降低(P<0.05),睾丸间质细胞数量减少(P <0.05),甾体激素合成酶Star和3β-hsd的表达降低(P<0.05),附睾的精子数量降低(P <0.05)。结论 地塞米松产前暴露所致的子代胎儿血清中的睾酮浓度降低并可延续到出生后成年,同时出现精子数量减少,睾丸间质细胞数量的减少以及Star的基因水平表达下降可能是主要机制之一。

孕期壬基酚暴露对大鼠子代生长发育和神经行为的影响

目的:探究孕期壬基酚(NP)暴露对大鼠子代生长发育和神经行为的影响。方法:采用NP对妊娠SD大鼠进行全孕期染毒,设置阴性对照组(玉米油)、NP低剂量组(50 mg/kg)、NP中剂量组(100 mg/kg)、NP高剂量组(200 mg/kg)和阳性对照组(己烯雌酚,Des,30μg/kg)。观察子鼠生长发育情况。用旷场实验检测子鼠自主活动与焦虑行为,强迫游泳实验检测子鼠抑郁情况,Morris水迷宫实验检测子鼠学习记忆能力。结果:与阴性对照组相比,NP中剂量组和阳性对照组子鼠出生后第0天(PND0)体重降低,NP高剂量组和阳性对照组子鼠出生后第23天(PND 23)体重和甲状腺重量降低,NP中剂量组肝脏系数降低,NP中、高剂量组和阳性对照组睾丸重量降低(均P<0.05)。旷场实验中,与阴性对照组相比,NP中、高剂量组和阳性对照组总移动距离显著减小,NP高剂量组、阳性对照组中央区停留时间显著缩短,NP低剂量组、阳性对照组中央区距离占比显著降低,NP中、高剂量组和阳性对照组总移动格数减少(P<0.05)。抑郁样行为检测结果显示,与阴性对照组相比,NP低剂量组在第4天逃避潜伏期显著延长,平均游泳距离延长;NP中剂量组在第5天逃避潜伏期延长,平均游泳距离延长(均P<0.05);Morris水迷宫结果显示,NP低剂量组、阳性对照组第3象限时间百分比低于阴性对照组,NP中剂量组平均速度小于阴性对照组(均P<0.05)。结论:NP孕期暴露可使子代生长发育迟缓,产生抑郁、焦虑、学习记忆能力下降等神经行为损害,导致生长发育和神经发育近、远期不良影响。

控制性超促排卵大鼠模型的建立

目的选择理想的符合临床实际的控制性超促排卵(COH)大鼠模型,为后续的实验提供良好的实验基础。方法将75只大鼠随机平均分为正常组(N),模型10组(M10),模型20组(M20),模型40组(M40)和模型100组(M100),每组各15只。各模型组分别于动情期后一日的下午5:00给予腹腔注射孕马血清促性腺激素(PMSG)10单位、20单位、40单位和100单位,并于48 h后,再分别给予腹腔注射人绒毛膜促性腺激素(HCG)10单位、20单位、40单位和100单位,注射完后立即合笼,以次日行阴道涂片见大量精子记为怀孕1 d。在第8天,行剖宫探查,记录大鼠的妊娠情况和着床的胚泡数。另取25只大鼠,按上述方法随机分对照组和不同剂量干预组,每组5只,各组大鼠在妊娠第5天取材,处理后观察子宫内膜胞饮突和LIF蛋白的表达。结果各组大鼠交配率无统计学差异(P>0.05)。与N组相比,M10组大鼠怀孕率无明显降低(P>0.05),M20、M40和M100组大鼠怀孕率明显降低(P<0.01);和N组相比,M10组大鼠胚泡着床位数无明显增加(P>0.05),M20、M40和M100组大鼠胚泡着床数明显增高(P<0.05)。和N组相比,M10大鼠子宫内膜LIF蛋白表达量无明显差异(P>0.05);M20、M40和M100组大鼠子宫内膜LIF蛋白表达量明显降低(P<0.05);M40和M100组大鼠子宫内膜LIF蛋白表达量比M20组更少,但差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。N组大鼠在妊娠第5天子宫内膜腺上皮细胞表面胞饮突丰富;M20大鼠子宫内膜腺上皮细胞表面几乎未见明显胞饮突表达。结论M20组大鼠妊娠率较正常组明显降低,且平均胚泡数较高,胞饮突提前出现,LIF表达较正常组降低,是较为符合临床实际的理想模型。