The Prenatal Toxic Effect of Methylmercury on the Development of the Appendicular Skeleton of Rat Fetuses and the Protective Role of Vitamin E.
Summary of "The Prenatal Toxic Effect of Methylmercury on the Development of the Appendicular Skeleton of Rat Fetuses and the Protective Role of Vitamin E."
Methylmercury (MeHg) is an environmental contaminant that is found in many ecosystems. Many studies reported that MeHg toxicity is accompanied by increased lipid peroxidation that may lead to oxidative damage to DNA, RNA, and proteins. Vitamin E is considered as the most effective antioxidant preventing lipid peroxidation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of MeHg exposure during pregnancy on the development of the appendicular skeleton in rat fetuses and whether vitamin E administration could reduce this toxicity. Positively mated adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were used and divided into the following experimental groups: control group, received only deionized water, and four MeHg treated groups received 1 mg of MeHg/kg/d, 2 mg of MeHg/kg/d, 1 mg of MeHg/kg/d plus 150 mg of vitamin E/kg/d, and 2 mg of MeHg/kg/d, plus 150 mg of vitamin E/kg/d starting from Day 0 of gestation. On Day 20 of gestation, the fetuses from the pregnant rats were extracted and the fetal growth parameters were evaluated. Skeletal evaluation of ossification of both fore- and hind-limbs, and coxal bones were undertaken. Results showed that treatment with MeHg caused adverse effects on fetal growth parameters and ossification of the bones. The coadministration of vitamin E with MeHg revealed an improvement in these parameters. These results suggest that vitamin E may ameliorate some aspects of MeHg developmental toxicity. The underlying and human health implications warrant further investigations. Anat Rec, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Affiliation
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Anatomical record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007)
ISSN: 1932-8494
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22549941
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ar.22485
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Fetal Development
Morphological and physiological development of FETUSES.
Embryonic And Fetal Development
Morphological and physiological development of EMBRYOS or FETUSES.
Orthodontic Appliances, Functional
Loose, usually removable intra-oral devices which alter the muscle forces against the teeth and craniofacial skeleton. These are dynamic appliances which depend on altered neuromuscular action to effect bony growth and occlusal development. They are usually used in mixed dentition to treat pediatric malocclusions. (ADA, 1992)
Musculoskeletal Development
The morphologic and physiological changes of the MUSCLES, bones (BONE AND BONES), and CARTILAGE of the body, i.e., MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM, during the prenatal and postnatal stages of development.
Endpoint Determination
Establishment of the level of a quantifiable effect indicative of a biologic process. The evaluation is frequently to detect the degree of toxic or therapeutic effect.
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