| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2593583 | Reproductive Toxicology | 2013 | 8 Pages |
Maternal diseases like diabetes mellitus may cause developmental defects. Supplementation with folic acid and vitamin C during the periconceptional period has been shown to prevent some neural tube and congenital heart defects. Hearts were dissected from 5 days-old White Leghorn chick embryos, the cells isolated and cultured in micromass under diabetic conditions, with and without folic acid and vitamin C. Contractile activity, cell viability (resazurin reduction) and protein assays were performed. Results indicated diabetic conditions reduced contractile activity and cell viability, whilst vitamin C (100 μM) and folic acid (1 mM) administered concurrently significantly improved them to values comparable with the control. Day 3 chick embryos in ovo were injected with glucose + hydroxybutyrate or a combination of these and vitamins. Diabetic conditions caused gross and histological malformations, but these effects were abrogated by vitamin supplement. Teratogenic effects on heart development could possibly be prevented by vitamin supplementation during pregnancy.
► Chick cardiomyocyte micromass was used as a tool to assess developmental toxicity. ► Diabetic culture conditions reduced contractile activity and cell viability, but did not affect protein levels. ► Vitamin C and folic acid administered concurrently significantly improved these parameters to values comparable with the control. ► Similar protective effects of vitamins were observed in whole embryos in ovo under diabetic conditions. ► Teratogenic effects on heart development might be prevented by vitamin supplementation during pregnancy.
