Embryopathy in experimental diabetic gestation: assessment of oxidative stress and antioxidant defence

Abstract

Maternal diabetes is associated with an increased rate of congenital fetal anomaly. In the present study, diabetes was induced by streptozotocin in female rats one week prior to conception and the embryos were examined during organogenesis. Experimental diabetes is associated with over-production of free radicals and disturbed antioxidant defence, particularly in malformed embryos. Oxidative stress is demonstrated by increased MDA accumulation and reduced glutathione levels. Despite large differences in the reduced/oxidised glutathione ratios during organogenesis in the control, diabetic non-malformed and malformed embryo groups, the half-cell redox potential was constant for each group during the experimental period. Calculated redox potentials indicated that although embryo cells from the control and diabetic mother groups were of the same chronological age, the stages of development were different. Increased oxidative stress in rat embryos was associated with increased glutathione peroxidases and glutathione-S-transferase activity. This may, in part, provide an explanation for the observed accumulation of oxidised glutathione in malformed embryos. Moreover, decreased levels of vitamin C and selenium were observed. Increased oxidative stress and perturbations in antioxidant defence contribute to the high incidence of congenital anomalies in experimental diabetic gestation.

Effects of Lipoic Acid Supplementation on Activities of Cyclooxygenases and Levels of Prostaglandins E2and F2αMetabolites, in the Offspring of Rats with Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes

“…The elevated levels of PGFM in the malformed fetuses of both diabetic groups reported in the present study may reflect oxidative stress status, as has been suggested by El-Bassiouni et al [42]. Yin et al [43] suggested that PGF 2 α in humans is derived from the isoprostane pathways, which are PG-like compounds formed in vivo from the free radical-catalysed peroxidation of arachidonic acid without the activity of COX enzyme, an alternative route for the formation of PGF 2 α in vivo .…”

Different Degrees of Fetal Oxidative Stress in Elective and Emergent Cesarean Section

“…The effects of this imbalance are difficult to predict especially in the second half of pregnancy. During organogenesis, oxidative stress was implicated in occurrence of fetal malformations in diabetic mothers [17] . The antioxidant capacity of rat embryo was reported to gradually increase with gestational age [18] .…”

Ala16Val SOD2 polymorphism is associated with higher pregnancy rates in in vitro fertilization cycles

“…Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can also alter the embryonic development and lead to early embryo death (6)(7)(8). In this respect, diabetes, a condition characterized by high blood glucose concentrations, represents a model of oxidative stress related to embryo toxicity (9). We have recently described that the IVF therapy leading to the ovarian stimulation produces a disturbance in the oxidant-antioxidant balance, causing the serum to be less protected against oxidation (10).…”