Evaluation of chondrogenesis and osteogenesis via Wnt/β-Catenin, S100 immunoexpression and histomorphometry in fetal rats following maternal uterine artery ligation

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of intrauterine growth retardation depending on maternal uterine artery ligation model, Wnt/β-catenin and S100 expression immunohistochemistry and histomorphometrically on growth plate and bone tissue of fetal rats. Materials and Methods: Maternal rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=5). No surgery or anesthesia were applied in control group. Bilaterally the maternal uterine arteries were ligated on gestational day 18 in experimental group. Although all surgical procedures were performed in sham group, the uterine artery ligation were not made. Fetuses were taken on gestational day 20, thicknesses of growth plate and zones, trabecular number and thickness and cortical thickness were evaluated with the histomorphometrically in samples from left proximal tibia. The expressions of βcatenin and S100 immunohistochemically were evaluated in the growth plate. Results: Thicknesses of growth plate (p<0.01), proliferation zone (p<0.05) and degeneration zone (p<0.01) were measured significantly thinner in experimental group than the others and thicknesses of hypertrophic zones were lesser than the control and sham group, but the results were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Also trabecular numbers were lower (p<0.01) and trabecular thickness were also thinner (p<0.05) in experimental group. Expression of β-catenin was declined and S100 expression was increased in experimental group. Conclusion: We conclude that maternal uterine artery ligation, leads to shortness of growth plate and degenerated bone architecture because of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.