HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Hyperhomocysteinemia in pregnant rats: effects on arterial pressure, kidneys and fetal growth.

AbstractOBJECTIVE:
This study aimed to test the hypothesis that hyperhomocysteinemia plays a role in the development of pathological changes similar to human preeclampsia in pregnant rats.
STUDY DESIGN:
Arterial pressure and 24-h urinary excretion of proteins and electrolytes were measured during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and postpartum periods in control (n = 12) and methionine-treated (2.0 g/kg/day, n = 11) Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were then sacrificed at the end of this protocol and renal histological examination was performed. In another protocol, control (n = 6) and methionine-treated (n = 6) rats were anaesthetized at day 20 of gestation and pregnancy outcome was assessed. Hemodynamic and renal excretory differences between groups were analyzed using ANOVA and differences in renal histology and gestation outcome using t-test.
RESULTS:
Serum homocysteine in the methionine group (24.0+/-2.0 micromol/L) was significantly higher compared with controls (8.5+/-0.5 micromol/L). Systolic pressure, urinary protein excretion and renal histological changes were not significantly different between the two groups. However, fetal weights were significantly smaller and percent of dead fetuses were 15% higher in methionine-treated compared with control rats.
CONCLUSION:
Hyperhomocysteinemia is unlikely to cause maternal hypertension, proteinuria or renal damage in pregnant rats. However, hyperhomocysteinemia may restrict fetal growth and increase fetal mortality.
AuthorsSalah E Kassab, Marwan F Abu-Hijleh, Hani B Al-Shaikh, Das S Nagalla
JournalEuropean journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology (Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol) Vol. 122 Issue 2 Pg. 177-81 (Oct 01 2005) ISSN: 0301-2115 [Print] Ireland
PMID16051422 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Topics
  • Animals
  • Blood Pressure (physiology)
  • Female
  • Fetal Growth Retardation (mortality, physiopathology)
  • Hyperhomocysteinemia (mortality, physiopathology)
  • Kidney (pathology, physiology)
  • Pre-Eclampsia (mortality, physiopathology)
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Proteinuria (mortality, pathology, physiopathology)
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: