The effect of maternal administration of retinoic acid on the postnatal development of spinal cord of albino rats

Abstract

Retinoic acid is a well-known teratogen when administered during pregnancy and one of its many effects is to induce neural tube defects. The teratogenic effects of vitamin A were developmentally stage-dependent, treatment during the immediate post-implantation period resulted in anomalies of the sensory organs and the cardiovascular system, whereas exposure later in gestation resulted in limb and genitourinary defects. The aim of the work was to investigate the postnatal structural changes induced by prenatal administration of therapeutic dose of retinoic acid (vitamin A) on the spinal cord of albino rats and comparing them to those caused by prenatal administration of a mega dose of vitamin A. Forty adult female albino rats (weighing 200-250 grams) were used in the study.Once pregnancy was determined, the animals were randomly assigned to one of the following three groups:Group A (Control group): consists of 12 pregnant rats. Group B (low retinol dose): consists of 12 pregnant rats for evaluation of the teratogenic effects of mild dose of 50 mg/kg retinol palmitate equal to 145,000 IU/kg .This dosewas given during the period of organogenesis from the 8th to 13th day of gestation. Group C (mega retinol dose): consists of 18 pregnant rats for evaluation of the teratogenic effects of mega dose of 100 mg/kg retinol palmitate corresponding to 290,000 IU/kg. Thisdosewas given during the period of organogenesis from the 8th to 13th day of gestation.