The Teratogenic Effects of Prenatal Protein Malnutrition and Caffeine Administration in Albino Rats

Abstract

Protein malnutrition is a major health problem in the world, especially in the developing countries. Large numbers of pregnant women do not meet the recommended daily a11owance for protein. Protein malnutrition reduces the weight of various organs of human. In albino rats prenatal protein malnutrition caused a decrease in the fetal brain weight, DNA contents of the fetal brain. Also, prenatal protein malnutrition affected ossification of fetal bones.

Caffeine is one of the most frequently consumed substances in our daily life. ft is contained in soft drinks and many drugs. In human, caffeine consumption is considered a possible risk factor for decreased bone density and for the increased likelihood of osteoporotic fractures. ln albino rats, prenatal caffeine intake in large doses caused impainnent of the growth and ossification of fetal bone.

Little attention had been paid to the potential effects of caffeine on the growth and development among the fetuses, which belongs to the malnourished pregnant mothers The present study aimed to determine the teratogenic effects of prenatal protein malnutrition and caffeine separately & combined, on growth and development of 20-days fetuses of albino rats.