Effects of secondary bile acids on the intrauterine development in rats

The effects of secondary bile acids (lithocholic--LCA, and deoxycholic--DCA) on the in vivo development of rat embryos and fetuses were studied. Daily intraperitoneal injections of 2 ml of 1 mM LCA and of 5 mM DCA during days 6 till 15 of pregnancy resulted in an increase of resorptions among 20 day-old fetuses to 22.8% and 9.9%, respectively, vs. 6.2% in controls. Similar injections on days 12 to 19 resulted in an increase of resorptions to 10.3% after treatment with LCA and to 36% after treatment with DCA. Percent of retarded embryos was similar for both bile acids: 7.7 and 8.7% after injections on days 6-15 and 12.3-12.5% after injections on days 12-19 of gestation. This was accompanied by a significant increase in the wet weight of the placenta of living embryos. Intraamniotic injections of 2 microliters of 1 mM LCA into 10 day-old embryos resulted in 18.5% resorptions (vs. 7.5% in controls), 9.2% malformations, and 3.1% growth retardations observed on day 12 of pregnancy. The rate of resorptions following this treatment increased on day 20 of pregnancy to 71% vs. 16% in controls. No differences were found in the wet weight of 20 day-old living fetuses or their livers and placentas between experimental and control groups following i.p. or intraamniotic injections. In addition, single intrauterine instillation of 0.2 ml of 1 mM LCA 10-14 days before mating with normal isogeneic males resulted in 9% of malformations among 12 day-old embryos while malformations were absent in the saline-injected controls. The deleterious effects of secondary bile acids to the embryos were accompanied by damage to the visceral yolk sac. These findings may be significant in relation to the complications previously associated with cholestasis of pregnancy in humans.     

Modulation by ellagic acid of DCA-induced developmental toxicity in the zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The ability of ellagic acid (EA) to modulate dichloroacetic acid (DCA)-induced developmental toxicity and oxidative damage was examined in zebrafish embryos. Embryos were exposed to 20 mM EA administered concomitantly with 32 mM DCA at 4 hours postfertilization (hpf) and 20 h later. Embryos were observed through 144 hpf for developmental malformations, and production of superoxide anion (SA) and nitric oxide (NO) was determined in embryonic homogenates. DCA was shown to produce developmental abnormalities and significant levels of SA and NO in zebrafish embryos. EA exposure alleviated the developmental malformations observed in treated embryos and decreased the levels of SA and NO in those same embryos. Less than 10% of DCA + EA exposed embryos showed developmental malformations compared to 100% of embryos treated with DCA alone. Animals in this group that developed malformations were shown to have fewer defects than those treated with DCA only. Taken together, the results confirm the involvement of oxidative stress in the developmental toxicity of DCA in zebrafish embryos, and suggest possible protection against those effects with the use of antioxidants.     

Efficient plant regeneration from protoplasts of Arachis paraguariensis Chod. et Hassl. using a nurse culture method

Factors influencing in vitro growth rates of soybean embryos were investigated using embryos isolated in the cotyledon stage. The influence of these factors on final plant recovery from the embryos cultured was tested. Sucrose and glucose could serve as carbon sources with final plant yields being higher with sucrose than with glucose. A culture medium containing only KNO₃ (25 mM) as the nitrogen source supported embryo growth. Adding glutamine (10 mM) to the medium containing KNO₃ increased final plant recovery to 25%. Of several vitamin supplements tested a combination of pyridoxine-HCl, nicotinic acid and pantothenic acid (0.5; 1.0; 0.5 mg l^-1) provided the best growth and plant yield. Of the plant growth regulators tested IAA, BAP and GA₃ stimulated embryo growth and plant development when added to the medium at a low concentration (0.1 M). The optimal temperature for in vitro growth of cotyledon stage embryos was 27°C. Temperatures above 30°C caused growth retardation and reduced plant yield. A protocol for culturing soybean cotyledon stage embryos under conditions ensuring high plant recovery is proposed.Abbreviations IBA indole-3-butyric acid - GA₃ gibberellic acid - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid     

Dichloroacetate-induced developmental toxicity and production of reactive oxygen species in zebrafish embryos

Dichloroacetate (DCA) is one of the toxic by products that are formed during the chlorine disinfection process of drinking water. In this study, the developmental toxicity of DCA has been determined in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. Embryos were exposed to different concentrations (4, 8, 16, and 32 mM) of the compound at the 4 h postfertilization (hpf) stage of development, and were observed for different developmental toxic effects at 8, 24, 32, 55, 80, and 144 hpf. Exposure of embryos to 8-32 mM of DCA resulted in significant increases in the heart rate and blood flow of the 55 and 80 hpf embryos that turned into significant decreases at the 144 hpf time point. At 144 hpf, malformations of mouth structure, notochord bending, yolk sac edema and behavioral effects including perturbed swimming and feeding behaviors were also observed. DCA was also found to produce time- and concentration-dependent increases in embryonic levels of superoxide anion (O2*-) and nitric oxide (NO), at various stages of development. The results of the study suggest that DCA-induced developmental toxic effects in zebrafish embryos are associated with production of reactive oxygen species in those embryos.     

Comparison among fecal secondary bile acid levels, fecal microbiota and Clostridium scindens cell numbers in Japanese

Bile acid 7alpha-dehydroxylation by intestinal bacteria, which converts cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid to deoxycholic acid (DCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA), respectively, is an important function in the human intestine. Clostridium scindens is one of the most important bacterial species for bile acid 7alpha-dehydroxylation because C. scindens has high levels of bile acid 7alpha-dehydroxylating activity. We quantified C. scindens and secondary bile acids, DCA and LCA, in fecal samples from 40 healthy Japanese and investigated their correlation. Moreover, we used terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis to investigate the effect of fecal microbiota on secondary bile acid levels. There was no correlation between C. scindens and secondary bile acid in fecal samples. On the other hand, T-RFLP analysis demonstrated that fecal microbiota associated with high levels of DCA were different from those associated with low levels of DCA, and furthermore that fecal microbiota in the elderly (over 72 years) were significantly different from those in younger adults (under 55 years). These results suggest that intestinal microbiota have a stronger effect on DCA level than does the number of C. scindens cells.     

Development of rat embryos in culture media containing different concentrations of normal and diabetic rat serum.

In vitro culture of rodent embryos has been extensively used in the search for teratologic agents, with possible relevance to diabetic pregnancy. However, the high concentrations of rat serum added to the culture medium (approximately 75%) have raised concern that the teratogenic effects of some compounds may be attenuated or masked in this culture system and thereby forced the addition of pharmacological concentrations of the compounds (e.g., D-glucose and beta-hydroxybutyrate) to the medium. This issue has been examined in the present study where the effects of different concentrations of rat serum on growth and differentiation of rat embryos were recorded in cultures supplemented with increased concentrations of D-glucose and beta-hydroxybutyrate. The embryonic development was also evaluated after culture in medium supplied with serum from diabetic rats. Compared with normal rat serum, the diabetic serum had an elevated glucose concentration as well as markedly increased levels of triglycerides and branched amino acids, indicating a potentially rich supply of major nutrients for the cultured embryos. Lowering the serum concentration in the culture medium from 80% to 50% yielded progressively retarded embryonic growth but no increased rate of other morphological malformations. At 40% serum concentration, however, there was a sharp rise in the incidence of somatic malformations, in addition to the prevailing growth retardation. When the embryonic growth and development were compared at 50% and 80% serum concentrations, increased D-glucose or beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations caused similar degrees of embryonic dysmorphogenesis. Also, the uptake of each compound by the embryos exposed to elevated levels of the two agents were similar in 50% and 80% serum cultures. There was, therefore, no protection against the teratogenic and growth-retarding effects of increased D-glucose or beta-hydroxybutyrate offered by high serum concentrations in the culture medium (i.e., 80% vs. 50%). Embryos cultured in 50% or 80% diabetic rat serum at 30 mmol/L or 50 mmol/L D-glucose concentration showed similar rates of somatic malformations as did embryos exposed to the same proportion of normal rat serum at similar glucose concentrations. By contrast, the diabetic rat serum amplified the general retarding effects of high D-glucose levels, yielding lower protein levels and somite numbers in embryos from diabetic serum culture than in embryos cultured in normal rat serum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Nitroxide radicals protect cultured rat embryos and yolk sacs from diabetic-induced damage

BACKGROUND: Diabetic teratogenicity relates, partly, to embryonic oxidative stress and the extent of the embryonic damage can apparently be reduced by antioxidants. We investigated the effects of superoxide dismutase-mimics nitroxides, 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidine-N-oxyl (TPL) as an effective antioxidant, on diabetes-induced embryopathy. METHODS: Embryos (10.5 day old) and their yolk sacs from Sabra female rats were cultured for 28 h in the absence or in the presence of nitroxides at 0.05-0.4 mM in control, diabetic subteratogenic, or diabetic teratogenic media, and monitored for growth retardation and congenital anomalies. The oxidant/antioxidant status was examined by oxygen radical absorbance capacity and lipid peroxidation assays, whereas the yolk sac function was evaluated by endocytosis assay. RESULTS: Diabetic culture medium inhibited embryonic and yolk sac growth, induced a high rate of NTDs, reduced yolk sac endocytosis and embryonic antioxidant capacity, and increased lipid peroxidation. These effects were more prominent in the embryos with NTD compared to those without NTD. TPL added to diabetic teratogenic medium improved embryonic and yolk sac growth, reduced the rate of NTDs, and improved yolk sac function. The oxidant/antioxidant status of embryos was also improved. TPL at 1 mM did not damage the embryos cultured in control medium. CONCLUSIONS: In diabetic culture medium, oxidative damage is higher in the malformed rat embryos compared to those without anomalies; the nitroxide provides protection against diabetes-induced teratogenicity in a dose-dependent manner. The yolk sac damage, apparently caused by the same mechanism, might be an additional contributor to the embryonic damage observed in diabetes.     

Steroids and cancer: faecal bile acid screening for early detection of cancer risk

The analyses of faecal bile acids in colorectal cancer patients, breast cancer patients and healthy control subjects is described. Faecal excretion of total bile acids was similar in the three groups. The major bile acids detected were lithocholic acid (LCA) and deoxycholic acid (DCA) and the proportions of these (LCA:DCA ratio) were diametrically opposed in the colorectal cancer patients (1.91 +/- 0.33) and control subjects (0.90 +/- 0.09). Patients with adenocarcinoma of the breast also exhibited a higher LCA:DCA ratio (1.24 +/- 0.10) than the control group. The faecal LCA:DCA ratio is an important marker of cancer risk especially cancer of the large bowel and it is suggested that it may be a useful adjunct to future screening procedures.     

Toward a feline-optimized culture medium: impact of ions, carbohydrates, essential amino acids, vitamins, and serum on development and metabolism of in vitro fertilization-derived feline embryos relative to embryos grown in vivo

The objective of this study was to define the physiologic needs of domestic cat embryos to facilitate development of a feline-specific culture medium. In a series of factorial experiments, in vivo-matured oocytes (n = 2040) from gonadotropin-treated domestic cats were inseminated in vitro to generate embryos (n = 1464) for culture. In the initial study, concentrations of NaCl (100.0 vs. 120.0 mM), KCl (4.0 vs. 8.0 mM), KH(2)PO(4) (0.25 vs. 1.0 mM), and the ratio of CaCl(2) to MgSO(4)-7H(2)O (1.0:2.0 mM vs. 2.0:1.0 mM) in the medium were evaluated during Days 1-6 (Day 0: oocyte recovery and in vitro fertilization [IVF]) of culture. Subsequent experiments assessed the effects of varying concentrations of carbohydrate (glucose, 1.5, 3.0, or 6.0 mM; l-lactate, 3.0, 6.0, or 12.0 mM; and pyruvate, 0.1 or 1.0 mM) and essential amino acids (EAAs; 0, 0.5, or 1.0x) in the medium during Days 1-3 and Days 3-6 of culture. Inclusion of vitamins (0 vs. 1.0x) and fetal calf serum (FCS; 0 vs. 5% [v/v]) in the medium also was evaluated during Days 3-6. Development and metabolism of IVF embryos on Day 3 or Day 6 were compared to age-matched in vivo embryos recovered from naturally mated queens. A feline-optimized culture medium (FOCM) was formulated based on these results (100.0 mM NaCl, 8.0 mM KCl, 1.0 mM KH(2)PO(4), 2.0 mM CaCl(2), 1.0 mM MgSO(4), 1.5 mM glucose, 6.0 mM L-lactate, 0.1 mM pyruvate, and 0x EAAs with 25.0 mM NaHCO(3), 1.0 mM alanyl-glutamine, 0.1 mM taurine, and 1.0x nonessential amino acids) with 0.4% (w/v) BSA from Days 0-3 and 5% FCS from Days 3-6. Using this medium, ~70% of cleaved embryos developed into blastocysts with profiles of carbohydrate metabolism similar to in vivo embryos. Our results suggest that feline embryos have stage-specific responses to carbohydrates and are sensitive to EAAs but are still reliant on one or more unidentified components of FCS for optimal blastocyst development.     

Generation of a single-chain Fv fragment for the monitoring of deoxycholic acid residues anchored on endogenous proteins

A subset of lipophillic bile acids, including deoxycholic acid (DCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA), are thought to be biologically transformed into reactive intermediates forming covalently modified, "tissue-bound" bile acids that can exert several toxic effects. We have generated a single-chain Fv fragment (scFv) as a probe to monitor DCA residues anchored on proteins. DNA fragments encoding the variable heavy (V(H)) and light (V(L)) domains of a mouse antibody raised against a DCA hapten (Ab #88) were cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA 5'-ends. These sequences were combined via a common linker sequence coding (Gly(4)Ser)(3) to construct a single scFv gene with the gene segments in the following order: 5'-V(H)-linker-V(L)-3'. This construct was subcloned into an antibody-expression vector, pEXmide 5; soluble scFv protein was then expressed in the bacterial periplasm of the XLOLR Escherichia coli strain. In a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using DCA-coated microtiter plates, the scFv provided a dose-response curve for free DCA ranging between 2 and 5000 pg/assay. The scFv reacts similarly with the l-lysine adduct of DCA (cross-reactivity, 72%), while bile acids having a modified DCA steroid skeleton were well-discriminated (cross-reactivity, <1%). This scFv could also monitor trace amounts of DCA residues anchored on a protein through DCA acyl adenylate reactions, the likely reactive intermediate. The present scFv may be a useful tool for trace characterization of tissue-bound bile acids; this usefulness may be significantly enhanced by fusion with signal-generating proteins, such as alkaline phosphatase or green fluorescent protein.     

领春木体细胞胚胎发生及植株再生

以领春木（Eupteleapleiospermum Hook．f.etThoms．）种子幼胚为试验材料,对领春木体细胞胚胎发生进行了研究。结果表明：在附加1．0mg·L-1 2,4．D＋0．5mg·L-1 6-BA＋3％蔗糖＋0．8％琼脂的Ms培养基上可诱导出愈伤组织。愈伤组织在附加0．5mg·L-1 NAA＋0．5mg·L-1 6．BA的培养基上可形成体细胞胚;体胚在附加0．5mg·L-1 6-BA＋0．05mg·L-1 NAA＋0．1％PVP的1／2MS培养基上能大量增殖;将成熟体胚转移到不添加任何植物生长调节剂的MS培养基上,培养60d,形成正常植株。     

The individual and combined effects of X-irradiation and hyperthermia on early somite mouse embryos in culture.

The effects of 1) X-irradiation and 2) hyperthermia at a temperature of 43 degrees C individually and in combination have been investigated using cultured 8-day mouse embryos. B6C3F1 embryos were exposed to 0.3-2.0 Gy of X-rays, 5-20 min of heating, or 5 min of heating and irradiation at 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 Gy. Irradiation alone at 0.3 Gy showed no apparent effect on embryonic development, but irradiation at 0.6-2.0 Gy caused a dose-dependent increase in malformed embryos. Heating alone for 5 min produced no malformed embryos, while heating for 10-20 min caused malformations as a function of heating time. Combined treatments produced higher frequencies (22.2-100%) of malformations than those of the sum of the separate treatments (0-41.7%). Malformations observed were primarily microphthalmia, microcephaly, and open neural tubes. The results indicate that in cultured mouse embryos irradiation combined with a "nonteratogenic dose" of hyperthermia directly exerts an additive effect on formation of the malformed embryos. In addition, a single occurrence of left-sided tail was produced by hyperthermia alone, while four occurrences were produced in combination with radiation.     

Effect of exogenous carbohydrates in a serum-free culture medium on the development of in vitro matured and fertilized porcine embryos

This study was conducted to examine the effect of energy substrates in a serum-free culture medium on in vitro development of porcine embryos. Presumptive zygotes derived from in vitro fertilization were cultured in glucose-free North Carolina State University (NCSU)-23 medium with glucose, pyruvate, fructose and lactate added to the culture medium singly or in various combinations. In experiment 1, a higher percentage of embryos cleaved (53-63% vs 10-13%) and developed to the blastocyst stage (18-27% vs 0) after the single addition of glucose (5.6 mM), pyruvate (0.5 mM) or lactate (10 mM) than with no energy substrate addition or the addition only of fructose (5.6 mM). In experiment 2, the addition of pyruvate and lactate resulted in higher blastocyst formation (25%) than other combinations (6-22%), while the addition of glucose and pyruvate significantly inhibited blastocyst formation. Increasing lactate concentration, as a single energy supplement, from 5 to 20 mM significantly improved blastocyst formation (7% vs 14-18%), while no benefit was achieved from increasing pyruvate concentration up to 2 mM (experiment 3). Glucose-free NCSU-23 medium supplemented with 0.5 mM pyruvate and 5 mM lactate significantly improved blastocyst formation (28% vs 17%) compared with NCSU-23 medium supplemented with 5.6 mM glucose (experiment 4). In conclusion, pyruvate and lactate are preferable energy substrates to support in vitro development of porcine embryos cultured in a serum-free NCSU-23 medium.     

Differential effect of hexoses on hamster embryo development in culture

The effects of glucose, fructose, and galactose on hamster embryo development in the absence of phosphate were studied in culture. One- and two-cell embryos were cultured to the blastocyst stage in HECM-9 medium without hexose or in medium with increasing concentrations of hexoses. Embryo development, cell number, and cell allocation were assessed in blastocysts. Blastocyst viability was determined by transfer to pseudopregnant recipients. Although 0.25 mM fructose increased mean cell number, low glucose concentrations had no stimulatory effect on development to blastocyst. Both galactose and 5.0 mM glucose were detrimental to embryos. Addition of 0.5 mM glucose increased implantation and fetal viability as compared with controls. Compared with 0.5 mM glucose, treatment with 0.25 mM fructose gave similar implantation and fetal viability, whereas 5.0 mM glucose tended to decrease implantation and significantly decreased fetal development. These data demonstrate that morphology is a poor indicator of embryo viability and that exposure of preimplantation embryos to glucose or fructose is important for embryo viability post-transfer. Although no difference in blastocyst viability was detected between embryos cultured with 0.25 mM fructose and those cultured with 0.5 mM glucose, increased cell numbers obtained with fructose suggest that fructose may be more appropriate than glucose for inclusion in culture medium.     

Effects of metabolic factors in the diabetic state on the in vitro development of preimplantation mouse embryos

The effects of insulin, glucagon, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetoacetate on the in vitro development of preimplantation mouse embryos were studied. In controls, 24% of blastocysts failed to develop successfully when grown for 72 h in Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum. Insulin at concentrations of 1.0 and 2.0 IU/ml of culture medium interfered with development in 62-63% of the blastocysts. Preimplantation embryos showed a threshold pattern in their reaction to glucagon: its addition in concentrations of 0.0015 mM (5 micrograms/ml) did not significantly inhibit blastocyst development, while concentrations of 0.003 mM (10 micrograms/ml) inhibited 70% of blastocysts. The embryotoxic effects of ketone bodies were manifested only in relatively high doses. beta-hydroxybutyrate was embryotoxic at concentrations greater than 5 mg/ml, and its effects were dose dependent: 48 mM (6 mg/ml) inhibited 45% of blastocysts, while 80 mM (10 mg/ml) arrested 87% of embryos from further development. Acetoacetate at concentrations of 0.1 mM (10 micrograms/ml) inhibited the development of 50% of the blastocysts, and its effects were not dose dependent: concentrations of 1 mM (100 micrograms/ml) inhibited development in 63% of the embryos. The combination of the diabetic metabolic factors in relatively low concentrations was highly embryotoxic, especially when accompanied by hyperglycemia.     

Ultrastructural changes in rat colorectal epithelium and tumors after treatment with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and secondary bile acids.

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to study ultrastructural changes that accompanied the tumorous transformation of the descending rat colon epithelial cells, following short treatment with a direct carcinogen, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), with subsequent prolonged treatment with secondary bile acids, lithocholic (LCA) and deoxycholic (DCA), which enhanced tumor formation. Colon epithelial cells after long treatment with bile acids alone were characterized by the presence of an irregular nuclear membrane, ring-shaped rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), collagen-like tonofilaments and membrane-bound mucous vacuoles. Tumor cells which developed following treatment with MNNG alone were characterized by the irregular shape of the nuclear membrane and, sometimes, by polynuclei, accumulation of large amounts of mitochondria, loss of cell-cell contacts and by endocytosis of the cell membrane. After combined treatment with MNNG and LCA, many mitochondria lost their membranous envelope; in the cytoplasm many collagen-like tonofilaments, ring-shaped RER and many free ribosomes were present. After treatment with MNNG and DCA, many polysomes were found in the cytoplasm. It was apparent that treatment with MNNG alone caused the development of adenocarcinoma-like tumors, while additional treatment with secondary bile acids significantly enhanced these changes, which were accompanied by the development of atypia and anaplasia of epithelial cells, with many irregularities in intracellular organization.     

Effects of Bile Acids and the Bile Acid Receptor FXR Agonist on the Respiratory Rhythm in the In Vitro Brainstem Medulla Slice of Neonatal Sprague-Dawley Rats

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is always accompanied by adverse fetal outcomes such as malfunctions of respiration. Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) plays a critical role in the homeostasis of bile acids. Thus, we are determined to explore the effects of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and five bile acids on respiratory rhythm generation and modulation of neonatal rats. Spontaneous periodic respiratory-related rhythmical discharge activity (RRDA) was recorded from hypoglossal nerves during the perfusion of modified Krebs solution. Group 1–6 was each given GW4064 and five bile acids of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), deoxycholic acid (DCA), lithocholic acid (LCA), cholic acid (CA) as well as ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) at different concentrations to identify their specific functions on respiratory rhythm modulations. Group 7 was applied to receive FXR blocker Z-guggulsterone and Z-guggulsterone with the above bile acids separately to explore the role of FXR in the respiratory rhythm modulation. Group 8 was given dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as controls. Apart from UDCA, CDCA, DCA LCA and CA all exerted effects on RRDA recorded from hypoglossal nerves in a concentration-dependent manner. Respiratory cycle (RC), Inspiratory time (TI), Expiratory Time (TE) and Integral Amplitude (IA) were influenced and such effects could be reversed by Z-guggulsterone. FXR may contribute to the effects on the modulation of respiratory rhythm exerted by bile acids.     

Studies on the effect of monoamine antagonists on the morphogenesis of the newt

The effects of three monoamine antagonists, p-chlorophenylalanine, diethyldithiocarbamate and propranolol on the morphogenesis of newt embryos were studied. Antagonists were administered during late blastula through neurula stages. In a concentration of 1 mM, all three arrested gastrulation and caused disintegration of the embryos. Lower concentrations (0.1-0.5 mM) retarded morphogenetic movements in the gastrulation and caused malformations especially in the anterior parts of the embryos; pigmentation was delayed by 1 or 2 days. In addition, p-CIPhe inhibited yolk granule degradation in the notochord and DEDTC caused notochordal hypertrophy. The results show that interference with synthesis or action of catecholamines and serotonin affects morphogenesis. With the methods used it is not possible to discover exactly how monoamines regulate the morphogenetic events because of the unspecific side effects of the antagonists and the feedback interactions between the monoamines.     

Immediate and delayed effects of vincristine administered during early postimplantation stages of murine embryogenesis

Vincristine was given to pregnant mice on day 7 1/2 of pregnancy and the teratogenic effects of this treatment were assessed 2 and 3 days thereafter. Most of the embryos in litters removed on day 9 1/2 of pregnancy (2 days after treatment) were morphologically normal, whereas on day 10 1/2 most embryos were either developmentally retarded by the treatment or malformed. The morphologically "normal" embryos removed on day 9 1/2 of pregnancy were cultured in vitro for 24 h. During this procedure more than 50% of them showed growth retardation or abnormal development. These data indicate that exposure of early postimplantation embryos to vincristine has an immediate teratogenic and embryocidal action, and also a delayed effect which becomes apparent only several days after exposure and following an ostensibly "normal" period of embryonic development.     

D-(-)-beta-hydroxybutyrate-induced effects on mouse embryos in vitro

The effects of the "physiologically occurring" D-isomer of beta-hydroxybutyrate (D-BOHB) were evaluated in neurulating mouse embryos by using the technique of whole embryo culture. Following a 24-hour culture period D-BOHB induced malformations and growth retardation in a concentration-dependent manner. At a 48 mM concentration essentially all embryos exhibited neural tube defects, and decreased rates of glucose metabolism by the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and Krebs cycle were observed when compared to controls. The relationship between an inhibition of the PPP and induction of malformations by DL-BOHB has been reported, and thereby suggests a similar mechanism may be operating for the D-isomer. In contrast, the effect of the D-isomer on the Krebs cycle may result from a replacement of glucose intermediates by those generated from metabolism of D-BOHB. Concentrations as high as 20 mM D-BOHB have been reported in the serum of uncontrolled diabetic patients, and since ketones rapidly equilibrate across extraembryonic membranes, embryos in vivo may be exposed to concentrations equivalent to those which induced malformations in vitro. However, the incidence of malformations induced by D-BOHB was less than that reported for the DL-racemic mixture at equivalent concentrations, thereby suggesting that the L-isomer is also teratogenic. Therefore, until the presence and concentration of L-BOHB in the serum of diabetics are documented, the assessment of the impact of maternal ketosis on the embryo remains incomplete.