DEHP effects on retinal vessels in newborn rats: a qualitative and quantitative analysis |
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Authors: | Daniela Zei Antonia Pascarella Chiara Barrese Simona Pantalone Stefania Stefanini |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome, Italy; |
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Abstract: | Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP), employed in polyvinyl chloride fabrication and released by endotracheal tubes, is known
to cause alterations to several mammalian tissues, markedly in immature animals. The high incidence and severity of bronchopulmonary
dysplasia and retinopathy in preterm babies submitted to endotracheal intubation prompted us to investigate the effects of
DEHP in lung and retina perinatal development. We previously demonstrated that in rats delivered and breast-fed by DEHP-treated
mothers lung alveolarisation is severely impaired. In the present research, the maturation of retinal vessels was studied
in (a) flat-mounted retinas obtained after intracardiac injection of FITC-conjugated dextran, (b) flat-mounted retinas incubated
with FITC-conjugated Bandeira simplicifolia isolectin B4, marker of vascular endothelial cells, and (c) eyecup sections incubated with biotinylated IB4 and revealed by ABC. DEHP-induced vascular alterations mainly affected the superficial plexus, where the radial vessels showed
non-perfused as well as remarkably dilated and branched segments, capillary net appeared coarsely arranged and locally absent;
periarteriolar capillary-free regions were still found in 14-day-old animals. This extensive vascular remodelling and generally
the high responsiveness to DEHP shown by the immature rat retina confirm previous hypothesis that the phthalate released by
PVC medical devices remarkably affects perinatal development of several tissues in different body districts. |
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