ethylenethiourea and Vitamin-A-Deficiency

The aim of this study was to study the effect of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) on the embryological development of anorectal malformations (ARMs) and the enteric nervous system.. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups: VAD group, normal group (negative control), and ethylene thiourea (ETU) group (positive control) with a normal diet. On day 20 of pregnancy, cesarean section was performed on all rats. The incidence of ARMs in the fetal rats and Protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5) and S-100 protein expression by immunohistochemistry were determined.. The incidence of ARMs in VAD and ETU groups was 64.8% (59/91) and 45.9% (61/133), respectively (P > .05). Anorectal malformations were not found in the normal group. Protein gene product 9.5 and S-100 protein expression in the non-ARM rectums of the VAD group was lower than the ETU (P = .0156 vs P = .0105) and normal groups (P = .0091 vs P = .0024). There was no significant difference in PGP9.5 and S-100 protein expression between ETU and normal groups. In the ARM rectums, PGP9.5 and S-100 protein expression in the VAD group was lower than the ETU group (P < .0001). Protein gene product 9.5 and S-100 protein expression was also lower in ARM than non-ARM rectums in the VAD and ETU groups (P < .0001, P = .0203, and P = .0122, respectively).. Vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy may result in the embryological development of ARMs. Enteric nervous system development may be related to ARMs.

Topics: Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; Abnormalities, Multiple; Anal Canal; Animals; Anus, Imperforate; Diet; Enteric Nervous System; Ethylenethiourea; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Neurons; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Rectum; S100 Proteins; Tail; Teratogens; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency