Myo-inositol Content of the Embryos of Rats with Streptozotocin-induced Diabetes: Effects of Dietary myo-inositol Supplementation on Rat Embryogenesis

Abstract

We previously demonstrated that hyperglycemia-induced embryopathy is mediated by myo-inositol depletion in the embryo during early organogenesis. The present experiment was performed to defermine whether myo-inositol depletion contributes to the pathogenesis of streptozotocin-induced diabetic embryopathy. Rats were made diabetic by streptozotocin injection prior to conception, and diabetic rats were treated with a diet supplemented with myo-inositol between gestational days 6 and 11. In each group, on gestational day 11.7th the incidence of malformations was recorded and the myo-inositol content of the embryos measured. The embryos of the diabetic rats had a lower myo-inositol content and an higher incidence of neural lesions. Restoration of embryo myo-inositol content by oral myo-inositol supplementation of the dams resulted in partial improvement in the incidence of neural lesions. These findings indicate that myo-inositol depletion of embryos during organogenesis may be one of the factors responsible for diabetic embryopathy.