It has been well known that maternal environment during pregnancy might affect prenatal growth and neonatal development. Recently SFD became a major problem in obstetrics. Studies have been made of SFD occurring in the third trimester of gestation from viewpoint of uteroplacental bloodflow but the cause of SFD occurring in the second trimester remains unknown. To resolve this problem, in the present work we have investigated experimental SFD in the second trimester.
SFD was induced by actinomycin D, a nucleic acid synthesis inhibitor, and administered to maternal rats in midpregnancy. Wistar female rats weighing about 200g were used. They were divided into four groups and acute toxicity and teratogenicity tests were performed.
The results were as follows:
1. AcD administration after the 10th day of gestation showed low teratogenicity.
2. SFD occurrence rate was 72% in the AcD group treated at the 11th day of gestation.
3. Fetal body weight at the 20th day of gestation were 3.50±0.22g (AcD group) and 4.24±0.20g (control .group).
4. Critical period of placenta was from the 9th day to the 14th day of gestation.
5. DNA synthesis rate of the fetal liver was most active at the 16th day of gestation.
6. Glucose transport was lowered by AcD.
7. Protein synthesis rate in the fetal liver and placenta was inhibited by AcD.
8. Placental alkaline phosphatase, total ATPase and Na
+, K
+ ATPase activity were decreased by AcD.
These results suggest that placental damage in midpregnancy does affect fetal development
View full abstract