PMID: 8580885Sep 1, 1995Paper

Effects of hypervitaminosis A on rat fetus esophagus smooth muscle cells

Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research = Revista Brasileira De Pesquisas Médicas E Biológicas
M C Fagotti, O M Vilas-Boas

Abstract

Excessive ingestion of vitamin A during pregnancy causes teratogenic effects on the offspring. However, many of these modifications have not been described at the cellular level. The objective of the present study was to characterize alterations of the smooth muscle cells of the esophagus of rat fetuses. On the tenth day after conception, 42 pregnant rats (5 months of age) subdivided into 6 groups received a single intraperitoneal injection of vitamin A at doses of 30,000, 40,000, 50,000, 70,000, 100,000 or 150,000 IU. Seven pregnant control rats received saline solution. After the twentieth day of pregnancy, the fetuses were delivered by cesarian section and weighed and the length of their umbilical cords was measured. Histologic sections were obtained from the esophagus and characterized with the light microscope under oil immersion. There was a significant increase in the nuclear volume of the cells of esophageal smooth muscle from treated animals compared to the control group. The median for the group treated with 100,000 IU of vitamin A (23.8 microns 3) was significantly greater than that for the control group (12.3 microns 3). The body weight (reported as mean +/- SEM) of fetuses treated with the various doses of vitamin ...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research = Revista Brasileira De Pesquisas Médicas E Biológicas
M V RudgeM A Rodrigues
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
V K SrivastavaV K Das
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Physiology
B S DenadaiA K Russo
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved