Association of Ipomoea carnea and BCG reduces birth defects caused by cyclophosphamide in rats

Reduction in valproic acid-induced neural tube defects by maternal immune stimulation: role of apoptosis

Teratogenic deregulation of apoptosis during development is a possible mechanism for birth defects. Administration of valproic acid (VA) during first trimester of pregnancy causes neural tube defects (NTDs). Nonspecific stimulation of the mother's immune system has been shown to reduce various teratogen-induced fetal malformations including NTDs in rodents. This present study investigated the role of reduced apoptosis by maternal immune stimulation in prevention of VA-induced NTDs in CD-1 mice. Prevention of VA-induced NTDs by nonspecific maternal immune stimulation using IFNγ was employed to evaluate the role of reduced apoptosis by IFNγ in this protective mechanism. Apoptosis was quantified using flow cytometry. Terminal Transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling assay was used to localize the apoptosis. Increased apoptosis, suggesting involvement in VA teratogenicity, was observed along the neural tube in both normal and abnormal embryos from VA-exposed dams. Increased apoptosis in normal VA-exposed embryos suggests that VA may alter other cellular processes such as cell proliferation and differentiation in addition to apoptosis. Apoptotic levels in embryos with closed neural tubes from IFNγ + VA dams were similar to controls indicating resistance to VA-induced apoptosis and protection against teratogenicity of VA. In IFNγ + VA exposed embryos with open neural tubes, maternal immune stimulation failed to regulate apoptosis resulting in an NTD. Overall, these results suggest that VA alters several biological processes including apoptosis in the developing embryos to induce fetal malformations. Resistance to VA-induced apoptosis in embryos resulting from maternal immune stimulation may be involved in protective mechanism.

Exposure to green tea extract alters the incidence of specific cyclophosphamide-induced malformations

BACKGROUND

Green tea extract (GTE) has been shown to have antioxidative properties due to its high content of polyphenols and catechin gallates. Previous studies indicated that catechin gallates scavenge free radicals and attenuate the effects of reactive oxygen species. Cyclophosphamide (CP) produces reactive oxidative species, which can have adverse effects on development, causing limb, digit, and cranial abnormalities. The current study was performed to determine if exposure to GTE can decrease teratogenic effects induced by CP in CD-1 mice.

METHODS

From gestation days (GD) 6-13, mated CD-1 mice were dosed with 400 or 800 mg/kg/d GTE; 100, 200, 400, or 800 mg/kg/d GTE + CP; CP alone, or the vehicle. GTE was given by gavage. CP (20 mg/kg) was given by intraperitoneal injection on GD 10. Dams were sacrificed on GD 17, and their litters were examined for adverse effects.

RESULTS

The highest GTE dose did not effectively attenuate, and in some cases exacerbated the negative effect of CP. GTE alone was also associated with an increased incidence of microblepharia. Conversely, moderate GTE doses (200 and/or 400 mg/kg/d) attenuated the effect of CP on fetal weight and (GTE 200 mg/kg/d) decreased the incidences of certain defects resulting from CP exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure of a developing mammal to moderate doses of GTE can modulate the effects of exposure to CP during development, possibly by affecting biotransformation, while a higher GTE dose tended to exacerbate the developmental toxicity of CP. GTE alone appeared to cause an adverse effect on eyelid development.

Ipomoea obscura ameliorates cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity by modulating the immune system and levels of proinflammatory cytokine and GSH

Ipomoea obscura L. is a widely used medicinal plant. The objective of this study was to investigate its protective activity against cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced toxicity in mouse models. Swiss albino mice were treated intraperitoneally with CTX (25 mg/kg body weight) along with I. obscura extract (10 mg/kg body weight) for 10 days. Extract significantly reduced myelosuppression caused by CTX and improved the relative organ weight, total white blood cell count, and bone marrow cellularity. The elevated levels of parameters related to pathophysiology of the liver, namely glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and lipid peroxidation, were significantly reduced by extract treatment. Reduction of liver and intestinal glutathione levels of CTX-treated animals was reversed by I. obscura. The lowered levels of cytokines, namely IFN-γ, IL-2, and granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor after CTX treatment were found to be increased in I. obscura treated animals. Treatment with I. obscura could also decrease the level of proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α. The data suggested that I. obscura can act as a potent chemoprotective agent and can be used as an adjuvant in chemotherapeutic applications.