The effect of vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy on anorectal malformations.
J Pediatr Surg 2011;
46:1400-5. [PMID:
21763842 DOI:
10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2011.02.042]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2010] [Revised: 01/10/2011] [Accepted: 02/02/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
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.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
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.
RESULTS
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).
CONCLUSION
Vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy may result in the embryological development of ARMs. Enteric nervous system development may be related to ARMs.
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