Nagai K,
Ikenoue T,
Mori N.
Effects of
actinomycin D on fetal growth in rats.
J Matern Fetal Med. 2001
Apr;10(2):136-40
OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to determine the
effects of actinomycin D on fetal growth and prostaglandin
dehydrogenase activity and to determine whether these effects
could be obtained by administering extracts of fetal calf serum
(SS-094). METHODS: Actinomycin D (7 microg/100 g body weight)
was injected intraperitoneally on days 11 and 12 of pregnancy to
induce growth restriction in rats. In another group, SS-094 was
given (0.1 ml/100 g body weight) on days 12, 15, 17 and 19 of
pregnancy, following the administration of actinomycin D.
Placental prostaglandin dehydrogenase (PGDH) activity was
measured on days 15 and 21 of pregnancy. Statistical analysis
was performed by ANOVA and Dunnet's test. RESULTS: In the group
injected with actinomycin D, fetal weight was significantly
restricted (on day 15; p < 0.05; on day 21; p < 0.01), compared
to the controls, and this restriction was successfully reversed
by SS-094. PGDH activity in the placenta was significantly (p <
0.01) decreased in growth-restricted rats and remained low even
after fetal weight recovered. CONCLUSIONS: Growth restriction in
pregnant rats was successfully induced by actinomycin D, and
SS-094 reversed this restriction. It does not seem that
prostaglandin metabolism in the placenta is responsible for
growth restriction. |
