title: Dietary biotin deficiency affects reproductive function and prenatal development in hamsters.
abstract: The effects of maternal dietary biotin deficiency on hamster embryos were examined by adding different amounts of avidin (0, 10, 50, 100 or 1000 mg/kg diet) to a semipurified commercial diet during the entire period of gestation. On d 10 of gestation, reduced dietary biotin resulted in a high incidence of resorbed and dead embryos. In addition, both the crown-rump length and head length of dietary biotin-deficient embryos were lower, and their digit development was retarded. These embryos were characterized by pericardial cavity enlargement (40%) and zig-zag closure line of the neural tube (44%). Some embryos exhibited abnormalities of the craniofacial region and tail. On d 14 of gestation, embryonic growth retardation, morphological abnormalities and skeletal defects were seen in the dietary biotin-deficient group (fed 100 mg avidin/kg diet). The striking abnormalities were cleft palate, micromelia, micrognathia and rib deformities in approximately 10% of the fetuses. Histological examination of the placentae revealed some differences in the spongiotrophoblast and labyrinth layers between the control and dietary biotin-deficient groups. The teratogenic effect of dietary biotin deficiency previously observed in mice was confirmed in hamsters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001360:Avidin / Q000633:toxicity; D001710:Biotin / Q000172:deficiency*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000209:etiology; D005327:Fetal Resorption / Q000209:etiology; D005333:Fetus / Q000002:abnormalities; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008647:Mesocricetus; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001360:Avidin; D001710:Biotin