title: [A study on the relation between nitric oxide and abnormal development of embryos].
abstract: The authors investigated the effects of arsenic on mouse embryo and yolk-sac placenta (YSP) during a critical period of early morphogenesis by means of histochemical staining technique, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and so on. There were no obvious poinsoning signs of pregnant female mice. Experimental results showed there was a dose-response relationship between arsenic level and iNOS expression (P < 0.05). Histopathological changes under SEM and light microscope were noticed, including retardation of yolk-sac growth and vessels differentiation, atrophic microvilli and disintegrative or cavernous damages of both endodermal epithelium and mesodermal mesothelium in particular. With the increase of arsenic concentration, teratogenic rate and mortality increased. The maximum incidences were 56.8% and 24.7% respectively. Dysmorphogenetic embryos were characterized by open neural tube, hydropericardium and abnormal flexions. We firstly discovered excessive NO was involved in embryonic development and teratogenesis. iNOS can serve as an effective biomarker in teratological research.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000633:toxicity*; D015415:Biomarkers; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D011247:Pregnancy; D013723:Teratogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D015017:Yolk Sac / Q000648:ultrastructure