Prevention by L-arginine and polyamines of delayed development and embryotoxicity caused by chemically-induced diabetes in rats.
Diabetes mellitus induction with alloxan at a dose of 110 mg/kg i.p. in rats on Day 4 of pregnancy causes delayed development and resorptions as signs of embryotoxicity. In the present study, the administration of human NPH insulin at doses of 1 to 5 U/d to rats or 1.0 mL of 10 mM L-arginine for 8 d, starting the day following diabetes induction, prevented embryotoxicity and delayed development. Similar results were obtained when the polyamines putrescine, spermidine, or spermine were administered at doses of 1.0 mL of a 10 microM solution to each rat daily. However, even though L-arginine and polyamines prevented adverse effects of severe diabetes on the conceptus, and caused normalization of glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate levels remained elevated. These results support the hypothesis that the mechanisms of normal and altered development could be mediated by the action of polyamines.
Méndez
J D
JD
Medical Research Unit in Metabolic Diseases, National Medical Center, Mexican Institute of Social Security, DF Mexico. mendezf@servidor.unam.mx
Palomar-Morales
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015317:Biogenic Polyamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005327:Fetal Resorption / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011700:Putrescine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013095:Spermidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013096:Spermine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D015317:Biogenic Polyamines; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D013096:Spermine; D001120:Arginine; D013095:Spermidine; D011700:Putrescine