title: Effects of ergothioneine on diabetic embryopathy in pregnant rats.
abstract: The natural antioxidant ergothioneine (2-mercaptohistidine trimethylbetaine) is a fungal metabolite and found in most plant and animal tissues. The effect of ergothioneine on diabetic embryopathy in rats was assessed. Supplementation of diabetic pregnant rats with L-ergothioneine (1.147 mg/kg body weight) daily for the first 11.5 days of pregnancy reduced the rate of embryo malformations, to values similar to the non-diabetic animals. The ergothioneine had no effect on the plasma glucose levels, both in diabetic and control animals. We conclude that the inhibition of the glucose-mediated free radical dependent embryo malformation by ergothioneine is an important antioxidant prophylactic mechanism, which when combined with vitamin E could benefit the management of diabetic embryopathy.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales y Técnicas, Universidad de San Pablo CEU, PO Box 67, 28660 Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Guijarro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Indart
authors.forename: O I
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Aruoma
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viana
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bonet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D004880:Ergothioneine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000196:embryology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D014810:Vitamin E; D004880:Ergothioneine