Prenatal exposure to high galactose adversely affects initial gonadal pool of germ cells in rats.
BACKGROUND
In rats, prenatal exposure to high concentrations of galactose may contribute to a condition that is equivalent to the premature ovarian failure (POF) component of human galactosaemia. We investigated if development of POF under experimental galactosaemia-like conditions was attributed to impaired germ cell migration.


METHODS
Pregnant rats were fed pellets supplemented with, or without, 35% galactose from day 3 of conception continuing through parturition. Between days 12-15, embryos from one uterine horn were dissected out. Primordial germ cells (PGC) were histochemically localized and counted on the basis of binding of Dolichos biflorus agglutinin, a lectin specific for terminal N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc), to the surface glycoconjugate of the germ cells. The embryos from the other uterine horn were maintained until parturition. Liver activity of uridine diphosphate galactose 4-epimerase, the enzyme involved at multiple steps in the process of synthesis of GalNAc, was assayed in 1-2 day old female pups.


RESULTS
The numbers of PGC at the day-specific sites on all days of examination were significantly lower (P </= 0.0003), and liver epimerase activity was significantly (P = 0.000001) reduced in the galactose-exposed group.


CONCLUSIONS
Impaired germ cell migration leading to the development of gonads with deficient initial pools of germ cells may form the causal link between galactosaemia and POF.
Bandyopadhyay
S
S
Reproductive Biology Research, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India.
Chakrabarti
J
J
Banerjee
S
S
Pal
A K
AK
Bhattacharyya
D
D
Goswami
S K
SK
Chakravarty
B N
BN
Kabir
S N
SN
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005690:Galactose / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005693:Galactosemias / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D006066:Gonads / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology*; D051381:Rats; D014534:UDPglucose 4-Epimerase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
D014534:UDPglucose 4-Epimerase; D005690:Galactose