Effects of estradiol administration on feto-placental growth in rat.
BACKGROUND
To clarify the effect of estradiol benzoate on placental structure and its consequences for fetal survival and fetoplacental growth.


METHODS
Estradiol benzoate (0, 0.1, 1, 10, 100 microg/day) was infused intraperitoneally into pregnant Wistar rats from 12 to 19 days' gestation. Survival rate, weight of pups and placentas at 20 days' gestation, and plasma levels of estrogen and progesterone were measured. Pathological changes in the placenta were also examined.


RESULTS
Estradiol benzoate reduced fetal survival (1 microg/day: 100%, 10 microg/day: 70%, 100 microg/day: 14.6%) and the weights of the pups and placentas in a dose-dependent manner. Maternal estradiol concentration was raised 23-fold with 100microg/day of estradiol benzoate. Trophoblast degeneration, including apoptosis and destruction of placental labyrinth was induced but the structures of the maternal kidney and liver were not affected.


CONCLUSIONS
In pregnant rats, estradiol benzoate causes fetal mortality at a pharmacological dose (more than 10 microg/day) and fetoplacental growth retardation via trophoblastic degeneration and destruction of the placental labyrinth even at a physiological dose (1 microg/day).
Matsuura
Satomu
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternity and Perinatal Care Center, Nagoya University Hospital, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan.
Itakura
Atsuo
A
Ohno
Yasumasa
Y
Nakashima
Yutaka
Y
Murata
Yasutaka
Y
Takeuchi
Mikihito
M
Kobayashi
Miya
M
Mizutani
Shigehiko
S
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005865:Gestational Age; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010920:Placenta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010929:Placentation; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
C074283:estradiol 3-benzoate; D004958:Estradiol