Citral, an inhibitor of retinoic acid synthesis, attenuates the frequency and severity of branchial arch abnormalities induced by triazole-derivative fluconazole in rat embryos cultured in vitro.
The clinically used antimycotic fluconazole (fluco) is teratogenic in rodents. Exposure in vitro to fluco, other investigated azoles (triadimefon, triadimenol, flusilazole, ketoconazole and imazalil) or retinoic acid (RA), is correlated to branchial arch abnormalities. Inhibition of RA degradation has been suggested as the azole-related mechanism. Citral is a RA synthesis inhibitor. E9.5 rat embryos were cultured for 48 h in normal serum or exposed in vitro to fluco 125 microM, citral 200 microM or co-exposed to the two molecules to test the hypothesis that citral attenuates fluco-related teratogenic effects. Some embryos were cultured for 12 extra hours, and cranial nerves immunodetected. Fluco induced typical abnormalities, including branchial arch and cranial nerve defects. The co-exposure to fluco+citral was significantly effective in reducing branchial arch and cranial nerve defects, supporting the hypothesis that citral balances the fluco-induced RA concentration increase. However, other fluco-related effects were unalterated by citral.
Di Renzo
Francesca
F
University of Milan, Department of Biology, via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy.
Broccia
Maria L
ML
Giavini
Erminio
E
Menegola
Elena
E
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000196:embryology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D001934:Branchial Region / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000187:drug effects; D003391:Cranial Nerves / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000187:drug effects; D004336:Drug Antagonism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000633:toxicity*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D038081:Organogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D039821:Monoterpenes; D020011:Protective Agents; D014212:Tretinoin; D015725:Fluconazole; C007076:citral