Prenatal administration of vitamin A alters pulmonary and plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in the developing mouse.
Vitamin A and the retinoids play a unique role in mammalian embryonic and foetal development and are essential for both cellular differentiation and the establishment of normal morphogenesis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a known potent mitogenic factor that plays a key role in lung development and function maintenance. In order to contribute to a better knowledge of the modulating effects of vitamin A in lung development, we investigated the effects of the antenatal administration of vitamin A on VEGF expression in lungs and plasma from foetuses and neonates. Pregnant mice were subjected to subcutaneous administration of vitamin A on the 12th gestational day. The lungs and plasma from foetuses and neonates were collected daily from the 15th gestational day till the day of birth. Our results show that vitamin A modulates VEGF concentrations both in lungs and plasma. Statistically significant differences were observed at gestational days 15 (P = 0.004 for lungs; P < 0.0001 for plasma), 16 (P < 0.0001 for lungs and plasma) and 18 (P < 0.0001 for lungs; P < 0.05 for plasma). Vitamin A tends to increase the expression of this factor in the lung, particularly during the critical period of perinatal adaptation to postnatal life. These effects seem to be spatial and temporally regulated, and point out to the important role of vitamin A during lung development.
Department of Veterinary Sciences and Centre for Studies on Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes w Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal. lpinto@utad.pt
Maria de Lurdes
Mde L
Pinto
Paula
P
Rodrigues
Ana Cláudia
AC
Coelho
Maria dos Anjos
Mdos A
Pires
Dario Loureiro
DL
dos Santos
Carlos
C
Gonçalves
Vasco António
VA
Bairos
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D011247:Pregnancy; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D014815:Vitamins; D014801:Vitamin A