title: The effect of vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy on anorectal malformations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to study the effect of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) on the embryological development of anorectal malformations (ARMs) and the enteric nervous system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups: VAD group, normal group (negative control), and ethylene thiourea (ETU) group (positive control) with a normal diet. On day 20 of pregnancy, cesarean section was performed on all rats. The incidence of ARMs in the fetal rats and Protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5) and S-100 protein expression by immunohistochemistry were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of ARMs in VAD and ETU groups was 64.8% (59/91) and 45.9% (61/133), respectively (P > .05). Anorectal malformations were not found in the normal group. Protein gene product 9.5 and S-100 protein expression in the non-ARM rectums of the VAD group was lower than the ETU (P = .0156 vs P = .0105) and normal groups (P = .0091 vs P = .0024). There was no significant difference in PGP9.5 and S-100 protein expression between ETU and normal groups. In the ARM rectums, PGP9.5 and S-100 protein expression in the VAD group was lower than the ETU group (P < .0001). Protein gene product 9.5 and S-100 protein expression was also lower in ARM than non-ARM rectums in the VAD and ETU groups (P < .0001, P = .0203, and P = .0122, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy may result in the embryological development of ARMs. Enteric nervous system development may be related to ARMs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, PR China.
authors.forename: Yanlei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000196:embryology / Q000209:etiology; D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000196:embryology / Q000209:etiology*; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000196:embryology; D000818:Animals; D001006:Anus, Imperforate / Q000196:embryology / Q000209:etiology; D004032:Diet; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000196:embryology; D005031:Ethylenethiourea / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012007:Rectum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000196:embryology; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D013623:Tail / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000196:embryology; D013723:Teratogens / Q000633:toxicity; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009418:S100 Proteins; D013723:Teratogens; D014801:Vitamin A; D005031:Ethylenethiourea; C489034:UCHL1 protein, rat; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase