title: Effects of valerian consumption during pregnancy on cortical volume and the levels of zinc and copper in the brain tissue of mouse fetus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of valerian (Valeriana officinalis) consumption in pregnancy on cortical volume and the levels of zinc and copper, two essential elements that affect brain development and function, in the brain tissues of mouse fetuses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant female mice were treated with either saline or 1.2 g/kg body weight valerian extract intraperitoneally daily on gestation days (GD) 7 to 17. On GD 20, mice were sacrificed and their fetuses were collected. Fetal brains were dissected, weighed and processed for histological analysis. The volume of cerebral cortex was estimated by the Cavalieri principle. The levels of zinc and copper in the brain tissues were measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicated that valerian consumption in pregnancy had no significant effect on brain weight, cerebral cortex volume and copper level in fetal brain. However,it significantly decreased the level of zinc in the brain (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using valerian during midgestation do not have an adverse effect on cerebral cortex; however,it caused a significant decrease in zinc level in the fetal brain. This suggests that valerian use should be limited during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical Sciences and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahmoudian
authors.forename: Ziba
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rajaei
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haghir
authors.forename: Shahaboldin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banihashemian
authors.forename: Javad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hami
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000196:embryology*; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014632:Valerian / Q000737:chemistry*; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc