title: Rat visceral yolk sac cells: viability and expression of cell markers during maternal diabetes.
abstract: The function of the visceral yolk sac (VYS) is critical for embryo organogenesis until final fetal development in rats, and can be affected by conditions such as diabetes. In view of the importance of diabetes during pregnancy for maternal and neonatal health, the objective of this study was to assess fetal weight, VYS cell markers, and viability in female Wistar rats (200-250 g) with induced diabetes (alloxan, 37 mg/kg) on the 8th gestational day (gd 8). At gd 15, rats from control (n=5) and diabetic (n=5) groups were anesthetized and laparotomized to remove the uterine horns for weighing of fetuses and collecting the VYS. Flow cytometry was used for characterizing VYS cells, and for determining mitochondrial activity, cell proliferation, DNA ploidy, cell cycle phases, and caspase-3 activity. Fetal weight was reduced in the diabetic group. Expression of the cell markers CD34, VEGFR1, CD115, CD117, CD14, CCR2, CD90, CD44, STRO-1, OCT3/4, and Nanog was detected in VYS cells in both groups. In the diabetic group, significantly decreased expression of CD34 (P<0.05), CCR2 (P<0.001), and OCT3/4 (P<0.01), and significantly increased expression of CD90 (P<0.05), CD117 (P<0.01), and CD14 (P<0.05) were observed. VYS cells with inactive mitochondria, activated caspase-3, and low proliferation were present in the rats with diabetes. Severe hyperglycemia caused by maternal diabetes had negative effects on pregnancy, VYS cell viability, and the expression of cell markers.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Aires
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil.
authors.forename: J R A
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Farias
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil.
authors.forename: A C V
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil.
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Fioretto
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biofísica, Instituto Butantan, SP, São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Maria
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D020567:Fetal Weight; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015017:Yolk Sac / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers