Open AccessPathogenesis of Diabetes-Induced Congenital Malformations
Author(s) -
UJ Eriksson,
Lisa Borg,
Jonas Cederberg,
Hanordstrand,
C Martin Simán,
Christian Wentzel,
Parri Wentzel
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
upsala journal of medical sciences
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 2000-1967
pISSN - 0300-9734
DOI - 10.1517/03009734000000055
Subject(s) - medicine , pathogenesis , diabetes mellitus , bioinformatics , pregnancy , arachidonic acid , arachidonic acid metabolism , fetus , congenital malformations , immunology , endocrinology , biology , genetics , biochemistry , enzyme
The increased rate of fetal malformation in diabetic pregnancy represents both a clinical problem and a research challenge. In recent years, experimental and clinical studies have given insight into the teratological mechanisms and generated suggestions for improved future treatment regimens. The teratological role of disturbances in the metabolism of inositol, prostaglandins, and reactive oxygen species has been particularly highlighted, and the beneficial effect of dietary addition of inositol, arachidonic acid and antioxidants has been elucidated in experimental work. Changes in gene expression and induction of apoptosis in embryos exposed to a diabetic environment have been investigated and assigned roles in the teratogenic processes. The diabetic environment appears to simultaneously induce alterations in several interrelated teratological pathways. The complex pathogenesis of diabetic embryopathy has started to unravel, and future research efforts will utilize both clinical intervention studies and experimental work that aim to characterize the human applicability and the cell biological components of the discovered teratological mechanisms.