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Effects of Food Restriction on the Fetal Development during Major Organogenesis in Rats
Author(s) -
IKEMI Naoki,
IMADA Junji,
GOTO Takeshi,
SHIMAZU Hiroshi,
YASUDA Mineo
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
congenital anomalies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1741-4520
pISSN - 0914-3505
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-4520.1993.tb00537.x
Subject(s) - fetus , ossification , medicine , endocrinology , organogenesis , teratology , biology , body weight , pregnancy , physiology , anatomy , biochemistry , genetics , gene
This study was designed to determine the effects of food restriction and fasting on fetal development during major organogenesis in Sprague‐Dawley rats. The maternal body weight gain markedly decreased during the 60%‐ and 90%‐restricted feeding and fasting periods with a concomitant decrease in the plasma glucose levels. The number of resorptions slightly increased in the 90%‐restricted feeding and fasting groups with lower fetal viability. The mean fetal body weight of the restricted feeding and fasting groups and the mean placental weight of male fetuses of the 60%‐restricted feeding group were significantly lower than those of the control groups. Ossification of the metacarpi and metatarsi was slightly but significantly retarded by 60%‐restricted feeding. The incidence of cardiovascular malformations (mainly ventricular septal defect and abnormal origin of the right subclavian artery) and visceral variations apparently increased in the restricted feeding and fasting groups. Abnormal fetuses tended to be lighter than normal fetuses. In conclusion, maternal food restriction and fasting during major organogenesis caused the fetal growth retardation with slightly delayed ossification and a high incidence of cardiovascular abnormalities in rats. This possibility must be taken into consideration when teratology data with a reduction in maternal food consumption are evaluated.