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Journal of Medical Sciences

Year: 2003 | Volume: 3 | Issue: 5 | Page No.: 325-343
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Authors

A.G. Pillay

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Research Article

Effects of Maternal Diabetes on the Structure of Cervical Segments of the Spinal Cord in the Developing Fetus

A.G. Pillay
Diabetic pregnancy represents both a clinical and research challenge in terms of its detrimental effects on the foetus. Previous studies have suggested that maternal diabetes mellitus may cause lasting effects on the psychoneurological development in the offspring. Thus, the present study is aimed to observe structural changes in the spinal cord of developing foetus of diabetic mouse mother. A total of 124 adult mice (100 females and 24 males) of ICR strain were used. Diabetes was induced in 55 female mice by two intraperitoneal injections of streptozotocin. Animals with blood glucose level≤200 mg d-1L were considered diabetic and mated with adult male mice. Another 45 female mice served as controls without any diabetes induction. Successful mating in treated and control animals was indicated by the presence of vaginal plug and this day was considered as gestational day (GD) 0. Pregnancy was terminated on GD 14, 16, 18 and 20 (day of delivery). Foetuses and pups were fixed in 10% formaldehyde for light microscopy study. The light microscopical observation demonstrated bilateral asymmetry of the two-halves of the cervical segments of the spinal cord. Shrunken or eroded dorsal horn represented the most frequent defect in foetus/pup of GD 16 (n=23), GD 18 (n=21) and GD 20 (n=26). In addition, the white matter on the lateral and dorsal side has much reduced or disappeared. Imperfect growth and protrusion of spinal cord were also observed. In some cases, the dorsal part of the spinal cord has protruded beyond the vertebral lamina; showing a condition called meningomyelocele. Irregularity and dilatation of central canal were noticed. These changes were not present in the control samples. These findings implicated that the central nervous system is subjected to structural changes in the developing foetus when exposed to diabetic milieu. The results are supportive of the previous investigations in the human that indicated neurobehavioural and habituation disturbances in the offspring of diabetic mothers.
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