Taurine attenuates maternal and embryonic oxidative stress in a streptozotocin-diabetic rat model.

Oxidative stress mechanisms have been implicated in congenital anomalies and morbidity/mortality of fetus/newborn in diabetic pregnancy. Numerous antioxidant treatments have shown varied beneficial effects in improving both maternal and fetal outcomes. The present study examined the propensity of taurine to attenuate the degree of embryopathy and oxidative stress among pregnant diabetic rats. Adult rats (CFT-Wistar) were rendered diabetic with an acute dose of streptozotocin (STZ; 45 mg/kg bodyweight) on gestation day (GD) 4. Both Diabetic and non-diabetic dams were given oral supplements of taurine (0.5 and 1g/kg bodyweight/day) from GD 5 to GD 12. Maternal diet intake, bodyweight gain and urine output were monitored and dams were killed on GD 13. Markers of oxidative stress were determined in embryos and maternal livers. STZ treatment induced marked embryopathy (32%) and taurine supplements markedly reduced the degree of embryopathy (54% protection). The STZ-induced higher oxidative stress was significantly attenuated in rats given taurine supplements (P<0.05) and a similar effect was seen in embryos (P<0.05). These data suggest that dietary taurine during pregnancy provides significant protection against diabetes-induced oxidative stress in both the mother and the embryos and thus may serve as a therapeutic supplement during diabetic pregnancy. Diabetes during pregnancy affects >5% of all pregnancies, causing reproductive abnormalities that enhance spontaneous abortion - congenital anomalies, morbidity and mortality of both mother and fetus/newborn. One of the major mechanisms is increased oxidative stress caused by hyperglycaemia and the most prominent anti-teratogenic effect was achieved using antioxidative agents. Management of oxidative stress is considered, along with tight glycaemic control, to be beneficial both before conception and during pregnancy. Taurine, a ubiquitous amino acid found in almost all mammalian tissues, constitutes more than 50% of free amino acids. The aim of the study was to determine whether oral taurine supplementation given to pregnant diabetic rats during the post-implantation period could reduce embryo lethality and protect the developing embryos against maternal hyperglycaemia-induced oxidative stress. Adult rats were rendered diabetic with an acute dose of streptozotocin on gestation day (GD) 4. Both diabetic and non-diabetic dams were administered oral taurine for a period of 8 days (GD 5-13). Maternal diet intake, bodyweight gain and urine output were monitored and dams were killed on GD 13. Markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant defences were studied in embryos and maternal livers. STZ induced marked embryopathy (32%) and taurine supplementation offered significant protection (54%). Taurine significantly offset diabetes-associated oxidative stress in the embryos of diabetic rats. These data suggest that dietary taurine supplementation during pregnancy provides significant protection against diabetes-induced oxidative stress both in mother and embryos and thus may serve as a therapeutic supplement under diabetic pregnancy.

Shivananjappa MM ，Muralidhara 《-》

Dietary supplementation with Ipomoea aquatica (whole leaf powder) attenuates maternal and fetal oxidative stress in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

The rate of congenital anomalies, as well as morbidity and mortality of both the mother and fetus, is increased in diabetic pregnancy. Oxidative stress (OS) has been implicated in these effects because of the beneficial effects of several antioxidants in diabetic embryopathy. In the present study, we assessed attenuation of maternal and fetal OS and diabetic embryopathy by Ipomoea aquatica Forsk. (Convolvulaceae). Pregnant rats were divided into four groups: Group I, untreated non-diabetic control; Group II, rats fed a 2%I. aquatica (IA)-supplemented diet; Group III, streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats fed a normal diet; Group IV, STZ-diabetic rats fed an IA-supplemented diet. Rats were rendered diabetic with a single injection of STZ (40 mg/kg) on gestational day (GD) 4. Dams were killed on GD20 and markers of OS were determined in the maternal liver and fetal brain and liver. Embryopathy increased significantly in STZ-diabetic rats (by 40% versus control), but IA supplementation provided significant protection (36% reduction in embryopathy in the IA group versus the STZ-diabetic group). Interestingly, IA supplementation significantly offset diabetes-associated OS in the maternal liver, as evidenced by reductions in malondialdehyde (MDA; 25% reduction versus STZ-diabetes) and reactive oxygen species (ROS; 72% reduction) and increases in glutathione (53% reduction) and total thiols (45% reduction). In addition, IA supplementation offered significant protection against diabetes-induced OS in the fetal brain and liver, as evidenced by increased levels of antioxidant molecules and enzymes and reductions in ROS and MDA compared with fetuses from STZ-diabetic rats. The data suggest that IA supplementation during pregnancy provides considerable protection against diabetes-induced OS in the mother and fetus. Thus, I. aquatica may be an effective therapeutic supplement.

Shivananjappa MM ，Muralidhara 《-》

Abrogation of maternal and fetal oxidative stress in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat by dietary supplements of Tinospora cordifolia.

Diabetes during pregnancy increases the incidences of congenital anomalies, morbidity, and mortality in the mother and her fetus/newborn. Oxidative stress (OS) has been implicated to be responsible because various antioxidants have been demonstrated to be beneficial in diabetic embryopathy. In this study, we examined the propensity of Tinospora cordifolia (TC) to attenuate embryopathy and OS in pregnant diabetic rats. Pregnant rats were rendered diabetic with streptozotocin (45 mg/kg of body weight, on gestation day 4) and fed a normal or a TC-supplemented (1% or 2%) diet. After monitoring diet intake, body weight gain, and urine output, dams were sacrificed on gestation day 20 and the markers of OS were determined in the maternal liver and the fetal brain and liver. Although streptozotocin induced a significant (40%) increase in embryopathy, the dietary supplements offered significant protection (63%). Interestingly, TC significantly offset the diabetes-associated OS in the maternal liver as evidenced by the lower levels of malondialdehyde (25%) and reactive oxygen species (72%) and the higher levels of glutathione (53%) and total thiols (45%). The protective effects of TC could be observed even in the fetal milieu, with higher levels of antioxidant molecules and enzymes. These data suggest that TC during pregnancy may provide significant protection against diabetes-induced OS and thus serve as an effective therapeutic supplement.

Shivananjappa MM ，Muralidhara 《-》

Occurrence of oxidative impairments, response of antioxidant defences and associated biochemical perturbations in male reproductive milieu in the Streptozotocin-diabetic rat.

Shrilatha B ，Muralidhara 《international journal of andrology》

Activation of oxidative stress signaling that is implicated in apoptosis with a mouse model of diabetic embryopathy.

Yang P ，Zhao Z ，Reece EA 《-》