{"title":"Potential teratogenic effect of prenatal dexamethasone administration on palate development: Experimental study in rats","authors":"Wafaa Yahia Alghonemy , Abdelmonem Awad Hegazy , Fayig Elmigdadi , Gamal Abdel Nasser Atia , Mai Badreldin Helal","doi":"10.1016/j.tria.2024.100338","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The interaction of cell populations and synchronization of cell signaling pathways during craniofacial development can cause malformations such as facial clefts when interrupted by teratogenic agents including synthetic corticosteroids. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the potentially disturbing dexamethasone (Dex) effect on palatal shelf development in rat embryos and the possible reasons for this teratogenic potential in relation to fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10) as well as FGF10 receptor2 (FGFR2) signaling.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>Thirty pregnant rats were used, which were then randomly categorized into three groups of ten animals each: the control group, where pregnant rats received no treatment, Sham group in which pregnant rats were injected subcutaneously with saline (0.4 mg/kg body weight) during the mid-pregnancy period at gestational day 9–14, and Dex-treated group, where pregnant rats received 0.4 mg/kg of Dex at mid-gestational period. Pregnant animals from all groups were sacrificed on day 20 of gestation before birth and the fetuses were removed for examination of the palatal shelves using a light microscope (LM). In addition, a real-time polymerase chain reaction and a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were done to evaluate FGF10 and its receptor FGFR2 gene expression.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The cleft palate incidence rates in the groups of embryos were determined. Only the offspring in the Dex group showed a cleft palate. Moreover, the cleft palate incidence rate in the Dex group was significantly different compared to controls. Moreover, a significant decrease in FGF10 and FGFR2 expression levels was reported in the Dex group than in the controls.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Dex treatment in mid-gestation may increase the incidence of cleft palate development, which may be due to modulation of FGF signaling. This calls for caution when using this medication in the first half of pregnancy unless absolutely necessary and under close medical supervision.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37913,"journal":{"name":"Translational Research in Anatomy","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 100338"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2024-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214854X24000621/pdfft?md5=950ce00a7ce209bc7e4a9eb47c7ab9d0&pid=1-s2.0-S2214854X24000621-main.pdf","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Translational Research in Anatomy","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214854X24000621","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"Medicine","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
The interaction of cell populations and synchronization of cell signaling pathways during craniofacial development can cause malformations such as facial clefts when interrupted by teratogenic agents including synthetic corticosteroids. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the potentially disturbing dexamethasone (Dex) effect on palatal shelf development in rat embryos and the possible reasons for this teratogenic potential in relation to fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10) as well as FGF10 receptor2 (FGFR2) signaling.
Methods
Thirty pregnant rats were used, which were then randomly categorized into three groups of ten animals each: the control group, where pregnant rats received no treatment, Sham group in which pregnant rats were injected subcutaneously with saline (0.4 mg/kg body weight) during the mid-pregnancy period at gestational day 9–14, and Dex-treated group, where pregnant rats received 0.4 mg/kg of Dex at mid-gestational period. Pregnant animals from all groups were sacrificed on day 20 of gestation before birth and the fetuses were removed for examination of the palatal shelves using a light microscope (LM). In addition, a real-time polymerase chain reaction and a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were done to evaluate FGF10 and its receptor FGFR2 gene expression.
Results
The cleft palate incidence rates in the groups of embryos were determined. Only the offspring in the Dex group showed a cleft palate. Moreover, the cleft palate incidence rate in the Dex group was significantly different compared to controls. Moreover, a significant decrease in FGF10 and FGFR2 expression levels was reported in the Dex group than in the controls.
Conclusions
Dex treatment in mid-gestation may increase the incidence of cleft palate development, which may be due to modulation of FGF signaling. This calls for caution when using this medication in the first half of pregnancy unless absolutely necessary and under close medical supervision.
期刊介绍：
Translational Research in Anatomy is an international peer-reviewed and open access journal that publishes high-quality original papers. Focusing on translational research, the journal aims to disseminate the knowledge that is gained in the basic science of anatomy and to apply it to the diagnosis and treatment of human pathology in order to improve individual patient well-being. Topics published in Translational Research in Anatomy include anatomy in all of its aspects, especially those that have application to other scientific disciplines including the health sciences: • gross anatomy • neuroanatomy • histology • immunohistochemistry • comparative anatomy • embryology • molecular biology • microscopic anatomy • forensics • imaging/radiology • medical education Priority will be given to studies that clearly articulate their relevance to the broader aspects of anatomy and how they can impact patient care.Strengthening the ties between morphological research and medicine will foster collaboration between anatomists and physicians. Therefore, Translational Research in Anatomy will serve as a platform for communication and understanding between the disciplines of anatomy and medicine and will aid in the dissemination of anatomical research. The journal accepts the following article types: 1. Review articles 2. Original research papers 3. New state-of-the-art methods of research in the field of anatomy including imaging, dissection methods, medical devices and quantitation 4. Education papers (teaching technologies/methods in medical education in anatomy) 5. Commentaries 6. Letters to the Editor 7. Selected conference papers 8. Case Reports
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