Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of maternal lead poisoning during pregnancy on the development of the jaw (Meckel’s cartilage) of rat fetuses by histologic and morphometric methods. Pregnant rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of 2.5 mg of lead acetate/100g body weight on the 10th day of pregnancy. Meckel’s cartilage of fetuses of the lead-treated group showed smaller volume density and size of the lacunae, as well as modification of the lacunae shape. Moreover, the number density of lacunae and the volume density of the matrix increased significantly in the Meckel’s cartilage in treated group fetuses. The results suggest that lead poisoning during the period of organogenesis can induce disturbances in the development and differentiation of the fetal stomatognathic system. Reducing the consumption of alcoholic beberages and smoking cessation by women in childbearing age, along with a strict policy of control of the environmental lead exposure can bring great benefits to the future generations of children
Highlights
MATERIALS AND METHODSNulliparous albino Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus), 180-200 g body weight, were used
Fetuses of rats intoxicated by lead and fed a low-calcium diet present cleft palate and malformations of the tail (Carpenter, 1982)
The stereologic analysis showed a significant reduction in the volume density of lacunae and a significant increase in volume density of the cartilage matrix, as well as an increased number density of lacunae in the Meckel's cartilage of intoxicated-rat fetuses (Table 2)
Summary
Nulliparous albino Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus), 180-200 g body weight, were used. On the 10th day of pregnancy, five rats (treated group), randomly chosen, received a single intraperitoneal injection of lead acetate solution (Merck KGaA, Germany), reaching a concentration of 2.5 mg/100 g body weight, and another five (control group) received a single intraperitoneal injection of saline. The following parameters were determined: diameters, greatest diameter/smallest diameter ratio, perimeter, area, surface, volume, volume/surface ratio, eccentricity, shape factor, and contour index (Sala et al, 1994). Volume densities of both lacunae and ground substance of the Meckel's cartilage were estimated as well as the number density of lacunae (Sala et al, 1992). Statistical analysis was performed by the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney (Sprent and Smeeton, 2001)
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