Embryopathy in Genetically Diabetic Mice, Yellow KK, and Its Prevention by Maternal Therapy

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Abstract Embryopathy in yellow KK mice with non‐insulin dependent diabetes mellitus was examined among the conceptuses of females mated at 7, 11, and 13 weeks of age.The numbers of corpora lutea and implants were comparable in all maternal age groups. Early embryonic deaths were frequently observed in all maternal age groups (37.7 46.4%), but no significant difference was found among the groups. The incidence of late embryonic deaths was significantly higher in 11‐ and 13‐wk‐old dams (25.6% and 28.8%) than in 7‐wk‐old dams (14.4%). Moreover, in 13‐wk‐old dams, but not in 7‐wk‐old dams, a positive correlation existed between maternal plasma glucose levels on day 18 of pregnancy and late embryonic deaths. Fetuses from 13‐wk‐old dams weighed less than those from 7‐wk‐old dams (0.73 g vs 0.86 g).Yellow KK mice mated at 13 weeks of age were treated with an oral‐hypoglycemic agent, 5‐[4‐(l‐methylcyclohexylmethoxy)benzyl] thiazolidine‐2,4‐dione (ciglitazone), as an 0.1% dietary admixture. Plasma glucose on day 18 of pregnancy was lower in all treated groups (159‐170 mg/dl) than in the untreated control (345 mg/dl). A significant decrease of late embryonic deaths (12.7‐15.6%) and a slight increase of fetal weights (0.79‐0.81 g) were noted when compared with the untreated controls (36.8% and 0.74 g).