Brain ventricular enlargement in embryonic, neonatal and adulthood stages of rats born from diabetic mother

Abstract

Structural brain abnormalities are more frequent in diabetes. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is vital in controlling development of the nervous system along the whole length of the neural tube and the externalization of CSF during development is essential for the formation of the layers of neurons in the cerebral cortex. Previous studies have shown diabetes change CSF composition. In this study, we investigated the effect of maternal diabetes on lateral ventricle volume in developmental stages (embryonic, neonatal and adulthood). Diabetes was induced in female Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of STZ (55 mg kg-1 in citrate buffer, confirmed by glucose analysis: 100±5 mg dL-1 control, 470±18 mg dL-1 diabetic rats). At the 15, 1 and 30 day after birth, embryos and infants were anesthetized, brain were rapidly removed and fixed. Paraffin embedded tissue blocks were sectioned serially and stained with H.E. Then the volume of the lateral ventricle were measured with stereological methods. Results show in all stage of developing diabetic groups had significantly larger ventricle volume than controls (p<0.01). Therefore pregnant women who suffer from diabetes more likely to have a child with central nervous system problems, according to a new study. © 2008 Asian Network for Scientific Information.