gamma-Linoleic acid and ascorbic acid ameliorate the effects of experimental diabetes on electrolyte and bone homeostasis in pregnant rats.

Experimental diabetes in rats is associated with excessive electrolyte loss in the urine, which is further accentuated by pregnancy, particularly of Ca. Supplementation with essential fatty acids and antioxidants has proven beneficial in treating several types of complications, including nephropathy. The present study investigated the effect of gamma-linoleic acid (GLA; 500 mg/kg per day; group DG) and ascorbate (290 mg/kg per day; group DA), alone and in combination (group DGA), as well as ascorbyl-GLA (790 mg/kg per day; group DASG), on urinary electrolyte output and skeletal composition in pregnant streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

Gamma-linoleic acid and ascorbate improves skeletal ossification in offspring of diabetic rats.

Maternal diabetes causes a range of complications in offspring, including reduced skeletal ossification. This study examined whether feeding gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) and ascorbate, alone or in combination, to diabetic pregnant rats improves skeletal development in their offspring. In addition, Ca(2+) concentration was monitored in maternal plasma and fetal tissue, as well as placental mRNA expression of calbindin-D(9k).

Combined treatment with vitamin E and vitamin C decreases oxidative stress and improves fetal outcome in experimental diabetic pregnancy.

The aim was to investigate whether dietary supplementation of a combination of the two antioxidants, vitamin E and vitamin C, would protect the fetus in diabetic rat pregnancy at a lower dose than previously used. Normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were mated and given standard food or food supplemented with either 0.5% vitamin E + 1% vitamin C or 2% vitamin E + 4% vitamin C.

The functional regeneration of syncytiotrophoblast in cultured explants of term placenta.

We have investigated the functional characteristics of term human placental villous explants kept in long-term (7-11 days) culture. Fragments of placental villous tissue (approximately 5-10 mg wet wt) were cultured in supplemented CMRL-1066 culture medium for up to 11 days. After the first day of culture, the syncytiotrophoblast appeared vacuolated and eventually degenerated.