Effects of feed restriction during organogenesis on embryo-fetal development in rabbit

摘要: BACKGROUND: Appropriate maternal nutrition and body weight gain during pregnancy is well established as a major factor in healthy prenatal development humans. Given the role of normal development, pharmaceuticals intended to reduce appetite promote loss will generate developmental toxicity data that may be challenging interpret. To aid with this, effects feed restriction, subsequent reduction gain, on embryo-fetal was investigated rabbit. METHODS: Groups 15 pregnant New Zealand White rabbits were offered 150 (control), 110, 75, 55, 35, g feed/day from gestation day (GD) 7–19. Cesarean sections carried out GD 29 fetuses examined for external, visceral, skeletal development. RESULTS: Maternal weights at end restriction period (GD 20) 0.97, 0.98, 0.93, 0.94, 0.86 × control groups, respectively. Only there net (the 20 0.93 6 weight) period. Six does aborted group; no other abortions associated restriction. Fetal significantly reduced (0.95, 0.90, 0.86, 0.84 control, respectively). There external or visceral malformations variations, The incidence sternebrae 5 unossified increased levels ≤75 g/day. At level 35 g/day an increase metatarsals metacarpals, number caudal vertebrae ossified. Although these findings not g/day, lack dose response likely due abortion decrease available evaluation feed/day. CONCLUSION: These demonstrate produce substantial reductions can result expressed by abortion, fetal weight, alterations ossification. Abortion only occurred when restricted amount produced (15 feed/day) whereas sternebrae, metatarsals, noted Birth Defects Res B 74:424–430, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.