Adipocytokines, growth factors and oxidative markers programmed Alterations in intrauterine growth retardation offspring rats with relevance of melatonin

Background: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is an important perinatal
problem that poses several serious short- and long-term adverse effects on health.
Lead is a common environmental and industrial pollutant. Although, a variety of
unfavorable effects of lead may be concerned; the knowledge about its negative
developmental effects and its pathophysiological mechanisms remain uncertain. This
study aimed to verify the role of adipocytokines, oxidative markers and growth factors
programmed alterations in pathophysiology of IUGR induced by lead in albino rats
also; to investigate the potential role of melatonin or continuous light or darkness as
prophylactic against IUGR. Methods: All pregnant rats except two control groups
(saline and melatonin) were given lead in drinking water throughout the pregnancy.
Some pregnant rats were co-administered 10 mg/kg melatonin SC while, others were
exposed to lead simultaneously with continuous darkness or light. Half of dams in
each group were delivered spontaneously for following up their weight, pups weights
(BW), crown-rump and tail lengths and pups survival rate after 21 days (PND21).
The other half of the dams were delivered by laparotomy for detection of placenta
weight and lead concentration in placenta. Results: As expected, exposure to lead
resulted in decreasing all physical characters of fetus at PND 0 and 21. Of interest,
melatonin supplementation or continuous darkness throughout the pregnancy
ameliorated lead-induced IUGR characters. The counterbalance role of melatonin
may be mediated by a significant adjustment of lead-induced alternations in the levels
of adipocytokines (TNF-a, IL-6 and ghrelin) and growth factors (platelet-derived
growth factor, placental growth hormone, transforming growth factor-a and insulin
growth factor-1), nitric oxide and oxidative markers. Therefore, melatonin or its
stimulator may represent a therapeutic option for IUGR and other perinatal
complications.