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Background and Objective: The neurohypophysis originates from the floor of diencephalon. Its development controles by several cellular interactions that mediated by some molecules such as cell surface and extra cellular matrix Glycoconjugates terminal sugars. In this study we used lectin histochemichal technique to evaluate distribution of the Glycoconjugates and their changes during development of neurohypophysis. Materials and Methods: This experimental study carried on 40 female and 20 male adult Rats. After mating and appointment day zero of pregnancy, pregnant Rats were sacrificed from days 10-20 of gestation and their embryos were collected for histochemical study. The serial section of head specimens were fixed and incubated with different HRP-lectins from Orange fungus (OFA) Vicica villosa (VVA), Glycine max (SBA), Wistaria floribunda (WFA), peanut (PNA), Griffonia simplicfolia (GSA1-B4), Lotus tetragonolobus (LTA) and Ulex Europeus (UEA-1). OFA, LTA and UEA-1 lectins are specific for terminal sugars α-L–Fucose and WFA, SBA, VVA and PNA are specific for D-GalNAc, α, ß-D-GalNAc and GalNAc, D-Gal-(ß-1-3)- D-GalNAc of complex glycoconjugates respectively. Results: Our findings demonstrated that the reaction of neurohypophysis cells with OFA initiated from gestational GD10 and increased to GD15 (P<0.05) and then increased to GD17 (P<0.05). A few cells of neurohypophysis reacted with PNA from GD13 to GD16 and decreased afterward (P<0.05). Some cells of neurohypophysis reacted with SBA from GD14 to GD18 and decreased afterward (P<0.05). Reacting of many cells of neurohypophysis with WFA started on GD13 and increased to GD15 (P<0.05) and then decreased afterward (P<0.05). Neurohypophysis cells showed no reaction with the UEA-1, LTA, VVA and GSA1-B4 lectins. Conclusion: The expression of Glycoconjugates with terminal sugars α-L–Fucose, α, ß-D-GalNAc and D- Gal– (ß-1-3)- D-GalNAc have importanct role and special spatiotemporal situation in neurohypophysis development.

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Background and Objective: With respect to the antioxidant role of melatonin and retinoic acid, it seems to be effective both in the maturation and embryonic development. This study was done to investigate the effect of combination of melatonin and All-Trans retinoic acid (RA) on maturation, fertilization and embryonic development of immature mouse oocytes. Methods: In this experimental study, cumulus - oocyte complex (COCs) were recovered from 4-6 week old female mice NMRI and were divided into 6 maturation medium groups including control, sham, experiment 1(melatonin 100 nM, 1 and 2 µM), experiment 2 (retinoic acid 1, 2, 4, 6 µM), experiment 3 (melatonin 2 µM+RA 4 µM), experiment 4 (Mel 100nM + retinoic acid 4µM). The maturation rate was recorded after 24 hours of culture in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 at 37°C. The matured oocytes were fertilized with sperm. Fertilization and embryonic development rates to the blastocyst stage were recorded. Results: Maturation rate in the control and sham groups were 50.6% and 49.4%, respectively. Maturation rate were 54.3%, 54.8%, 59.9% in melatonin group with concentrations of 100 nM, 1 and 2 µM, respectively. Maturation rate were 51.6%, 51%, 59% and 49.6% in t-RA group with concentrations of 1, 2, 4, 6 μM. Maturation rate were 60.4% and 54.2% in the experiment 3 and 4 groups, respectively. The maturation rates in the melatonin 2 µM, retinoic acid 4 µM and experiment 3 significantly increased in compare to control (P<0.05). The embryonic development rate in the melatonin with 100nM concentration and 4 µM of retinoic acid increased significantly compared to controls (P<0.05). Although, embryonic development rate in experiment 3 was higher than control, but lower in compare to melatonin 100 nM and the retinoic acid 4 µM. The embryonic development rate in experiment 4 significantly increased in compare to control (P<0.05). Conclusion: Combination of melatonin and All-Trans retinoic acid in medium culture increase maturation rate and improved embryonic development in dose dependent manner.

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Background and Objective: Different organizers are involved in spinal cord development and differentiation by sending various messages. Specific glycoconjugates secreted from the cells of lateral wall of spinal cord can also act as neurogenesis and neural differentiation messengers. This study was carried out to determine the distribution of sugar compounds in the lateral walls of spinal cord during mice morphogenesis using lectin histochemistry method. Methods: In this experimental study, sections of BALB/c mice from 10-16 embryonic days were fixed in formalin and then histological sections were prepared. Tissue samples for reaction to the glycoconjugates were incubated with DBA, OFA, GSA1B4 and MPA lectins. Alcian blue with pH equal 2.5 was used for background staining. Results: DBA lectin did not react with the lateral wall of the spinal cord. MPA lectin showed severe reaction but consistent, especially in nerve fibers of the lateral wall of spinal cord. GSA1B4 lectin showed weak reaction in the cells and nerve fibers of the spinal cord, but severe reaction was clearly observed in blood vessels. OFA lectin showed severe reaction with α-L-Fucose terminal sugar in the lateral walls of the spinal cord in early stages of morphogenesis. Conclusion: The most reaction in the lateral walls of the spinal cord was related to OFA, which reflects the importance of fucose terminal sugar by connecting (1→6) to the penultimate sugar N-acetyl-D-glocosamin (Glc-Nac) in the development of spinal cord. Due to severe reaction of GSA1B4 to blood vessels of spinal cord, use of this lectin for vascular studies, is recommended.

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Background and Objective: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is usually a disease caused by inadequate insulin production in pregnant women. GDM induces abnormal fetal growth.This study was done to evaluate the BMP2 and BMP4 genes expression in the development of the embryos heart in induced gestational diabetes of C57BL/6 mice.
Methods: In this experimental study, 8-week old adult C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into diabetic and control groups. After mating of animals, the dams in diabetic group were received a single dose of 150 mg/kg/bw of streptozotocin on gestational day 1 of pregnancy, intrapereatonally. After 11.5 days of pregnancy, the embryos of both groups were extracted and heart tissue was extracted. RNA total tissue of the heart was extracted by trazole. After extracting RNA, expression of BMP2 and BMP4 genes in the heart of both groups was estimated by Real-time PCR.
Results: There was no singnificant diference in expression of BMP2 and BMP4 genes in the heart of 11.5 days of embryos in gestational diabetes mellitus group and control group.
Conclusion: Gestational diabetes mellitus had no effect on the expression of BMP2 and BMP4 genes in the development of the embryos heart.

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Background and Objective: Gestational diabetes (GDM) is a metabolic disorder which is caused by insufficient secretion of insulin. GDM is a risk factor for embryo during pregnancy and it is possible leads to congenital heart defects (CHD). Some of these defects may be due to a change in the expression of some of the important structural genes in the heart. Desmocollin 2 and collagen structural genes have important role in the cell adhesion of the cardiomyocytes.This study was done to determine the effect of gestational diabetes on expersion of desmocollin 2 and col5a2 structural genes in C57BL mouse embryo heart.
Methods: In this experimental study, 12 adult female and six adult male C57BL mice were used.After mating of the animals and observation of the vaginal plug, the female mice with vaginal plug were randomly divided into diabetic and control groups. At the first day of pregnancy, Induction of gestational diabetes mellitus in dams in the diabetic group was performed by the intraperitoneal (IP) injection of Streptozotocin with a dose of 150 mg / kg body weight per day in GD1. While in the control group, only citrate buffer was injected.Cesarean Surgery was done at E11.5 and embryo's heart was extracted from the body.Extraction of RNA, cDNA, and quantitative measurements of the amount of RNA were performed using Real -Time PCR.
Results: Induction of gestational diabetes increased the expersion of desmocollin 2 and col5a2 structural genes in compared to controls, althought only the expersion of desmocollin 2 gene was significant (P<0.05).
Conclusion: We suggest that the induction of DM lead to upregulation of structural genes primarily including desmocollin 2 and col5a2 in embryos heart development.

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Background and Objective: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common metabolic and global health threats. The gene needed for the development of the TBX20 gene is the fusion of the gene, and the defect in the sequence and expression of this gene also causes heart defects. Due to significant prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus in human population, this study was done to evaluate the effect of TBX20-induced gestational diabetes mellitus in the heart of the mice embryo at 11.5 days.
Methods: This experimental study was done on induced diabetic C57BL/6 female mice. Gestational diabetes induced by interaperitoneal injection of sterptozotocin at GD1. On the day of pregnancy 11.5, embryonic heart samples from these mice were isolated. After extraction of RNA, cDNA synthesis of RNA was performed. The Real Time-PCR technique was used to determine the expression of TBX20 gene. Expression level   of TBX20 gene in experimental and control was calculated using the 2^–∆∆CT method.
Results: Expression of TBX20 gene in diabetic specimens was twice as high as the control samples, which was statistically significant (P<0.05).
Conclusion: It seems, increasing TBX20 gene expression in embryonic heart tissue may be one of the complications of gestational diabetes mellitus and can lead to abnormalities in the heart embryo.