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Background & Objective: Aluminum (Al), the 3rd common element in the earth’s crust has a significant toxin potential for humans. Although the knowledge of Al toxicity has markedly improved in recent years, there is relatively little information regarding the embryotoxic and teratogenic potential of Al. the purpose of this study was to assess the effect of short-term exposure of pregnant mice to Aluminum Chloride on the external organ formation of their fetuses. Materials & Methods: Mature NMRI mice (24-33 g) were used in this study. Day 0 of pregnancy defined as the day in which the vaginal plug was found. Plug-positive mice were randomly divided into size groups. The first, second and 3rd groups of animals were given IP injection of single dose of AlCl3 at 150 mg/kg/day on days 10, 11 and 12 of gestation respectively. Mice in the 3 other groups (Controls) received single injection of 0.3 ml saline on days 10, 11 and 12 respectively. Mice were killed on day 15 of gestation. Live fetuses were weighed and examined for external abnormalities. Results: The fetal body weight was significantly reduced in all Al-treated groups (P<0.05). The proportions of external malformations in 10th, 11th and 12th days treated were 47.0%, 37.0% and 33.1% groups respectively with significantly increase comparing to controls (P<0.05). Conclusion: It is concluded that a single dose of the Al administered to pregnant mice can cause external malformations in their fetuses.

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Background and Objective: Electromagnetic waved generated by electronic industries and the increasing use of electrical appliances have led to higher rise in chronic exposure to extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF). This study was done to investigate the effects of low electromagnetic field on mice embryos development. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, eighty female NMRI mice were super ovulated and coupled with male mated over the night. Next morning the female mice with a vaginal plug were identified as pregnant mice. Animals allocated into 2 groups control group was not exposed to EMF and animals in case group exposed to 50 Hz and amp 1.2 mT EMF the pregnant mice were scarified by cervical dislocation at 24, 72, 81, 96, 110 and 120 hours. Embryos were subsequently obtained from the mice by flashing the fallopian tubule and uterus horn. Data were analyzed using SPSS-13.5, ANOVA and student’s t-tests. Results: The number of 2, 3-4 cells and 5-8 of embryo cells and blastocyst decreased in case group compared to controls, but these reduction were not significant. The number of morula in cases significantly reduced in comparison with control group (P<0.05). The average number of fragmented blastocyst in experimental groups siginficantly increased compared to control group (P<0.05). The number of inner cell mass and trophoectoderm in experimental group significantly reduced in comparison with controls (P<0.05). Conclusion: The exposure of extremely-low electromagnetic field in pregnancy reduces the number of morula, inner cell mass and trophoectoderm.

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Background and Objective: Many studies have showed malformation of low frequency of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on different tissues. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of low frequency electromagnetic fields on the heart of white-leghorn chicken embryo. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 90 healthy, fresh and fertilized eggs were allocated into 6 groups including control, sham, and four preincubated experimental groups. Experimental groups I, II, III and IV (1.33, 2.66, 5.52 and 7.32 mT) were located in the electromagnetic device, sham group was located into the same coil with no exposure for 24h before incubation. Control, sham and experimental groups incubated (37±0.5 ºC, 60% humidity) for 14 days. Results: Disassembling cell regulation in experimental group I, dense nucleus of myocytes and increase of intercellular spaces in experimental group II, necrosis and bleeding in the heart tissue in experimental groups III and IV were seen in compare to control and sham groups. There was a significant increase in the level of activity of alkaline phosphatase in the heart of experimental groups in compare to control and sham groups. Conclusion: Low frequency of electromagnetic fields caused alternations in cardiac tissue and elevation of Alkaline phosphatase activity in chicken embryos.

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Background and Objective: Diabetes mellitus can cause kidney histological changes. This study was done to evaluate the effect of barley grain (Hordeum vulgare L.) consumption during pregnancy in diabetic rats on kidney histological altrations of offsprings. Methods: In this experimental study, 60 adult female albino rats, randomly allocated into four groups including: healthy with regular meals consumption as control, healthy which consumed barley (10 grams per each rat per daily), diabetic with regular meals consumption and diabetic group which consumed barley (10 grams per each rat per daily). Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 45 mg/kg/bw of streptozotocin. After confirmation of pregnancy by observing the vaginal plug, on 21th day, the dams were anesthetized and embryos were removed. Crown rump length and weight of embryos were recorded. After kindney tissue processing, sections with 5 micrometer thickness were stained with H&E method. Results: Interstitial tissue and capillary congestion, Bowman's capsule wall thickening, degeneration of epithelial tissue, distal and proximal tubules, incomplete formation of glomerular and inflammation were observed in embryos of diabeticts group. These tissues alterations significantly reduced in the embryos of diabetic group which consumed barley. The crown rump length of embryos significantly reduced in diabetic group in comparision with controls. There was not any diferences in crown rump length of embryos between diabetic consumed barley and diabetic group. The weight of embryos was non - significantly more in diabetic groups than controls. The weight of embryos reduced non - significantly in diabetic plus barley consumption in comparision with controls. Conclusion: The consumption of barley is beneficial in reducing kidney histological alterations in embryos of diabetic rats.

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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: 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.

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Background and Objective: Alkaline phosphatase, BMP, and GATA proteins are important factors in the process of spermatogenesis. This study aims to investigate the effect of alkaline phosphatase, GATA, and BMP expression on spermatogenic stem cells, embryonic cells, and embryonic stem-like cells (ES-like) in C57BL mice.
Methods: In this experimental study, spermatogonial stem cells were isolated from three heads of 4-week-old C57BL mice, and embryonic stem cells and ES-like cells were prepared. Alkaline phosphatase staining test was performed on spermatogenic stem cells, embryonic cells, and ES-like cells. The expression of BMP and GATA genes was analyzed using Fluidigm PCR. Protein-protein interaction networks were isolated and drawn using databases.
Results: Positive alkaline phosphatase expression in stem cells and negative expression in testicular Sertoli cells indicated the presence of this enzyme in pluripotent cells. The gene expression of BMP and GATA in spermatogonial stem cells (6.3 and 2.7, respectively), embryonic cells (3.2 and 4.4, respectively), and ES-like cells (8.5 and 2.5, respectively) was positive, but not statistically significant. Bioinformatics studies showed the regulatory role of these genes and their direct effect on alkaline phosphatase.
Conclusion: BMP and GATA genes, along with alkaline phosphatase enzymes, play a crucial role in controlling embryonic and spermatogonial stem cells, maintaining their pluripotency, and guiding them towards differentiated cells.
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