Objective: To investigate the preventive effect of exogenous nucleotide (EN) on the developmental toxicity of alcohol.
Methods: C57BL/6J pregnant mice were divided into 6 groups randomly: the control group, the alcohol group, the low (0.01%EN), middle (0.04%EN), high (0.16%EN) and higher (0.64% EN) intervention groups. From the 6th gestational days (GD) to the 15th GD, pregnant animals except those in the control group were administrated with 5 g (per kg body weight) alcohol intragastrically. Normal mouse forage was provided to the animals in the control group and alcohol group, while forage containing different quantities of EN was provided to the animals in the intervention groups. On GD 18, all the dams were killed, their blood samples were collected for further analysis, and fetal developmental indexes were observed.
Results: Compared with the animals in the alcohol group, offspring's body weight and placenta weight of EN intervention groups improved a lot; superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity increased significantly (P<0.05), malondialdehyde (MDA) levels decreased significantly (P<0.01); the live birth rate of animals in the interventions groups has increased significantly and the absorbed embryo rate of them has decreased significantly (P<0.01); the forepaw phalanges, hindpaw phalanges and caudal vertebrae ossification point increased significantly (P<0.01); the anomalies of both occipital and sternum have decreased significantly in 0.04%EN group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: EN has a significant protective effect on the developmental toxicity of alcohol.