Antiteratogenic Effects of beta-Carotene in Cultured Mouse Embryos Exposed to Nicotine

作者：Lin Chunmei; Yon Jung Min; Jung A Young; Lee Jong Geol; Jung Ki Youn; Lee Beom Jun; Yun YoungWon; Nam Sang Yoon^*

来源：Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, 2013: 575287.

DOI：10.1155/2013/575287

After maternal intake, nicotine crosses the placental barrier and causes severe embryonic disorders and fetal death. In this study, we investigated whether beta-carotene has a beneficial effect against nicotine-induced teratogenesis in mouse embryos (embryonic day 8.5) cultured for 48 h in a whole embryo culture system. Embryos exposed to nicotine (1 mM) exhibited severe morphological anomalies and apoptotic cell death, as well as increased levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and caspase 3 mRNAs, and lipid peroxidation. The levels of cytoplasmic superoxide dismutase (SOD), mitochondrial manganese-dependent SOD, cytosolic glutathione peroxidase (GPx), phospholipid hydroperoxide GPx, hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha, and Bcl-x(L) mRNAs decreased, and SOD activity was reduced compared to the control group. However, when beta-carotene (1 x 10(-7) or 5 x 10(-7) mu M) was present in cultures of embryos exposed to nicotine, these parameters improved significantly. These findings indicate that beta carotene effectively protects against nicotine-nduced teratogenesis in mouse embryos through its antioxidative, antiapoptotic, and anti-inflammatory activities.

• 出版日期2013