[Relationship of hyperhomocysteinemia in pregnant rats and congenital heart defects in the newborn rats].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between homocysteine (HCY) and congenital heart defects, and to observe the toxic effect of different doses of HCY on embryonic heart development in mammalian.

METHODS

A total of 30 SD pregnant rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: a high dose group [200 mg/(kg.d)], a low dose group [(100 mg/(kg.d)] and a control group (equal volume of physiologic saline, n=10 in each group). The HCY or vehicle was given intraperitoneally from 7 to 20 days after uterineincision delivery. The contents of HCY in serum were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatogram electrochem before the pregnancy and 20 days after the pregnancy. The structure changes of the newborn rats heart were observed by stereoscope. The ultrastructure changes of cadiomyocyte were observed through transmission electron microscope.

RESULTS

Comparing with the control, serum HCY in rats 20 days after pregnancy was significantly increased in the high or low dose group [(30.47 ± 1.12), (20.90 ± 1.08)vs(10.98 ± 0.77)μmol/L, P<0.01)], indicating that the hyperhomocysteinemia animal model was successfully established. The incidence rate of congenital heart defects in neonatal was significantly increased in the high or low dose group(14.13%, 9.57% vs 0.76%, P<0.01). The number of apoptotic cells were significantly increased in the high dose group.

CONCLUSION

Hyperhomocysteinemia may exert toxic effect on embryonic heart development in pregnancy rats, which led to congenital heart defects in the newborn rats. Hyperhomocysteinemia induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis may, at least partially, contribute to the heart defects.