应用大鼠体外胚胎培养模型研究生草乌对胚胎发育的影响

目的探讨生草乌对胚胎发育的毒性作用及机制。方法应用大鼠着床后体外全胚胎培养模型,将9.5dSD大鼠胚胎与含不同浓度(终浓度分别为:0、0.63、1.25、2.5、5mg生药/mL)生草乌的大鼠即刻离心血清共培养48h,观察其对大鼠胚胎生长发育和组织器官形态分化的影响。结果随着生草乌剂量增加,胚胎生长发育和器官分化的各项指标均呈现下降趋势,有一定的剂量-效应关系。生草乌最大无作用剂量为1.25mg生药/mL,2.5mg生药/mL以上剂量可诱发卵黄囊生长和血管分化不良、生长迟缓及形态分化异常,严重者出现体节紊乱、小头、心脏发育迟滞(心小,停留在心管期)及心脏空泡等。结论较高剂量生草乌对体外培养大鼠胚胎具有一定的毒性作用,建议孕妇妊娠期间(特别是妊娠前3个月)慎用或禁用草乌。

Toxicity of Caowu on in vitro Cultured Rat Embryos

Objective To study the developmental toxicity of Caowu and its mechanism on rat embryos. Methods Whole embryo culture was applied to test the effects of Caowu on rat embryos during the critical period of organogenesis. All embryos isolated on gestational day 9.5 were exposed to different concentrations of Caowu. The growth and differentiation of the embryos at the end of the 48 h culture period were observed. Results The embryonic growth and development were adversely affected by Caowu at the concentration of 2.5 mg/mL, which were represented as reduced yolk sac diameters, decreased number of somites, and lower morphological scores. With the increase of the concentrations of Caowu, more severe teratogenic effects appeared, including cardiac defect (undivided cardiac tube and inflated pericardial cavity), irregular somites, and brain malformation such as narrow brain vesicles. Conclusion Caowu has direct embryotoxic effects on rats during the organogenesis period. We suggest that pregnant women in the first trimester use Caowu with cautions before a conclusion has been made.