Authors : K. Komariah, B. Kiranadi, A. Winarto, W. Manalu and E. Handharyani
Abstract: Valproic Acid (VA) affects the activity of Histone Deacetylase (HDAC) which plays an important role in gene expression during the process of pancreatic organogenesis. Pancreatic endocrine plays an important role in maintaining blood glucose homeostasis. Endocrine beta cells dysfunction may increase the incidence of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM). The study used 30 pregnant female Sparague dawley rats. The experimental pregnant rats were divided into 4 groups. The 1st group (T0 control group) was given distilled water or zero concentration of VA. The 2nd group (T1) was administered 250 mg VA on day 10th of pregnancy (at the same time with the expression of Pdx1 gene. The 3rd group (T2) was administered VA on day 13th of pregnancy (Nkx 6.1 gene). The 4th group (T3) was administered VA on day 16th of pregnancy (Ngn3 gene). A total of 84 rats born to the treated experimental rats were selected to undergo microscopic examination of the pancreatic endocrine cells, in four weeks interval, starting from week 4th to week 32nd. The results showed that the weight of the pancreas in the rats born to maternal rats treated with VA were similar with those born to control rats without VA administration (p>0.05). However, treatment of the maternal rats during pregnancy with VA decreased the diameter and the number of cells in the islets of langerhans (p<0.05). Administrations of VA to pregnant rats on days 10th, 13th and 16th of pregnancy, affected the pancreas organogenesis of their offspring as indicated by the changes in histomorphology.
K. Komariah, B. Kiranadi, A. Winarto, W. Manalu and E. Handharyani, 2017. Valproic Acid Administration in Pregnant Rats Affects Microscopic Features of Endocrine Cells of their Offspring. Research Journal of Medical Sciences, 11: 149-159.