P-206: Gestational Diabetes Increased the Astrocytes Density in Cerebellar Cortex of Rat Offspring

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus affects 3-5% of all human pregnancy.Studies reported the neurotoxic effect of gestational diabetes on cerebellarand spinal cord in rat offspring. This study was conducted to determine the effect of gestational diabetes on astrocyte density in the cerebellum of rat offspring. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 30 Wistar rats dams were randomly allocated in control and diabetic groups. Dams in diabetic group received 40 mg/kg/BW of streptozoto cin,intraperitoneallyat the first day of gestation (GD) and control group received an equivalent volume normal saline. Six offspring of gestational diabetic (GDM) and control dams, at the 21, 28 postnatal days were randomly selected and were sacrificed quickly with anesthesia. The coronal sections of cerebellum (6 micrometer) serially collected. The astrocytes were stained with PTAH. The density of astrocytes was evaluated in 20000 μm2 by OLYSIA Autobioreport software. Results: The astrocyte density in apex anddepth ofcerebellum in 21 postnatal days, in the experimental group significantly increased (38.15 and 25%, respectively) in comparison with controls group (apex:10.5 ± 1.89 vs. 7.6 ± 1.28, depth: 12.25 ± 1.54 vs. 9.8 ± 1.2, p<0.05). The astrocyte density in apex anddepth of cerebellum in 28 postnatal days, in the experimental group significantlyincreased (25% and 13.5%, respectively) in comparison with controls group (apex: 11.25 ± 1.37 vs. 9.0 ± 1.95, depth: 12.25 ± 0.62 vs. 9.75 ± 1.0, p<0.05). Conclusion: This study revealed that gestational diabetes increased theastrocytes density in cerebellar cortex of rat offspring.