OBJECTIVE(S) The aim of this study was to investigate ascorbic acid and garlic protective effects on lead-induced neurotoxicity during rat hippocampus development. MATERIALS AND METHODS 90 pregnant wistar rats were divided randomly into nine groups: 1- Animals received leaded water (L). 2- Rats received leaded water and ascorbic acid (L+AA). 3- Animals received leaded water and garlic juice (...

The effects of prenatal amitraz exposure on physical and behavioral parameters of rats were studied. Pregnant rats were orally gavaged with amitraz (20 mg/Kg) or with distilled water (1.0 ml/Kg) on Days 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, and 19 of pregnancy. After birth, cross-fostering was performed thus generating the following groups: control pups nursed by control dams (CC); control pups nursed by treate...

  Since the stress influences the biological processes, in the present study the effect of prenatal immobilization stress on the sexual activity of male rats was studied. Adult male and female Wistar rats (Pasteur Institute, Tehran) were copulated. After observing the vaginal plugs, pregnant rats were divided into control and two experimental groups. All groups were kept under the laboratory co...

Low birth weight caused by placental insufficiency increases the risk of hypertension in young adults, particularly while ingesting a high-salt diet; however, the vascular mechanisms involved are unclear. We tested whether intrauterine fetal growth restriction results in salt-sensitive offspring that exhibit impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation, enhanced vascular contraction, and hypertens...

The physiological changes of pregnancy tend to reset glucose homeostasis in the direction of diabetes. About 2-3% of all pregnant women develop abnormal glucose tolerance in pregnancy. Pregnancy complicated by diabetes leads to increased perinatal mortality and morbidity. Functional and morphological changes are present at cellular and tissue level. Furthermore, there are implications for the l...

Exercise improves health but few data are available regarding benefits of exercise in offspring exposed to developmental programming. There is currently a worldwide epidemic of obesity. Obesity in pregnant women predisposes offspring to obesity. Maternal obesity has well documented effects on offspring reproduction. Few studies address ability of offspring exercise to reduce adverse outcomes. W...

Among the numerous consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is an increase in anxiety-like behavior that can prove debilitating to daily functioning. A significant body of literature has linked gestational day 12 (G12) heavy ethanol exposure with social anxiety, evident in adolescent males and females. However, the association between non-social anxiety-like behavior and moderate alcohol...