Research into the intervention effect of folic acid on arsenic-induced heart abnormalities in fetal rats during the periconception period

Lin Na; Bai Q; Zhao Xiumei; Zhuang Lingzi; He Deqin; Zhuang Xuanxuan; Guo Huanhuan; Lin Yuan; Chen Xiujuan

doi:10.1186/s12872-020-01418-z

BMC Cardiovascular Disorders (Mar 2020)

Research into the intervention effect of folic acid on arsenic-induced heart abnormalities in fetal rats during the periconception period

Lin Na,
Bai Q,
Zhao Xiumei,
Zhuang Lingzi,
He Deqin,
Zhuang Xuanxuan,
Guo Huanhuan,
Lin Yuan,
Chen Xiujuan

Affiliations

Lin Na: Department of the Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Key Laboratory for Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Defect
Bai Q: Department of the Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Key Laboratory for Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Defect
Zhao Xiumei: Department of the Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Key Laboratory for Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Defect
Zhuang Lingzi: Department of the Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Key Laboratory for Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Defect
He Deqin: Department of the Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Key Laboratory for Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Defect
Zhuang Xuanxuan: Department of the Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Key Laboratory for Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Defect
Guo Huanhuan: Department of the Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Key Laboratory for Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Defect
Lin Yuan: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University
Chen Xiujuan: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-020-01418-z
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 20, no. 1
pp. 1 – 7

Abstract

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Abstract Background The incidence of CHD is the highest among birth defects and is increasing year to year. CHD seriously harms the health of infants and young children and presents a large economic burden to families and society. The pathogenesis of CHD and preventive measures are the focus of current research. Our research aimed to explore the intervention effect of folic acid on heart abnormalities resulting from sodium arsenic (NaAsO2) exposure during the periconception period. Methods Sixty 35-day-old female SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups with 12 rats in each group. Group A was the control group. The rats were given distilled water and ordinary chow. The rats in group B were given distilled water containing 75 mg/L NaAsO2 and ordinary chow. The rats in groups C, D, and E were given distilled water containing 75 mg/L NaAsO2 and chow containing 0.53 mg/kg, 5.3 mg/kg, and 10.6 mg/kg folic acid, respectively. The general condition of the embryos and the histopathology of the embryonic hearts were examined. The acetylation levels of histone H3K9 in heart tissues and the expression levels of Mef2C (which is related to heart development) were observed. Results The embryo weight and placental weight of groups B-E were significantly lower than those of group A (P < 0.05). The heart malformation rate of the fetal rats in groups B-E was significantly higher than that of the fetal rats in group A (P < 0.05). We found that the level of H3K9 acetylation in fetal rat cardiomyocytes in groups B-E was significantly higher than that in group A (P < 0.05) and that the level of H3K9 acetylation in groups C-E was lower than that in group B (P < 0.05). The mRNA level of Mef2C in fetal rat cardiomyocytes in group B-E was significantly higher than that in group A (P < 0.05), and the mRNA level of Mef2C in groups C-E was significantly lower than that in group B (P < 0.05). Conclusion Supplementation with folic acid during the periconception period can interfere with the toxic effects of arsenic on the heart. The mechanism may be that lowering the acetylation levels of histone H3K9 in heart tissues leads to decreased expression levels of Mef2C, which may play a protective role in heart development in fetal rats.

Published in BMC Cardiovascular Disorders

ISSN: 1471-2261 (Online)
Publisher: BMC
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Diseases of the circulatory (Cardiovascular) system
Website: https://bmccardiovascdisord.biomedcentral.com

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