Maternal diabetes is associated with an increased risk of several complications in the offspring, such as growth disturbances and congenital malformations. In the present study we examined the effects of maternal hyperglycemia on the volume of brain and lateral ventricle in newborn Wistar rats.
At 7th day of pregnancy hyperglycemia was induced by a single injection (i.p.) of streptozotocin (55 mg kg-1). Control animals were given an equal volume of citrate buffer. After parturition 1 pup was randomly selected from each litter, their brain dissected, fixed in 10% formalin, sectioned in 7μm thickness and stained by H.E. By applying stereological techniques and systematic random sampling scheme the volume of the brain and lateral ventricles were estimated.
In comparison with controls, statistical analysis's showed significant increases (p<0.05) in the volumes of the Brain and lateral ventricles.
Maternal diabetes affect on blood brain barrier permeability in newborn rats that could cause large amount of CSF generation. These effects could lead to brain disorders such as hydrocephalus.