Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
TOXICOLOGY RESEARCH, cilt.3, sa.5, ss.375-383, 2014 (SCI-Expanded)
It is well known that vinclozolin, commonly used in greenhouse cultivation, causes alterations in the fetal reproductive system. There were no reports about the effects of vinclozolin exposure on the placenta during gestation, therefore, in this study 50 and 100 mg kg(-1) body weight per day (bw d(-1)) doses of vinclozolin were administered by oral gavage to pregnant rats during gestation. They were then subjected to a caesarean section on gestation day 20. Maternal and fetal liver, kidney, heart, thymus, brain, and placenta were examined histopathologically, the placenta and liver tissues were stained immunohistochemically for Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). Morphometric analyses of fetal body lengths, placental measurements, and fetal skeletal staining were performed. The decrease in the placental weight and placental index was significant in the treatment groups. Degenerations in labyrinth region and spongiotrophoblast were detected in the 100 mg kg(-1) bw d(-1) vinclozolin group. Mononuclear cell infiltration, cellular degeneration and edema in maternal liver samples and an increase in the number of megakaryocytes, cellular degeneration and congestion in fetal liver samples were observed in the treatment groups. VEGF staining was dense in trophoblastic giant cells and spongiotrophoblasts, and less dense in the labyrinth region. VEGF staining increased especially around the central vein in maternal liver. Minor alterations were also observed in the fetal skeleton measurements. These results demonstrated that vinclozolin and/or its metabolites transport to the placenta and induce histopathological changes in the placenta, and maternal and fetal tissues.