Effects of ergothioneine on diabetic embryopathy in pregnant rats

Michelle Guijarro-Fuertes, M V Guijarro, A. Indart, O I Aruoma, Okezie I. Aruoma, Marta Viana, M Viana, B Bonet, Bartolomé Bonet
Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association · 2002 · vol. 40(12) , pp. 1751–1755 · doi:10.1016/s0278-6915(02)00177-1 · PMID:12419688 · W2035160979
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This study investigated diabetic embryopathy in pregnant rats, not endometriosis or adenomyosis. Ergothioneine supplementation reduced embryo malformation rates to normal levels without affecting plasma glucose, suggesting antioxidant prophylaxis for diabetic embryopathy.

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Abstract

The natural antioxidant ergothioneine (2-mercaptohistidine trimethylbetaine) is a fungal metabolite and found in most plant and animal tissues. The effect of ergothioneine on diabetic embryopathy in rats was assessed. Supplementation of diabetic pregnant rats with L-ergothioneine (1.147 mg/kg body weight) daily for the first 11.5 days of pregnancy reduced the rate of embryo malformations, to values similar to the non-diabetic animals. The ergothioneine had no effect on the plasma glucose levels, both in diabetic and control animals. We conclude that the inhibition of the glucose-mediated free radical dependent embryo malformation by ergothioneine is an important antioxidant prophylactic mechanism, which when combined with vitamin E could benefit the management of diabetic embryopathy.

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MeSH descriptors

Antioxidants Congenital Abnormalities Embryonic and Fetal Development Ergothioneine Pregnancy in Diabetics Animals Antioxidants Antioxidants Blood Glucose Blood Glucose Congenital Abnormalities Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental Embryonic and Fetal Development Ergothioneine Ergothioneine Female Neural Tube Defects Neural Tube Defects Pregnancy Pregnancy in Diabetics

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