Effect of vitamin E in prevention of lipopolysaccharide induced fetal injuries in the rat

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are one of the most important factors in the formation of embryonic damages. These damages include intra-uterine growth retardation, intra-uterine fetal death, embryonic absorption and preterm birth and are associated with oxidative stress caused by lipopolysaccharides. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of vitamin E on lipopolysaccharide induced fetal damages in the rat. In this study, 48 pregnant rats were selected and allocated to 4 groups. In groups 1 and 2, 75 µgr/kg of lipopolysaccharides were injected intraperitoneally on day 15 to 17 of pregnancy. A week before administration of lipopolysaccharides to rats of groups 2 and 3, they received 20 mg/kg of intramuscular vitamin E daily. Group 4 received normal saline intraperitoneally as a control group. In day 18 of pregnancy all mice were euthanized. In each animal, the number of live and dead embryos were counted. Then the live fetuses were weighed and the length of crown–rump, metacarpus, metatarsus, anterior phalanges, posterior phalanges and sternum were determined. In addition, the amounts of malondialdehyde and glutathione were measured in maternal and embryonic liver and placenta. Administration of lipopolysaccharides significantly increased fetal mortality and reduced fetal weight, length of the tail and crown–rump, live embryos and skeletal ossification of the metacarpus, metatarsus, anterior and posterior phalanges and sternum. Results showed that simultaneous administration of vitamin E and lipopolysaccharides reduced damages and improved respective injuries in mice embryos.