ORNITHINE DECARBOXYLASE ACTIVITY AND CONCENTRATIONS OF POLYAMINES IN EMBRYOS OF DIABETIC RATS

Previous studies have demonstrated high concentrations of polyamines i n neoplastic tissue and embryos and these compounds are therefore beli eved to play a role in cellular growth and embryonic development. Mate rnal diabetes causes embryonic dysmorphogenesis and alterations in emb ryonic polyamine concentrations may contribute to this process. In the Spermidine present study we have measured the contents of DNA, putres cine, spermidine and spermine in embryos on days 10 and 11 of gestatio n in normal and diabetic rats. We also estimated the activity of ornit hine decarboxylase (ODC) in embryos on days 9-11. We found that matern al diabetes causes delayed growth as reflected by decreased content of DNA on day 11 in the embryos of the diabetic group. Both the polyamin e content and ODC activity were altered in the embryos of diabetic rat s. Thus, the polyamines were increased on day 10 and decreased on day 11, and the ODC activity was decreased in a downregulated manner in da y-10 embryos of the diabetic rats. These findings suggest that polyami ne metabolism is involved in the dysmorphogenesis of diabetic pregnanc y.