Acta Anatomica Sinica

AAS ›› 2014, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (1): 114-119.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0529-1356.2014.01.022

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Effect of eucalyptus oil on rat embryo implantation and growth interfered with retinoic acid

SU Li-li HE Ying-hong CHEN Mo YU Yong-li* HUANG Yi-ling ZHU Cheng-xue LIU Mao-sheng   

  1. Department of Anatomy and Histology and Embryology, Zhuhai Campus of Zunyi Medical College, Guangdong Zhuhai 519041, China
  • Received:2013-07-03 Revised:2013-09-17 Online:2014-02-06 Published:2014-02-06
  • Contact: YU Yong-li E-mail:yuyongli5088@sina.com

Abstract:

Objective To study the effect of eucalyptus oil on retinoic acid(RA) interference in rat embryo implantation and growth. Methods Forty-two pregnant SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups,7 rats each: 3 experiment groups ( high, medium, low doses of Eucalyptus+RA), a solvent group (peanut oil +RA), a retinoic acid group (RA) and a normal group with normal diet. Three experiment groups and Solvent group were lavaged from gestation 7th to 14th day with eucalyptus oil in 300 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg and peanut oil 2ml per animal per day, respectively. Each of them was garaged with retinoic acid (40mg/kg) at gestation 10th day. RA group was garaged with 40 mg/kg at gestation 10th day. All pregnant rats were sacrificed at 21st day. The weights of the body, uterus and placenta of the pregnant rats were measured. The number of absorbed, live and dead fetus were counted respectively. The length of fetus body and tail as well as body weight were measured. Results The uterus and placenta weight, change in body weight of pregnant rats in normal group, Eucalyptus oil groups and Solvent group showed no significant difference compared with RA group. The solvent group rats’ placental weight was lower than that in eucalyptus oil groups’ and RA group’s (P>0.05), but it was significantly lower than that in normal group (P<0.05). The rate of live fetus in normal group was more than that in other groups with significant difference (P<0.05). The teratogenic rate and the absorption rate of normal group were lower than that of the other groups’ (P<0.05). The mortality of normal group was zero. In gavaged retinoic acid groups, the rates of live fetus in high, medium of eucalyptus oil group were higher than that in RA group (P>0.05). It’s teratogenic rate was lower than that of RA group(P>0.05). The absorption rate in each eucalyptus oil group and solvent group compared with RA group had no difference. The fetus body weight, body length, and tail length of Normal group were significantly higher than that in the other groups（P<0.05). In gavaged retinoic acid groups, the fetus body weight and body length of each eucalyptus oil group were significantly higher than that in solvent group and RA group（P<0.05). The fetus body weight, body length, tail length of solvent group had no significant difference compared with the RA group (P>0.05). The fetus tail length in eucalyptus oil groups was higher than that in RA group, but no significant differences were found(P>0.05). Conclusion Retinoic acid interferes the rat embryo implantation and development; Eucalyptus oil has certain influence on the RA interference of rat embryo implantation, and it also has certain inhibition on fetal growth retardation.

Key words: Eucalyptus oil, Retimoic acid, Teratogenicity, Embryonic development, Reproductive toxicity testing, Rat