Prevention of Retinoic Acid-Induced Early Craniofacial Abnormalities by Vitamin B12 in Mice

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to identify the potential effect of prenatal vitamin B12 administration on retinoic acid (RA)-induced early craniofacial abnormalities in mice and to investigate the possible mechanisms by which vitamin B12 reduces malformations. Design: In our study, whole embryo culture was used to explore the effect of vitamin B12 on mouse embryos during the critical period of organogenesis. All embryos were exposed to 0.4 mu M RA and different concentrations of vitamin B12 and scored for their growth in the branchial region at the end of a 48-hour culture period. The endothelin-1 (ET-1)/dHAND protein expression levels in the first branchial arch were investigated using an immunohistochemical method. Results: In the whole embryo culture, 100 and 10 mM vitamin B12 dose-dependently prevented branchial region malformations and decreased craniofacial defects by 90.5% and 77.3%, respectively. ET-1 and dHAND protein levels were significantly increased in vitamin B12-supplemented embryos compared to the RA-exposed group in embryonic branchial region. Conclusions: These results suggest that vitamin B12 may prevent RA-induced craniofacial abnormalities via prevention of an RA-induced decrease of ET-1 and dHAND protein levels in the branchial region during the organogenic period. This study may shed new light on preventing craniofacial abnormalities.http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000296019900001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=8e1609b174ce4e31116a60747a720701Dentistry, Oral Surgery & MedicineSurgerySCI(E)0ARTICLE4355-3624