Effect of folic acid on vitamin A induced cardiac teratogenicity in albino mice

This study is designed to evaluate the effect of folic acid in preventing experimentally induced teratogenicity by excessive use of vitamin "A" on heart. Pregnant albino mice were divided into two groups (A and B) of 6 each; group A was treated with retinoic acid (RA) 60mg/kg/day on 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0 days of gestation and those in group B were given same dose of retinoic acid followed by folic acid (FA) (4mg/kg/day) on 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0 days of gestation. The pregnant mice were sacrificed on 18th day of gestation, the fetuses were weighed and dissected; their hearts were removed for gross and microscopic study. Fetuses in. group B, showed statistically significant increase in body weight and crown rump length (p less than 0.05) when compared with fetuses in group A. In addition, the histological examination of hearts in group A showed severe damage to myocardial architecture showing degenerated myocardial cells. Whereas in group B there was expansion of the compact zone resulting in increased wall thickness, the myocardial cells were also well differentiated; mild areas of apoptosis (Grade 1 or 2) were, however, observed; the difference between groups was statistically significant. To conclude the folic acid taken during early pregnancy prevented vitamin A induced cardiac malformation and its use may, therefore, be recommended particularly in early pregnancy.