Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Kaveh Khazaeel ¹
• Abbas Sadeghi ²
• Reza Jahangiri ³
• Zohreh Ghotbeddin ⁴

¹ Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran Stem Cells and Transgenic Technology Research Center (STTRC), Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

² Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

³ School of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.

⁴ Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

Hypoxia during pregnancy causes pathologies in placental trophoblast cells that can adversely affect the maternal adjustments to pregnancy and fetal health. Fish oil prevents fetal disorders during pregnancy with its antioxidant properties. This study was conducted to determine the effect of fish oil on placental histomorphometric changes caused by hypoxia during pregnancy in rats. In this experimental study, 24 pregnant Wistar rats were divided into 4 control groups, hypoxia, fish oil (1 ml/kg) and hypoxia+fish oil. The hypoxia model was established between days 6 and 15 of gestation, and fish oil was administered by gavage. On the 20th day of pregnancy, placental morphometric examinations including weight, diameter and thickness of the placenta were performed. The histological structure of placentas was evaluated using general and specific staining. Hypoxia during pregnancy caused a significant decrease in the weight, diameter and thickness of the placenta, and the thickness of the labyrinth and spongium layers compared to the control group (p<0.05). Also, hypoxia significantly increased the number of giant cells and decidua layer thickness (p<0.05). Administering fish oil with hypoxia during pregnancy significantly increased the weight, diameter, and thickness of the placenta, the number of glycogen cells and the thickness of the labyrinth and spongiosum layers and significantly decreased the number of giant cells, and the thickness of decidua layer compared to the hypoxia group (p<0.05). The hypoxia during pregnancy can have destructive effects on placental tissue, and the administration of fish oil can partially prevent the detrimental effects of hypoxia on placental tissue.

Keywords

• Hypoxia
• Histomorphometry
• Fish oil
• Placenta
• Rat

Main Subjects

• Embryology