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< 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. copyright 2011 zoological society of pakistan.