Reduced SOD activity and increased neural tube defects in embryos of the sensitive but not of the resistant Cohen diabetic rats cultured under diabetic conditions

Abstract

Our results suggest that genetic susceptibility plays an important role in inducing underdevelopment and NTD in cultured CDs embryos in sub-teratogenic medium and in protecting the CDr embryos under the same conditions. The combination of a sub-teratogenic environment with genetic susceptibility is sufficient to reduce the activity of SOD, hence decreasing the ability of the CDs embryos to cope with diabetic sub-teratogenic environment and prevent NTD.