The neural tube defects (NTD) are a group of congenital malformations which are depressingly familiar to many obstetricians in the UK. Despite intensive investigation, their basic aetiology remains unknown. It seems probable that genetic factors are involved, interacting with environmental agents early in gestation to prevent closure of the neural tube. The number of the mutant genes is unknown...

Pregnant rats were injected intraperitoneally with a teratogenic dose of trypan blue (14 mg/100 g or 20 mg/100 g body weight) on the eighth day of gestation. Fetal blood was collected from control and experimental fetuses on the twentieth day of pregnancy. Serum was obtained from pooled blood samples of two to three fetuses. Paper electrophoresis was carried out in a Spinco model R system using...

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of several mycotoxins produced by certain Fusarium species that frequently infect corn, wheat, oats, barley, rice, and other grains in the field or during storage. It is a toxic byproduct of Fusarium head blight in grains and feeds. Potential human exposure to DON may occur from ingestion of products made from contaminated grains. It has been detected in buckwheat, p...

Folate supplementation prevents up to 70% of neural tube defects (NTDs), which result from a failure of neural tube closure during embryogenesis. The elucidation of the mechanisms underlying folate action has been challenging. This study introduces Xenopus laevis as a model to determine the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in folate action during neural tube formation. We show that kn...

It has been suggested that the teratogenic effects of the antiepileptic drug valproic acid (VPA) is reflected in vitro by the differentiation of F9 cells, activation of peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor (PPAR ), and inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDACs). The aim of this study was to identify genes involved in the differentiation of F9 cells induced by VPA, teratogenic VPA derivativ...

Extracellular sulfatases (SULF1; SULF2) (EC: 3.1.6.-) are members of the sulfatase enzyme family which exhibit endoglucosamine-6-sulfatase activity and carry out essential roles in proteoglycan metabolism. These enzymes regulate a number of critical signalling pathways and the sulfation state of glycoaminoglycans in the extracellular space. SULF1 and SULF2 amino acid sequences and structures an...