Is it possible folic acid reduce anorectal malformations ethylenethiourea induced in rats?¹

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To investigate the effect of folic acid (FA) in an experimental model of anorectal malformations (ARMs) ethylenethiourea (ETU) induced.

METHODS:

Eight female Wistar rats were divided randomly in two groups. Group A - ETU; Group B - FA+ETU; Dams from group B received daily, since two weeks before pregnancy to the end of pregnancy, FA (50mg/kg) by gavage. Dams from groups A and B, received 1% ETU (125mk/kg) by gavage on gestational day (GD) 11. Their fetuses were harvested by cesarean section on GD21 and were examined looking for ARMs. The thickness of anal stratified squamous epithelium (ASSE) and intestinal epithelium (IE) were analyzed. p<0.05*.

RESULTS:

One hundred and one embryos were harvested. The number of embryos; number of ARMs; mean statistical % (± SD) were determined to be, respectively: ETU - 49 [30;65% (±24%)] versus FA+ETU - 52 [1;02% (±3%)] (p=0.025). AMRs were significantly lower in FA+ETU group than in ETU group (p=0.025). The thickness (µm) of ASSE (± SD) and IE (± SD) were measured, respectively: ETU - [27.75 (±0.56) and 18.88 (±0.93)] versus FA+ETU - [28.88 (±0.61) and 21.11 (±0.16)] (p=0.001). The thickness of IE was significantly enlarged when FA was given (p=0.001).

CONCLUSION:

Folic acid reduces the number and enlarged the IE of ARMs ETU-induced.

Anal Canal; Anus, Imperforate; Ethylenethiourea; Folic Acid; Rats

Introduction

Anorectal malformations (ARMs) represent a broad spectrum of congenital anomalies, including anorectal and urogenital sinus defects. The incidence rate is approximately 1 per 5000 live births¹, occurring most frequently in males. Usually, AMRs affect the terminal hindgut, anus, pelvic floor muscle (PMF) and striated muscle complex (SMC), innervations of PMF and SMC, and urogenital and spinal defects. Posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP) has been proposed as gold standard surgery². Despite various advances in this technique, poor postoperative anorectal functions still remain as major problem. Fecal incontinence, constipation and voiding dysfunction are observed.

ARMs pathogenesis and morphogenesis remains unclear. Different teratogenic drugs have been used to mimic ARMs in rats. One of the most published is ethylenethiourea (ETU)³.

Good evidence from randomized trials suggests folic acid (FA) reduces the risk for neural tube defects (NTD). Maternal consumption of folic acid before pregnancy and during early pregnancy is associated with a reduced risk for some other birth defects. The rate of ARMs was greater among mothers who did not take folic acid than mothers who took folic acid before pregnancy. Daily maternal consumption of 400 µg of folic acid could reduce the risk for AMRs⁴.

The aim of this study was to investigate the protect effect of FA in an experimental model of ARMs ETU-induced.

Methods

Ethical approval was obtained from the Research Ethics Committees of the Universidade Federal de São Paulo prior to the study (Protocol n° 1859/11).

Eight female mature Wistar-EPM rats were provided from the Central Biotery of the Federal University of São Paulo. Rats were divided randomly in two groups. Group A - ETU and Group B - FA+ETU.

Dams from group B received daily, since two weeks before pregnancy to the end of pregnancy, FA (50mg/kg) by gavage.

Rats received commercial feed and water ad libitum, under constant environmental conditions of temperature and humidity, with 12-hour day and night cycles using artificial light, controlled automatically. After one night of mating, dams who presented a vaginal smear with the presence of spermatozoids were considered to be potentially fertilized. This was considered to be day zero (GD0) of gestation. Dams were kept in individual cages.

On gestational day (GD) 11, dams from both groups received 1% ETU (125mk/kg) by gavage.

On GD21, dams were anesthetized with 2% Xylazine (60 mg/kg) and 10% Ketamine (10 mg/kg) by intramuscular injection. Fetuses were harvested by cesarean section and were initially examined externally looking for AMRs. Dams were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Following this, fetuses were underwent exploratory laparotomy to characterize the type of ARMs. Terminal intestine was removed to histological analysis.

Fragments of terminal intestine were fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde, dehydrated and embedded in paraffin, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and examined microscopically by a blind examination. The thickness of anal stratified squamous epithelium (ASSE) and intestinal epithelium (IE) were analyzed.

Non-parametric tests were used when samples tested against normal distribution. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare different groups and Mann-Whitney test when comparing two groups. Parametric tests were used in the histological analysis. Thickness was compared using two way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and post hoc Turkey test. Significant differences were considered when p<0.05.

Results

One hundred one fetuses were harvested. There were 49 fetuses from group A (ETU) and 52 fetuses from group B (FA+ETU).

In the ETU group, the mean weight of dams on GD0 and GD21 was, respectively 229.50g and 324.25g. In the FA+ETU group, the mean weight of dams on GD0 and GD21 was, respectively 212.50g and 298.75g (p>0.05). In the ETU group, the mean weight of fetuses ± standard deviation (SD) was 2.20 ± 0.62. In the FA+ETU group, the mean weight of fetuses ± SD was 5.89 ± 0.60 (p=0.025).

Statistically significant differences were observed comparing ARMs in two groups (Table 1). Folic Acid reduces the number of ARMs ETU-induced (p=0.025) .

Table 1.
Presence of ARMs.

Group	Fetus	ARM	Statistical Mean (%)	SD (%)
ETU	49	30	65%	24%
AF + ETU	52	1	2%	3%

Others anomalies were observed. Short or absence tail was observed in all ARMs. Limb defects, coexisting or not with ARMs, facial defects, spinal defects were observed in both groups (Figures 1 and 2). There was no significant difference (p>0.05).

Figure 1.
ARM, short tail and limb defects - ETU group.

Figure 2.
ARM ETU induced.

The thickness of anal stratified squamous epithelium (ASSE) and intestinal epithelium (IE) were analyzed (Table 2, Figures 3 and 4). Statistic significant differences were not observed on thickness of ASSE (p>0.05). However, the thickness of IE was significantly enlarged when FA was given (p=0.001).

Table 2.
Thicknes of ASSE and IE.

Group	ASSE ± SD (μm)	IE ± SD (μm)	ARM (%)
AF + ETU	28.88 ± 0.56	21.11 ± 0.16	2%
ETU	27.75 ± 0.61	18.88 ± 0.93	65%

Figure 3.
Thickness of ASSE - ARM - ETU-group (x20).

Figure 4.
Thickness of IE - No ARM - FA+ETU group (x20).

Discussion

ARMs are among the most common congenital anomalies in humans. In male, rectourethral fistula has been the most common presentation, while vestibular fistula has been the most presented in females. The most of them present as an isolated malformation, although it may be part of VACTER anomalies. The term VACTER represents vertebral, anorectal, cardiovascular, tracheal, esophageal, renal and limb anomalies.

Currently, PSARP² has been performed throughout the world. This technique allowed better understanding of anorectal anatomy. Despite optimal surgical management, many patients reclaim of bowel and voiding dysfunction. These dysfunctions occur probably because no adequate repair for poorly developed muscles or nerves has been developed at this time.

ARMs pathogenesis and morphogenesis remains unclear. Various experimental models have been published using different animals. Rats are the most common animal used, including mutant mice. Different teratogenic drugs have induced ARMs in rats. One of the most known and researched is ethylenethiourea (ETU).

Ethylenethiourea is one of degradation products of ethylenebisdithiocarbamate fungicides. ETU is also used as an accelerator for vulcanizing polychloroprene and polyacrylate rubbers. The routes of potential human exposure to ethylenethiourea are inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact Individuals may be also exposed to ETU through consumption of food contaminated with fungicides⁵.

The first report of ARMs ETU-induced was in 1990. A single dose of ETU (125mg/kg) by gavage on GD11 produces ARMs and central nervous system (CNS) defects. ARMs were induced 92% in males, whereas ARMs were induced 41% in females⁶.

From this moment, various papers have been published trying to explain the ARMs morphogenesis. The urorectal septum (URS), cloaca and cloacal membrane are relevant structures for anorectal embryogenesis. In these experimental models cloacal membrane is short. The URS is maldeveloped far away from the cloacal membrane, and the URS and cloacal membrane were never fused. The failure of fusion between URS and cloacal membrane was pointed as main cause of rectourinary fistula. There was no anal membrane rupture consequently rectum did not communicate outside⁷.

The previous work of our group has induced 71% of ARMs in rats treated by ETU⁸. In this paper, 65% of ARMs were induced by ETU. Our results are similar to other groups^{9 - 15}.

Trying to figure out the enteric nervous system (ENS), the terminal intestine was analyzed by immunohistochemistry technique. Neuron-specific enolase (NSE), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and substance P 100 (PS100) were used to study the ENS and it was found neurons and ganglion cell densities in the myenteric plexus were decreased in ARMs^{16 - 18}.

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are derived from the mesenchyme and expressing c-kit receptor on its surface. ICCs have an important role in controlling intestinal motility, acting as pacemakers in the gastrointestinal tract and as neurotransmission intermediaries in the ENS for smooth muscle cells. Thinner muscle layer associated with lower density of ganglion cells and ICC were observed in ARMs ETU-induced, suggesting severe nerve plexus abnormalities and muscular layer atrophy in this experimental model¹⁸. Great number of ICC was found in detrusor muscle and in sub-epithelial layer of bladder¹⁹.

A defective sacral parasympathetic nucleus innervation to the rectum was related as a primary anomaly. This defect would be associated with ARMs during fetal development, contributing to poor postoperative anorectal function²⁰. Postoperative anorectal function depends on many factors, such as pelvic floor muscles, innervation of pelvic floor muscles, and no spinal cord anomalies. Striated muscle complex (SMC) is one of the most important factors related to anorectal function. Various defects in SMC were described in ARMs, such as the increased distance between SMC and the perineal skin²¹.

Internal anal sphincter (IAS) is very important to continence. IAS is responsible for the normal rectal anal inhibitory reflex controlling the resting tonus in the anal canal and keeping the anus closed. These muscles are dysplastic in rats with ARMs¹⁰.

In this study, the thickness of EEPA and IE were thinner in ETU group. Folic acid did not modify significantly the thickness of EEPA (p=0.2). On the other hand, the thickness of IE was significantly thicker in FA+ETU group than in ETU group. Fetuses with ARMs presented both thickness of EEPA and IE smaller than normal rats, but it was not possible to prove by statistical analysis. This analysis was only able to compare entire groups, but not each fetus individually.

Folic acid or folate is the generic term of a water soluble B vitamin. Folic acid has low toxicity. Folate refers to the deprotonated ion, while folic acid refers to the neutral molecule or the synthetic form of vitamin B. Folic Acid is more stable than folate.

Maternal FA deficiency was correlated with neural tube defects (NTD). FA provides well-documented benefit for the prevention of NTD and craniofacial defects. Currently, many countries recommend that all women planning or capable of pregnancy take a daily supplement containing 400-800μg of folic acid^{22 - 24}.

Few authors have studied the relationship between FA and ARMs, and their results are unclear. Some of them had not found any difference in development of ARMs when FA was taken^{25 - 27}. On the other hand, other authors had related some protection of FA in development of ARMs^{4 , 28 , 29}.

During folate metabolism, folate is converted by dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) to tetrahydrofolate (THF), the naturally bioactive form. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) catalyzes the conversion of THF to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MeTHF), the main form of folate in the blood circulation. Low enzyme activity of MTHFR reduces 5-MeTHF plasma levels, leading to increased levels of homocysteine. These changes have been related to neural tube defects. No relationship between ARMs and reduced enzyme activity of MTHFR was found²⁷.

In this study, ARMs ETU-induced experimental model was easily replicated, with similar results to other studies. The mean weight of the fetuses was significantly higher when FA was administrated (p=0.025). FA reduces significantly the incidence of ARMs in this model from 65% to 2% (p<0.005). Further studies are necessary to explain how folic acid acts in this model.

Conclusion

Folic acid reduces the incidence of anorectal malformations induced by ethylenethiourea in rats.

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• Financial source: none
• 1
  Research performed at Laboratory of Experimental Surgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Brazil. Part of Master degree thesis, Postgraduate Program in Interdisciplinary Surgical Science, UNIFESP. Tutor: José Luiz Martins.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Aug 2015

History

• Received
  20 Apr 2015
• Reviewed
  23 June 2015
• Accepted
  24 July 2015