FOOD SCIENCE ›› 2012, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (23): 297-300.

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Effect of Prenatal Dietary Quercetin Supplementation on Female Rat Reproduction and Postnatal Development and Growth of Their Offspring

  

  • Received:2012-06-25 Revised:2012-11-20 Online:2012-12-15 Published:2012-12-12
  • Contact: Shao-Ping NIE E-mail:spnie@ncu.edu.cn

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effect of prenatal dietary quercetin supplementation on reproduction in female rats and the postnatal development and growth of their offspring. Methods: Pregnant SD rats were randomized into four groups: blank control and quercetin low, medium and high-dose groups. Quercetin was given by gavage to mice from gestation day 0 to postnatal day 21 at doses of 16, 160 mg/(kg•d) and 480 mg/(kg•d). and served as low, medium and high-dose groups, respectively. The mother rats and their offspring were examined for growth indices, reproductive capacity, and pup survival and anogenital distance (AGD) at regular time intervals during the administration period. At the end of the administration period, all of them were sacrificed and organ indices were measured. Results: Quercetin had no effects on maternal body weigh, reproductive capacity or pup survival as compared to blank controls. Quercetin administration at low and medium doses resulted in a significant decrease in AGD and body weight in male pups but had no effects on AGD or body weight in female pups. High-dose administration could reduce spleen index in mother rats and male pups, while female pups showed an increase in kidney index after medium-dose administration. Conclusion: Quercetin has estrogenic and anti-estrogenic activities, greater effects in male pups, but no reproductive and developmental toxicities.

Key words: quercetin, reproduction and development, perinatal period

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