RESUMO
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of excess all-trans retinoic acid, a vitamin A metabolite, on pancreatic organogenesis and TGF-beta2 expression during prenatal development in rats. First group of animals used as control while a single dose of 60 mg/kg all-trans retinoic acid was ingested by the mothers, at day 8 of gestation (before the neurulation period) in group II and at day 12 of gestation (after the neurulation period) in group III, and all embryos were sacrificed at day 18 of gestation. TGF-beta2 expression was detected in the capsule, acini and Langerhans islets in the control group. In the pancreas of group II, dilatation and congestion of interlobular vessels were observed. Langerhans islet structures were completely absent. Moreover acinar TGF-beta2 immune reactivity was not determined. In group III, acinar expression of TGF-beta2 in acid was similar to that in the controls but their Langerhans islets TGF-beta2 immune reactivity was significantly less than the controls. In view of the present findings we suggest that TGF-beta2 plays important role in pancreatic morphogenesis and administration of excess all-trans retinoic acid before neurulation inhibit TGF-beta2 expression disrupted pancreatic morphogenesis particularly Langerhans islets. However, its administration after neurulation had less adverse affect on pancreatic organogenesis and TGF-beta2 immune reactivity.