Aim of the work: the present work was done to investigate the role of astaxanthin in ameliorating the physiological and teratological effects of aspartame on the pregnant rats and their fetuses.
Materials and methods: in this study 70 virgin mature female albino rats (Wistar wistar) were used and 35 males (for mating); pregnancy was ascertained by vaginal smearing. The pregnant rats were injected on days7, 9, 11 and 13 of gestation (organogenesis period). The animals were divided into the following groups: animals of the first group which were intraperitoneally injected with 0.5ml saline (solvent of aspartame); animals of the second were intraperitoneally injected with 0.5 ml olive oil (solvent of astaxanthin). The third group was divided into 2 subgroups, the pregnant rats of the first subgroup were intraperitoneally injected with aspartame (20mg./kg. body weight), the pregnant rats of the second subgroup were intraperitoneally injected with aspartame (40 mg./kg. body weight). Pregnant rats of the 4th group were intraperitoneally injected with astaxanthin (50mg.\kg. body weight) 2 hours after aspartame injection by its 2 doses.
Results: aspartame at the dose of 40 mg./kg.body weight induced pre- term ( early delivery); however the 2 doses of aspartame resulted in very highly significant decrease in the mean maternal body weight , unequal horns of the uteri and unequal distribution of the fetuses between them , abnormal amount of fats surrounding the 2 horns of the uterus, regions of hemorrhage were present on the external membrane of the uteri ,very highly significant uterine weight decrease , cases of abortion were noticed as well as highly significant increased resorption of the fetuses. Intraperitoneal injection with aspartame at the 2 doses resulted in fetal mortality, very highly significant fetal body weight and length decrease with a significant decrease in fetal tail length. Moreover, aspartame induced fetal morphological changes such as body diminution, exencephaly, cognition of the blood vessels in the head region and cleft lips. The skin seemed thin and fragile in the head region as well as the fore and hind regions; hematoma was obvious beside edema, clubbed fore and hind limbs, kyphosis was obvious beside hernias on some regions of the skin with hypertrophy of some fetuses and protrusion of the viscera outside the body. Aspartame exposure at the 2 doses induced highly significant increase in mean of maternal serum AST activity, very highly significant increase in mean serum GGT and serum creatinine activity.
Conclusion-Treatment with astaxanthin induced obvious improvement in all of the physiological and morphological changes caused by aspartame in the pregnant rats and their fetuses.