Abstract
To address the role of PKC isoforms in hyperglycemia-induced apoptosis and malformations in the embryos of diabetic pregnancies, expression of PKCα, β1, β 2, γ, δ, ε, and ζ was examined in the neural tube of rat embryos and showed to overlap with the regions of increased apoptosis. Levels of activated (phosphorylated) PKCα , β2, and δ were increased in the embryos of diabetic dams whereas those of PKCε and ζ were decreased when compared with those in control groups. Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) was also activated. Blocking the activity of PKCα , β2, and δ using isoform-specific inhibitors in embryos cultured in hyperglycemia (40 mM) reduced malformation rates when compared with those in untreated hyperglycemic and euglycemic (8.3 mM) groups. These observations demonstrate that PKCα, β2, and δ play an essential role in diabetic embryopathy. Activation of cPLA2 was also decreased, suggesting that PKCs mediate the hyperglycemic effects through the cPLA2-phospholipid peroxidation pathway.
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