Effects of melatonin on fetal rat progress, cognitive functions of fetus and negative effects of maternal diabetes on fetus in experimental diabetes created in maternal phase

Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia which occurs because of the lack/absence of insulin secretion from beta cells or non-response to insulin on peripheral tissue. Chronic hyperglycemia may cause cognitive impairments such as learning and memory deterioration.In our study, we aimed to investigate the brain tissue glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), lipid peroxidation (LPO) products and glutathione (GSH) molecules levels, to detect the learning and memory deterioration in the offspring rats whose mothers are diabetics and also protective effect of melatonin. The Morris Water Maze test was used for measuring learning capacity.The learning capacity of the rat whose mother is diabetic was lower than diabetic-melatonin and control groups rats.The levels of NCAM180, GFAP and GSH were lower in offspring rats whose mothers are diabetic than control group (p<0.05, p<0.001, p<0.05), although the level of LPO was higher (p<0.001). In the melatonin applied pregnant rat group, the levels of NCAM 180 and GFAP were significantly higher than the diabetic group (p<0.05, p<0.01) but the LPO level was lower (p<0.01). By the application of melatonin during the pregnancy, GSH level was relatively higher than the diabetic group.In conclusion, learning capacity and memory are disturbed in offspring of diabetic mothers. Decreased NCAM isoforms can block the maturation of brain and formation of synaptic plasticity. Decreased GFAP density may account for matter during the completion of brain maturity in offspring of diabetic mothers. It is observed that application of melatonin which has antioxidant effect to diabetic mothers during pregnancy is protective against harmful effects of oxidative stress on their offsprings.