Folic acid supplementation attenuates hyperhomocysteinemia-induced preeclampsia-like symptoms in rats

Folic acid participates in the metabolism of homocysteine and lowers plasma homocysteine levels directly or indirectly.To establish a hyperhomocysteinemic pregnant rat model,2 mL of DL-homocysteine was administered daily by intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 200 mg/kg from day 10 to day 19 of gestation.Folic acid was administered by intragastric administration at a dose of 20 mg/kg during the period of preeclampsia induction.Results showed that systolic blood pressure,proteinuria/creatinine ratio,and plasma homocysteine levels in the hyperhomocys-teinemic pregnant rats increased significantly,and that body weight and brain weight of rat pups significantly decreased.Folic acid supplementation markedly reversed the above-mentioned abnormal changes of hyperhomocysteinemic pregnant rats and rat pups.These findings suggest that folic acid can alleviate the symptoms of hyperhomocysteinemia-induced preeclampsia in pregnant rats without influencing brain development of rat pups.