Thesis (M.S.)--University of Toledo, 2007 / "In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences." Title from title page of PDF document. Bibliography: p. 37-48, 62-84.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [138]-157).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2007. / "Graduate Program in Toxicology." Includes bibliographical references (p. 115-131).

Obesity and type-2 diabetes are major global health crises. The synthetic retinoid compound 4-hydroxy(phenyl)retinamide (Fenretinide, FEN), has been shown to inhibit adiposity and reverse insulin resistance in pre-clinical studies. Fenretinide acts via several different mechanisms, including induction of retinoid signalling and increased hepatic lipid oxidation to exert its metabolic effects. However, the signalling mechanisms behind these effects have yet to be fully elucidated. A number of approaches were taken in this thesis to investigate the signalling mechanisms of Fenretinide. To characterise the relationship between Fenretinide and leptin signalling, Fenretinide treatment was administered in two different leptin-deficient mouse models. Fenretinide effects on hepatic signalling mechanisms were further characterised by performing global transcriptomics analysis in liver from mice receiving HFD ± Fenretinide. In this analysis, the important metabolic hormone fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 21 was identified as a novel retinoid-dependent target of Fenretinide signalling, which was further characterised in multiple mouse models. Retinoic-acid receptor-specific ChIP-sequencing was performed in order to identify other liver genes that are regulated by Fenretinide via retinoid-dependent signalling mechanisms. This work has shown that the beneficial effects of Fenretinide on adiposity occur via a mechanism independent of that through which Fenretinide mediates effects on glucose homeostasis. Fenretinide effects on insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis are most likely mediated via the inhibition of ceramide synthesis in the liver and other metabolically active tissues. This work also shows that Fenretinide can normalise the effects of chronic HFD-feeding by targeting the expression of a set of PPARα-target genes in the liver via a retinoid-dependent signalling mechanism. Overall, the work described in this thesis both uncovers more detail about the signalling mechanisms of Fenretinide and identifies novel target genes that may be exploited for the development of new therapeutics to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Orientador: Nelson Eduardo Durán Caballero / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-18T16:38:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ridolfi_DanielaMissiani_M.pdf: 1638152 bytes, checksum: e0dcd5884432b022ba79cd8e69b9512f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: Tretinoína (ácido todo-trans-retinóico) é empregado no tratamento tópico de várias doenças de pele, no entanto sua utilização é fortemente limitada pelos efeitos colaterais que apresenta e pela sua alta instabilidade química. Neste trabalho tretinoína foi encapsulada em nanopartículas lipídicas sólidas (NLS-TRE) e em NLS recobertas com quitosana (NLS-Quitosana-TRE). Ambas as partículas apresentaram alta eficiência de encapsulação, alta estabilidade física e morfologia esférica. As NLS-Quitosana-TRE apresentaram menor cristalinidade em relação às NLS sem quitosana. A capacidade de transporte das nanopartículas foi limitada pela baixa taxa de solubilização da tretinoína no lipídio fundido, nas condições de preparação. A adição de etanol na preparação das nanopartículas aumentou a capacidade de transporte, no entanto a estabilidade das dispersões foi alterada (as NLS sem quitosana permaneceram estáveis por apenas um mês e as NLS com quitosana se desestabilizaram logo após a preparação). Ambas as partículas não apresentaram potencial citotóxico em células de fibroblastos e queratinócitos. A encapsulação de tretinoína em NLS reduziu de forma significativa sua fototoxidade, o que evidencia o efeito protetor da matriz lipídica. As NLS-Quitosana-TRE apresentaram alta atividade antibacteriana contra as principais bactérias envolvidas na acne (S. epidermidis e P. acnes) e contra a S. aureus, também envolvida em infecções de pele. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho permitem concluir que as NLS, com e sem recobrimento com quitosana, possuem um grande potencial para encapsulação de tretinoína em aplicações dérmicas. O recobrimento com quitosana pode melhorar ainda mais as propriedades das NLS como sistema carreador de tretinoína, uma vez que as NLS-Quitosana-TRE apresentaram atividade antibacteriana contra bactérias envolvidas em infecções de pele e desta forma podem aumentar a eficácia terapêutica no tratamento tópico da acne e de outras doenças de pele / Abstract: Tretinoin (all-trans retinoic acid) is employed in the topical treatment of various skin diseases, however, its uses is strongly limited by their side effects and high chemical instability. In this work tretinoin was encapsulated in solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN-TRE) and SLN coated with chitosan (SLN-Chitosan-TRE). Both particles exhibited high entrapment efficiency, high physical stability and spherical morphology. The SLN-chitosan-TRE presented lower crystallinity compared to SLN without chitosan. The loading capacity of nanoparticles was limited by the low solubilization rate of tretinoin in the melted lipid at the preparation's conditions. The addition of ethanol in the nanoparticles preparation increased the loading capacity, however the dispersion stability was altered (the SLN without chitosan remained stable by only one month and the SLN with chitosan destabilized after preparation). Both particles were not cytotoxic to either fibroblasts or keratinocytes cells. The tretinoin encapsulation in SLN decreased significantly its phototoxicity, which shows a protector effect by the lipid matrix. The SLN-Chitosan-TRE exhibited high antibacterial activity against the main bacteria involved in the acne (S. epidermidis and P. acnes) and against the S. aureus which is involved in skin infections. The results obtained in this work allows us to conclude that the SLN, with and without coating with chitosan, have a great potential for encapsulation of tretinoin in dermal application. The coating with chitosan can improve the SLN properties as carrier for tretinoin because the SLN-Chitosan-TRE exhibited antibacterial activity against bacteria involved in skin infections and therefore can improve the therapeutic efficacy in the topical treatment of acne and other skin diseases / Mestrado / Físico-Química / Mestre em Química

Orientadores: Sérgio Luis Felisbino, Francisco Eduardo Martinez / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-27T11:21:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fontanelli_BeatrizAparecidaFioruci_D.pdf: 2932311 bytes, checksum: fc7d79d2b10d42488acf176230c43c39 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: Pesquisadores têm mostrado que o consumo crônico de etanol altera a concentração do ácido retinóico, metabólito ativo da vitamina A, em muitos órgãos, incluindo a próstata. O ácido retinóico é essencial para o desenvolvimento normal da próstata e para a manutenção de sua homeostase. Alterações na concentração e no metabolismo do ácido retinóico estão relacionadas com o desenvolvimento de lesão na próstata. Adicionalmente, a atividade de metaloproteinases da matriz extracelular (MMPs), também está relacionada com o desenvolvimento de alterações na próstata. Assim, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo descrever os efeitos dos consumos, baixo e alto, de etanol sobre as proteínas envolvidas na síntese e no catabolismo do ácido retinóico (artigo I), bem como, sobre a atividade enzimática das MMPs (artigo II) nos lobos dorsais e laterais da próstata.Vinte ratos adultos (~ 90 dias de idade) de cada variedade, UChA e UChB, foram divididos nos grupos (n=10/grupo): UChA (consumo baixo de etanol, 0,2-2 g/kg/dia), UChAC (ratos que não consumiram etanol); UChB (consumo alto de etanol, > 2g/kg/dia), UChBC (ratos que não consumiram etanol).Após o período experimental (~ 150 dias de idade), os ratos foram eutanasiados por decapitação e os lobos dorsais e laterais das próstatas foram coletados e dissecados: (1) para avaliar os níveis e a localização das proteínas ALDH1A1, ALDH1A2, ALDH1A3, CYP26A1, CYP26B1, CYP2E1, através de western blot e imuno-histoquímica, bem como, a atividade catabólica das CYP26A1, CYP26B1, CYP2E1 por ensaio bioquímico e quantificação por HPLC-MS/MS; (2) e para avaliar a atividade da MMP-2 e da MMP-9, e os níveis dos inibidores teciduais de metaloproteinases (TIMP-1/ TIMP-2), através de zimografia e Elisa, respectivamente. No grupo UChA, a ALDH1A3 aumentou na próstata dorsal, enquanto as proteínas ALDH1A1 e ALDH1A2 diminuíram na próstata lateral. No grupo UChB, as proteínas ALDH1A1, ALDH1A2, e ALDH1A3 aumentaram na próstata dorsal, enquanto a ALDH1A3 diminuiu no lobo lateral. A concentração do ácido retinóico aumentou, indicando diminuição da atividade da CYP2E1, e diminuiu quando se avaliou a CYP26, indicando aumento de sua atividade na próstata dorsal do UChB. Além disso, o ácido retinóico diminuiu quando se avaliou a atividade de CYP total nos grupos experimentais, sendo somente aumentado na próstata lateral do UChA. O consumo baixo de etanol (grupo UChA) diminuiu a atividade das MMP-2 e MMP-9 e o nível das TIMP-2 e TIMP-1 na próstata lateral, enquanto que na próstata dorsal o etanol diminuiu a atividade de MMP-2 e o nível de TIMP-1. Por outro lado, no grupo UChB, o etanol diminuiu somente a atividade da MMP-9 na próstata lateral e não alterou os níveis de TIMP-1 e TIMP-2.Nossos resultados indicam que o etanol modula a síntese e o catabolismo do ácido retinóico na próstata do rato de modo dependente de sua concentração. Além disso, o consumo crônico e baixo de etanol diminui a atividade das metaloproteinases -2 e -9, sendo a próstata lateral o lobo afetado e, portanto, mais susceptível a estas alterações, do que o lobo prostático dorsal. / Abstract: Researchers have shown that chronic ethanol consumption alters the retinoic acid concentration, an active metabolite of vitamin A, in many organs including the prostate. The retinoic acid is essential for the normal development of prostate and for maintaining its glandular homeostasis. Changes in concentration and metabolism of retinoic acid are related to lesion development in the prostate. Additionally, the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), also relates to development of alterations in prostate. Thus, this study aimed to describe the effects of low and high doses of ethanol consumption, on the proteins involved in the synthesis and catabolism of retinoic acid (Article I), as well as on the enzymatic activity of MMPs (Article II) the dorsal and lateral lobes of the prostate. Twenty adult rats (~ 90 days old) of each variety, UChA and UChB, were divided into groups (n = 10 / group): UChA (low ethanol consumption, 0.2-2 g /kg / day), UChAC (rats not consumed ethanol); UChB (high ethanol consumption, > 2 g/ kg/ day), UChBC (rats not consumed ethanol). After the experimental period (~ 150 days old), the rats were euthanized by decapitation and dorsal and lateral lobes of the prostates were collected and dissected: (1) for evaluate the levels and location of the proteins ALDH1A1, ALDH1A2, ALDH1A3, CYP26A1, CYP26B1, CYP2E1, by western blot and immunohistochemistry, as well as, catabolic activity of CYP26A1, CYP26B1, CYP2E1 by biochemical assay and quantification by HPLC¿MS/MS; (2) and to evaluate the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9, and the levels of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1 / TIMP-2) using zymography and ELISA, respectively. In the UChA group, ALDH1A3 increased in dorsal prostate, while the proteins ALDH1A2 and ALDH1A1 decreased in the lateral prostate. In the UChB group, the proteins ALDH1A1, ALDH1A2 and ALDH1A3 increased in the dorsal prostate, while ALDH1A3 decreased in the lateral lobe. The concentration of retinoic acid increased, indicating a decrease in the CYP2E1 activity, and decreased when evaluated CYP26, indicating increased of CYP26 activity in the UChB dorsal prostate. Furthermore, the retinoic acid decreased when assessing the CYP total activity in the experimental groups, but only increased in the lateral prostate of UChA. The low ethanol consumption (UChA group) reduced the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and the levels of TIMP-2 and TIMP-1 in the lateral prostate, while dorsal prostate the ethanol decreased the MMP-2 activity and the level of TIMP-1. On the other hand, in the UChB group, ethanol only decreased the activity of MMP-9 in the lateral prostate and did not alter the levels of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. Our results indicate that ethanol modulates the synthesis and catabolism of retinoic acid in the rat prostate in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the chronic and low consumption of ethanol decreases the activity of metalloproteinases -2 and -9 in the lateral lobe prostate, showing that this organ is more susceptible to these changes than dorsal lobe prostate / Doutorado / Anatomia / Doutora em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

No description available.

No description available.

All-trans retinoic acid (atRA) is an important morphogen in many developmental processes, including apoptosis, growth, organogenesis and differentiation. During the early embryonic development, atRA is synthesized in an irreversible reaction from all-trans retinal (atRAL), catalyzed mainly by retinal dehydrogenase 2 (RALDH2). The upstream metabolic pathway, including the redox reaction between all-trans retinol (atROL) and atRAL, mediated by short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase, however, is less understood during embryonic development. / Previously a Xenopus laevis short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase 3 (dhrs3) was identified as a gene differentially expressed in the Spemann-Mangold Organizer. In this study, dhrs3 was found to be expressed in the circumblastoporal ring, neuroectoderm and pronephros region, and was up-regulated by atRA signalling. By using loss-of-function and gain-of-function approaches, it was found that the phenotype induced by knockdown of dhrs3 mimicked those with an elevated level of atRA signalling, and overexpression of dhrs3 enhanced the phenotype of cyp26a1, which functions in degradation of atRA. In dhrs3 knock-down embryos (morphants), expression domain of the mesoderm markers brachyury was disrupted, and that of organizer marker lim1 were significantly expanded, suggesting altered mesoderm induction. Overexpression of dhrs3, on the other hand, exerted an opposite effect on lim1 by reducing its expression. dhrs3 also rescued the phenotype following raldh2 overexpression induced by exogenous atRAL, suggesting that dhrs3 competed with raldh2 for the same substrate, atRAL. In line with these findings, expression of the mid-brain, hindbrain and neural crest markers was posteriorized in dhrs3-overexpressing embryos, similar to the phenotype of atRA-deficient embryos induced by cyp26a1. These findings indicate that dhrs3 participates in the retinoid metabolism by reducing atRAL to atROL. / Xenopus dhrs3 morphants displayed a shortened anteroposterior axis, similar to that of atRA toxicity. Examination of convergent extension (CE) markers papc indicated a defect in the CE movement, which was also evidenced by the disrupted bra and not expression. Overall, the results of the present study suggest that dhrs3 regulates proper mesoderm patterning through regulating the CE movement. / Kam, Kin Ting. / Advisers: Yu Pang Eric Cho; Wood Yee Chan; Hui Zhao. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-06, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [158]-184). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Chan, Wing Lung. / Thesis (M.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-130). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Title --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.ii / Table of Content --- p.iii / List of Tables --- p.viii / List of Figures --- p.xi / List of Graphs --- p.xii / Abbreviations --- p.xiv / Abstract --- p.xv / Abstract (Chinese) --- p.xvii / Chapter Chapter 1: --- General Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Diabetes Mellitus --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Type 1 diabetes mellitus --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Type 2 diabetes mellitus --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Gestational diabetes mellitus --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2 --- Diabetic Pregnancy --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Incidence of congenital malformations in diabetic pregnancy --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Long term complications in the infant of diabetic mother --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3 --- Hyperglycemia --- p.7 / Chapter 1.4 --- Oxidative Stress --- p.8 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymes --- p.8 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Cellular function of oxidative stress --- p.9 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Adverse effects of excess oxidative stress during embryogenesis --- p.9 / Chapter 1.5 --- Retinoic Acid --- p.10 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Function of RA during embryonic development --- p.10 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- RA synthesis and degradation --- p.10 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- Mechanisms of retinoic acid signaling : --- p.12 / Chapter 1.5.4 --- Developmental genes regulated by RA --- p.12 / Chapter 1.6 --- Strategy of the Thesis --- p.14 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- General Materials and Methods / Chapter 2.1 --- Animals --- p.17 / Chapter 2.2 --- Induction of Diabetes --- p.17 / Chapter 2.3 --- Mating Methods --- p.18 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Mice --- p.18 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Rats --- p.18 / Chapter 2.4 --- Whole Mount In Situ Hybridization --- p.19 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Synthesis of DNA plasmids and riboprobes --- p.19 / Chapter 2.4.1.1 --- Mini-scale preparation of plasmid DNA --- p.19 / Chapter 2.4.1.2 --- Linearization of DNA plasmid --- p.20 / Chapter 2.4.1.3 --- In vitro transcription and labeling --- p.21 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Fixation and dehydration of embryos --- p.22 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Hybridization with RNA probes --- p.23 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Post-hybridization wash --- p.24 / Chapter 2.4.4.1 --- Pre-absorption of anti-DIG antibody --- p.25 / Chapter 2.4.4.2 --- Embryo powder preparation --- p.25 / Chapter 2.4.5 --- Post antibody wash and signal development --- p.25 / Chapter 2.5 --- Real-time Quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) --- p.26 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Sample collection and storage --- p.26 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Total RNA extraction --- p.27 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Reverse transcription --- p.28 / Chapter 2.5.4 --- Quantitative real-time PCR --- p.28 / Chapter 2.5.5 --- Preparation of cDNA standards for real-time PCR --- p.29 / Chapter 2.6 --- RA-responsive Cell Line --- p.29 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Cell culture --- p.30 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Seeding 96-well plate with RA-responsive cells --- p.31 / Chapter 2.6.3 --- Applying samples to 96-well plate coated with RA-responsive cells --- p.31 / Chapter 2.6.4 --- β-galactosidase staining --- p.32 / Chapter 2.7 --- Separation of Protein Isoforms by Isoelectric Focusing (IEF) --- p.33 / Chapter 2.7.1 --- Preparing protein samples for IEF --- p.33 / Chapter 2.7.2 --- Isoelectric focusing --- p.33 / Chapter 2.7.3 --- IEF native gel staining --- p.34 / Chapter 2.7.4 --- Locating three retinaldehyde dehydrogenase (Raldh) isoforms --- p.35 / Chapter 2.8 --- In Vitro RA Synthesizing Reaction --- p.36 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Effect of Maternal Diabetes on Retinoic Acid Synthesis in the Mouse Embryo / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.38 / Chapter 3.2 --- Experimental Design --- p.41 / Chapter 3.3 --- Materials and Methods --- p.42 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Sample collection --- p.42 / Chapter 3.3.1.1 --- Criteria for selecting embryos at the same developmental stage --- p.42 / Chapter 3.3.1.2 --- Sample collection for in situ hybridization --- p.42 / Chapter 3.3.1.3 --- Sample collection for real-time quantitative RT-PCR --- p.43 / Chapter 3.3.1.4 --- Sample collection for in vitro RA synthesizing reaction --- p.44 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Statistical analyses --- p.45 / Chapter 3.4 --- Results --- p.46 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- "Comparison of the in situ expression pattern of Raldh 1, Raldh2 and Raldh3 between embryos of diabetic and non-diabetic mice" --- p.46 / Chapter 3.4.1.1 --- In situ hybridization patterns of Raldh 1 --- p.46 / Chapter 3.4.1.2 --- In situ hybridization patterns of Raldhl --- p.46 / Chapter 3.4.1.3 --- In situ hybridization patterns of Raldh3 --- p.47 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- "Comparison of the relative expression level of Raldh 1, Raldh2 and Raldh3 between embryos of diabetic and non-diabetic mice at different developmental stages" --- p.48 / Chapter 3.4.2.1 --- Relative expression levels of Raldh 1 --- p.50 / Chapter 3.4.2.2 --- Relative expression levels of Raldh2 --- p.50 / Chapter 3.4.2.3 --- Relative expression levels of Raldh3 --- p.51 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Comparison of the in vitro RA synthesizing activity of Raldh 1 Raldh2 and Raldh3 enzymes between embryos of diabetic and non-diabetic mice at different developmental stages --- p.52 / Chapter 3.5 --- Discussion --- p.55 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- Effect of Hyperglycemia on Retinoic Acid Synthesis / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.59 / Chapter 4.2 --- Experimental Design --- p.61 / Chapter 4.3 --- Materials and Methods --- p.64 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Phlorizin treatment --- p.64 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Whole rat embryo culture --- p.64 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Preparation of rat serum --- p.65 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- In situ hybridization --- p.66 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Real-time quantitative RT-PCR --- p.66 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- In vitro RA synthesizing reaction --- p.68 / Chapter 4.3.7 --- Statistical analyses --- p.68 / Chapter 4.4 --- Results --- p.70 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- "Comparison of the relative expression level of Raldh 1, Raldh2 and Raldh3 between embryos of diabetic and non-diabetic mice injected with phlorizin or suspension vehicle as control" --- p.70 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Comparison of the in vitro RA synthesizing activity of different isoforms of Raldh enzymes between embryos of diabetic and non-diabetic mice injected with phlorizin or suspension vehicle as control --- p.73 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- In situ expression pattern of Raldh2 in rat embryos cultured in medium containing varying concentrations of D-glucose --- p.77 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Relative expression levels of Raldh2 in rat embryos cultured in medium supplemented with varying concentrations of D-glucose --- p.78 / Chapter 4.4.5 --- In vitro RA synthesizing activity ofRaldh2 in rat embryos cultured in medium supplemented with varying concentrations of D-glucose --- p.79 / Chapter 4.5 --- Discussion : --- p.82 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- In Vitro Supplementation with RA Rescued Rat Embryos from Hyperglycemia-induced Congenital Malformations / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.86 / Chapter 5.2 --- Experimental Design --- p.88 / Chapter 5.3 --- Materials and Methods --- p.89 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Preparation of RA --- p.89 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Supplementation of RA to rat embryos in culture --- p.89 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Morphological scoring system --- p.90 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- Statistical analyses --- p.90 / Chapter 5.4 --- Results --- p.92 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Supplementation with RA rescued embryos from hyperglyce- miainduced malformations --- p.92 / Chapter 5.5 --- Discussion --- p.101 / Chapter Chapter 6: --- Conclusion and Future Perspectives / Chapter 6.1 --- Conclusion and Future Perspectives --- p.106 / References --- p.111