Developmental Toxicity of Acrolein in New Zealand White Rabbits

Pregnant New Zealand white rabbits (20 per group) were treatedvia stomach tube with 0.0, 0.1, 0.75, or 2.0 mg/kg/day fromDays 7 through 19 of presumed gestation and subjected to cesareansectioning on Day 29. Throughout the period of treatment, clinicalobservations, feed consumption, and body weights were recorded.At the termination of the study, reproductive and fetal parameterswere measured. Three does died during the study, and transienteffects on body weight gains and feed consumption were noted,with a subsequent rebound effect reflected in both fetal andmaternal weights in the high-dose group (2 mg/kg/day). Resorptionswere elevated in the high-dose group, but the effect was notstatistically significant. Fetal malformations were distributedevenly among groups, and incidences were consistent with historicalcontrol data on the same strain and at the same laboratory.Higher dosage levels (range-finding study, 4.0 and 6.0 mg/kg/day)produced high incidences of maternal mortality, spontaneousabortion, resorptions, clinical signs, gastric ulceration, and/orsloughing of the gastric mucosa. Acrolein was not found to bea developmental toxicant or teratogen at doses not toxic tothe does under the conditions employed in this study.