Study of the teratogenic potential of FD & C Red No. 40 when given by gavage to rats

Osborne-Mendel rats were intubated with FD & C Red No. 40 at dose levels of 0, 30, 75, 150, 300, 600, or 1000 mg/kg body weight/day on days 0-19 of gestation. No developmental toxicity was observed when the animals were killed on day 20 of gestation. No dose-related changes were seen in maternal daily observations, food consumption, body-weight gain or implantations, or in foetal viability, body weight, body length, sex distribution or external variations. Skeletal and soft-tissue development appeared similar in foetuses of all groups. The isolated increases that occurred in the number of male foetuses, number of females with two or more resorptions, number of litters with three or more sternebral variations and incidence of 14th rib bud are considered random occurrences and were not related to dosage.     

The effects of maternally inhaled formaldehyde on embryonal and foetal development in rats

Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 0, 5, 10, 20 or 40 ppm formaldehyde for 6 hr/day from day 6 to 20 of gestation. On day 21 of gestation the rats were killed for evaluation of maternal reproductive and foetal parameters. No effect on embryonic or foetal lethality, nor significant alterations in the external, visceral or skeletal appearance of the foetuses were noted in any of the exposed groups. Significant concentration-related reduction of foetal body weight occurred at 20 and 40 ppm, and at 40 ppm foetal body weights were 20% less than those of the controls. Maternal toxicity, indicated by significant reduction in body weight and absolute weight gain, was observed at 40 ppm. The results of this study show that formaldehyde is slightly foetotoxic at 20 ppm. Neither embryolethal nor teratogenic effects were observed following inhalation exposure at levels up to 40 ppm.     

Teratogenicity and embryotoxicity study of carmine of cochineal in the rat

Groups of 30 mated female rats were given daily doses of 0, 200, 500 or 1000 mg carmine/kg body weight by oral intubation throughout pregnancy. A group of 17 similar animals was given a solution of chlorides to provide an intake of sodium, potassium and ammonium equal to that resulting from the highest dose level of carmine. There were no effects of carmine treatment on body weights, pregnancy rates, pre-implantation losses, the average numbers of live young, litter weights or foetal weights. The group given the highest dose of carmine and the cation control had increased numbers of implantations and post-implantation losses. The latter was considered to be due to an inability to maintain the increased numbers of implantations rather than to an embryotoxic effect. The foetuses showed no malformations and those from the carmine-treated rats tended to have a slightly more advanced degree of ossification of certain skeletal elements than foetuses of the control animals. On the basis of the results obtained it is considered that there were no untoward effects on embryo development in rats given oral doses of up to 1000 mg carmine/kg body weight/day throughout pregnancy.     

Study of the teratogenic potential of FD & C Yellow No. 5 when given by gavage to rats

FD & C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine) was given to Osborne-Mendel rats by gavage at dose levels of 0, 60, 100, 200, 400, 600 or 1000 mg/kg body weight/day on days 0–19 of gestation. No maternal or developmental toxicity was observed when the rats were killed on day 20. The mean daily food consumption for the entire period of gestation was significantly greater in the females given 1000 mg/kg body weight/day than in the controls, but maternal body-weight gain was not affected. No dose-related effects were observed in implantations, foetal viability or external foetal development. Foetal skeletal and visceral development was similar among foetuses from all groups. At the doses given, FD & C Yellow No. 5 was neither toxic nor teratogenic.     

The effect of prednisolone on the foetotoxicity of cadmium in pregnant mice

The effects of prednisolone was investigated on the foetotoxicity of cadmium. CFLP female mice were given a single i.p. dose of 2.5 mg cadmium (Cd) per kg body weight on day 5 or 9 of gestation. This treatment significantly decreased both the number of live foetuses and foetal weights on day 18 of gestation. Prednisolone (0.1 mg kg-1) given daily from the day of cadmium treatment death, prevented the effects of cadmium on foetal weights in both groups, and on the number of live foetuses when cadmium was given on day 9 of gestation. When Cd was given on day 13 of gestation similar treatment with prednisolone did not influence either litter size or the weights of 1-day-old pups.     

Study of the teratogenic potential of gum arabic

Gum arabic in the diet at 0, 1, 2, 4, 7.5 or 15% was available ad lib. to male and female Osborne-Mendel rats during premating and mating and throughout gestation. During gestation, the treated females consumed from 683 mg gum/kg body weight/day in the 1% group to 10,647 mg gum/kg/day in the 15% group. The animals were killed on gestation day 20. There were no dose-related changes in maternal findings, number of foetuses, foetal viability or external, visceral or skeletal variations. No terata were seen.     

Potential reversibility of skeletal effects in rats exposed in utero to caffeine

Groups of Osborne-Mendel rats, killed at three time intervals following mating, were studied to determine whether prenatal skeletal ossification delays observed following low-level caffeine administration represent transient or persistent ossification problems. Group A litters were killed on gestation day 20; group B neonates were killed on post-natal day 0; and group C pups were killed on post-natal day 6. Within each group, dose levels of 0, 0.018, 0.036 or 0.07% caffeine in distilled water were available ad lib. to groups of 30-60 dams from gestation day 0 to day 20. Average daily caffeine consumption was 24.7-29.0 mg/kg body weight for the 0.018% group, 42.7-48.8 mg/kg body weight for the 0.036% group and 70.6-75.1 mg/kg body weight for the 0.07% group. In group A litters, the mean number of viable foetuses was significantly less in the mid-dose and high-dose animals than in the controls. In the same group, the average number of foetuses per litter with at least one sternebral ossification delay was increased significantly in all treated groups and the average number of foetuses per litter with at least two sternebral variations was significantly increased in the mid- and high-dose groups. The percentages of litters containing foetuses with at least two and at least three sternebral variations and the average number of foetuses per litter with at least three sternebral variations were significantly increased only in the high-dose group. Foetuses from the mid- and high-dose groups also had significant increases in certain skeletal defects, namely missing centra and reduced ossification of the dorsal arch. Foetuses from the high-dose group also had significant increases in bipartite supraoccipital, and reduced ossification of the hyoid, metacarpals and metatarsals. In group B, day 0 neonates from all treated groups showed a significantly increased incidence of delayed sternebral ossification (average number of foetuses per litter with one or more missing, incomplete or bipartite sternebrae). The percentages of litters containing neonates with delayed sternebral ossification were also increased significantly in all treated groups. Neonates from the 0.07% level in group B also exhibited a significant increase in the incidence of supernumerary rib bud, and in reduced ossification of the metacarpals, metatarsals and calcaneus bones. Significant increases were also seen, in group B, in the low- and mid-dose animals, respectively, in supernumery rib bud and in reduced ossification of the metatarsals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Teratogenicity and embryotoxicity study of Green S in rats

Daily oral doses of 0 (control), 250, 500 or 1000 mg Green S/kg body weight were given to groups of 30 pregnant rats on days 0–19 of pregnancy. This treatment did not adversely influence maternal body weight, the numbers of implanations, of pre- or post-implantation losses or of live foetuses, the sex ratio or the weight of the litters or foetuses. No definite abnormalities were seen and the only finding in the examination of stained skeletons was a slightly more advanced ossification of the forelimbs of the offspring from females given 500 or 1000 mg Green S/kg/day. More foetuses with mucus in the trachea were found in the treated groups than in the controls but this was not considered to be a teratogenic effect. Thus no embryotoxic or teratogenic effects were detected with doses of up to 1000 mg Green S/kg/day throughout pregnancy.     

Effect of butyl benzyl phthalate in Sprague-Dawley rats after gavage administration: a two-generation reproductive study

Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), a plasticizer, has been shown in in vitro studies to be weakly estrogenic, and in in vivo studies to possess testicular toxicity and teratogenicity, but few experimental data on BBP multigeneration effects on reproduction in mammals are available. The present two-generation reproductive study was conducted in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats using oral doses of 0, 20, 100, and 500 mg/kg/day BBP. Endpoints were chosen in order to evaluate both subchronic and reproductive toxicity. In the parent animals (F₀), a decrease in body weight gain was observed in males in the 500 mg/kg/day group, although no significant decrease in food consumption was found. No dose-related changes were observed in estrous cyclicity, fertility, or lactation. A dose-dependent increase in kidney weight in rats of both sexes, an increase in liver weight in males, and a decrease in the weight of the ovaries in females were observed. No macroscopic or microscopic changes were found in the reproductive system of males or females. Oral administration of BBP caused a decrease in the serum concentration of testosterone, and an increase in FSH. In the next generation (F₁), the body weight of male and female offspring at birth in the 100 and 500 mg/kg groups was significantly decreased, and the body weight in the 500 mg/kg group was lower throughout the study, while viability was not affected. Anogenital distance (AGD) at birth was decreased in male pups and was increased in female pups of the 500 mg/kg/day group. Preputial separation for male offspring in the 500 mg/kg/day group was delayed, while vaginal opening for female offspring in this group was not affected. BBP did not affect reproductive ability, including delivery and lactation, at any dose whereas macroscopic and microscopic changes of the testis, and decreased serum concentrations of testosterone were observed in male offspring of the 500 mg/kg/day group after puberty. From these data, it would appear that 20 mg/kg BBP is a no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) for reproductive effects on parent animals and the next generation.     

Developmental profile of serum androgens and estrous cyclicity of male and female rats exposed, perinatally, to maternally administered phenytoin

Pregnant rats were treated, daily, with either 10, 50 or 100 mg/kg of phenytoin-Na from day 17 of gestation through postpartum day 7. The male and female offspring exposed to the 2 higher doses of phenytoin had smaller body weights at birth than the diluent-treated rats, and this subnormal body weight gain persisted throughout the life of the affected animals. In contrast, the anticonvulsant produced no adverse effects on the developmental profile of serum androstenedione, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone or estrous cyclicity in the exposed male and female offspring, respectively. In spite of the normal concentrations of serum androgens, the seminal vesicles of the adult rats exposed to the 50 and 100 mg/kg doses of phenytoin were significantly smaller than the diluent-treated males.     

Reproductive and developmental toxicity studies of S-1090, cefmatilen hydrochloride hydrate (1)--A study on oral administration prior to and in the early stages of pregnancy in rats

Cefmatilen hydrochloride hydrate (S-1090) was administered daily by gavage to rats at doses of 100, 300 or 1000 mg potency/kg/day prior to and in the early stage of pregnancy to assess its adverse effects on parental reproductive ability and embryo-fetal development. Loose and/or reddish brown feces were observed in both males and females of all the S-1090 dosing groups, and abdominal distention was also observed in males throughout the dosing period. No drug-related deaths occurred in either males or females. In males, body weight and food consumption were increased at a dose of 1000 mg potency/kg/day throughout the dosing period. In females, body weight gain was restrained during late pregnancy, and food consumption was decreased transiently following the initiation of dosing, and then remained high on the day before parturition in all the S-1090 dosing groups. Necropsy of male and female rats revealed an increase in the cecum weight. The reproductive ability of males and females was normal in all the S-1090 dosing groups. No effects of S-1090 were observed in the implantation ratio, embryo-fetal viability, fetal body weight, and incidence of external, skeletal and visceral anomalies. Based on these results, the no observed adverse effect levels of S-1090 are estimated to be less than 100 mg potency/kg/day for parental general toxicity, 1000 mg potency/kg/day for reproductive toxicity, and 1000 mg potency/kg/day for developmental toxicity in embryo-fetuses under the conditions of the present study.     

Chronic toxicity and oncogenic dose-response effects of lifetime oral acrylonitrile exposure to Fischer 344 rats

Acrylonitrile (AN) was administered in the drinking water for approximately 2 years to groups of 100 male and 100 female Fischer 344 rats at nominal concentrations of 1, 3, 10, 30, and 100 ppm. Two groups, each of 100 males and 100 females, were used as untreated controls. Average daily intake was 0.1, 0.3, 0.8, 2.5 or 8.4 mg AN per kg body weight per day, respectively, for treated male rats and 0.1, 0.4, 1.3, 3.7, or 10.9 mg AN per kg per body weight per day, respectively, for dosed females. Clinical biochemistry, interim necropsies, organ weights and microscopic evaluation of tissues and organs were performed on groups of ten rats per sex per group at months 6, 12, and 18 and at study termination. Females were sacrificed in the 24th month and males were terminated after 26 months of dosing. A consistent decrease in survival, lower body weight and reduced water intake, as well as small reductions in hematological parameters, were observed in both sexes of the 100 ppm group. Elevated numbers of early deaths were observed in groups of males receiving 10 ppm AN and females receiving 30 ppm AN. Organ:body weight ratios at various study intervals were consistently elevated in the high dose group and likely were related to lower body weights. At these same intervals, mean absolute weights were either comparable to controls or only slightly elevated and few changes in weight ratios were seen when organ weights were compared with brain weights. No biochemical changes suggested a treatment-related effect. An increase in urine specific gravity in 100 ppm male rats was reflective of a decrease in liquid intake at this level. The only significant non-neoplastic finding observed histologically was a dose-related increase in hyperplasia/hyperkeratosis in squamous cells of the forestomach in male and female rats given 3 ppm and higher AN. This observation correlated with the induction of treatment-related squamous cell tumors (papillomas and carcinomas) of the forestomach seen primarily in rats at 3 ppm AN and higher. Mammary gland carcinomas were observed only in female groups. Both sexes given 10 ppm AN or more in their drinking water for their lifetime had astrocytomas of the brain/spinal cord and adenomas/carcinomas of the Zymbal's gland.     

Teratogenic evaluation of 1,1,3,3-tetrabutylurea in the rat following dermal exposure

The teratogenic potential of 1,1,3,3-tetrabutylurea (TBU) was evaluated in the Crl:CD(SD)BR rat. Doses of 25, 50 or 100 mg TBU/rat/day in 0.5 ml dimethyl phthalate were applied to the shaven dorsal skin on days 6-15 of gestation, the day on which a sperm-positive vaginal smear was present being designated day 1. The rats were killed 1 day before natural delivery and the foetuses were examined for external development, structure and integrity of internal tissues and organs, and skeletal development. No maternal effects were seen in rats exposed to 25 mg TBU, but skin irritation and a reduction in maternal body-weight gains were seen in rats treated with either 50 or 100 mg/day, the effects being more pronounced in the 100-mg/day group. In the latter group, the number of pregnancies maintained was reduced and the number of resorptions per litter, calculated only on the litters with resorptions, was increased. Foetuses derived from the females treated with 100 mg/day were slightly smaller than the controls but were structurally normal. The outcome of pregnancy was unaltered in rats given either 25 or 50 mg TBU/day. No increase in malformed foetuses was observed in any of the test groups. Under the conditions of this study, TBU was not teratogenic when applied dermally to rats at doses up to 100 mg/day.     

Evaluation of the developmental toxicity of succinate tartrates in rats

The potential for succinate tartrates (ST) to induce developmental toxicity in Sprague-Dawley CD rats has been evaluated. ST dose levels of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight/day were administered in the drinking-water on days 6-15 of gestation. Control animals received distilled water. Caesarean sections were performed on gestation day 20 and the foetuses were removed for teratological evaluation. No significant maternal or developmental toxicity was observed at any dose level. Based on these observations, the no-observed-effect level for ST developmental toxicity is greater than or equal to 1 g/kg/day, which was the highest dose tested.     

Neonatal exposure to toluene: effects on the development of liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 and serum hormone levels in the rat

Lactating Sprague-Dawley rats and their pups were exposed on postnatal days 1-7, 6 h/day, to 80, 500 and 1000 ppm toluene, respectively, by inhalation. Exposure to 80 ppm toluene decreased the liver microsomal AHH activity and the rate of 7 alpha- and 6 beta-hydroxylation of androstenedione in 8-day-old-pups. On the other hand, neonatal exposure to 500 or 1000 ppm toluene resulted in a significant increase in AHH and 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activities and in the formation of 16-oxygenated metabolites of androstenedione in 8-day-old animals. Exposure to toluene increased the cytochrome P-450 content at all 3 dose levels in male but not in female pups. Twenty-one days after neonatal exposure no such effects were seen in young animals of either sex. In 56-day-old male rats, however, neonatal exposure to 80 ppm toluene resulted in a decreased rate of 6 beta-hydroxylation of androstenedione and a reduced AHH activity. No such effects were seen in female rats of the same age. Neonatal exposure to toluene affected the body and liver weights in 8-day-old pups of both sexes but had no effect on these parameters in 21-day-old animals of either sex. Exposure to 80 ppm toluene during the neonatal period gave a significantly increased body weight of 56-day-old male but not of female rats of the same age although this treatment increased liver weight in both sexes at this age. Serum testosterone levels were decreased in 21-day-old male rats following neonatal exposure to 80 or 500 ppm toluene and in 56-day-old male rats exposed neonatally to 1000 ppm toluene. In conclusion, exposure to toluene during the first week of life caused significant changes in various liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 dependent enzyme activities in 8-day-old pups, whereas the long-term effects on liver metabolism of the adult animal were small.     

Maternal exposure to androstenedione does not induce developmental toxicity in the rat.

Thirty-day old female rats received corn oil or androstenedione (in corn oil) at one of four concentrations (5.0, 10.0, 30.0 or 60.0 mg/kg body weight) by gavage for two weeks prior to mating, during the mating period and until gestation day (GD) 19. Caesarean sections were performed on GD 20. No dose related changes were observed in serum androstenedione, estradiol, LH, FSH, testosterone or progesterone. A statistically significant decrease in estrous cycle length was observed in the 60.0 mg/kg dose group only. Feed and fluid consumption, mean body weight gain, organ weight and fetal parameters were not affected by androstenedione treatment. At the doses given, androstenedione had no specific effect on the development of individual bones or soft tissues.     

Acute and subchronic oral toxicity studies in rats of a hydrolyzed chicken sternal cartilage preparation.

Two acute and subchronic oral toxicity studies were conducted in rats to evaluate safety of a patented preparation of hydrolyzed chicken sternal cartilage (BioCell Collagen II) containing collagen type II, chondroitin sulfate, and hyaluronic acid. In the acute oral toxicity study, five males and five females of Sprague-Dawley rats were administered a single dose of 5000 mg of the test product per kg body weight and observed for 14 days. All animals survived and exhibited normal body weight gain throughout the study. Macroscopic necropsy examination conducted on day 15 revealed no gross pathological lesions in any of the animals. In the subchronic study, Sprague-Dawley rats (40 males, 40 females) were divided into four same-sex groups (10 animals/group). Animals in each group were administered daily either 0, 30, 300 or 1000 mg of the test product per kg of body weight for over 90 days. All animals survived and showed no significant changes in their body weights and histopathology. Although some differences were observed between the treated and control animals in several parameters, they were generally not dose-related or considered to be of toxicological significance. In conclusion, the results from the two oral toxicity studies with male and female young adult rats indicated that the test preparation from hydrolyzed chicken sternal cartilage collagen (BioCell Collagen II) was well tolerated at all four doses tested.     

Age-related morphometric differences in responses of rat lungs to ozone

The influence of age on morphologic changes in lungs of rats exposed to ozone was studied in female Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 60 and 444 days. Rats of both age groups were exposed continuously for 72 hr to either 0.35 or 0.80 ppm ozone, or to filtered air. Tissues were evaluated using light microscopic morphometry and scanning electron microscopy. The lungs from ozone-exposed 60-day-old rats had larger volume fractions of centriacinar lesions than lungs from exposed 444-day-old rats. Within each age group there was an observed dose response, with rats exposed to 0.80 ppm ozone having larger volume fractions of lesions than those exposed to 0.35 ppm. Only the 444-day-old rats lost body weight during the exposure period. They also had smaller fixed lung volumes than same-aged controls. All 60-day-old rats gained weight during the exposure period, although rats exposed to 0.80 ppm ozone gained less than filtered air controls. Lesions observed in both age groups of female rats were qualitatively similar to those previously described in young adult male rats. We conclude that there are age-related differences in the morphometric responses of rats to ozone exposure. Younger rats had larger proportions of centriacinar lesions and macrophages while older rats had greater body weight and lung volume changes.     

Developmental toxicity studies in rats and rabbits with 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol, the major metabolite of chlorpyrifos.

3,5,6-Trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP), the primary metabolite of chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl, was evaluated for potential developmental toxicity. Groups of 32-34 bred female Fischer 344 rats were given 0, 50, 100, or 150 mg TCP/kg/day by gavage on gestation days 6-15; the fetuses were evaluated on gestation day 21. Similarly, groups of 16 inseminated female New Zealand White rabbits were given 0, 25, 100, or 250 mg TCP/kg/day by gavage on gestation days 7-19, and fetuses were evaluated on gestation day 28. No clinical signs of toxicity attributed to TCP were noted in either species. In rats, at 150 mg/kg/day, maternal effects included slight decreases in feed consumption, significantly depressed body weight gain (25% relative to controls) resulting in significantly lower maternal terminal body weights, and increased relative liver weight. At 100 mg/kg/day, maternal body weight gain in rats was depressed approximately 22%. Among rabbits, maternal effects were limited to the group given 250 mg/kg/day, which lost an average of approximately 70 g during the treatment period (vs. 140 g in the controls). There were no effects on fetal weight or viability, nor were there significant increases in any fetal alteration in either species. A slightly higher (not statistically significant) than usual incidence of central nervous system anomalies occurred in rabbits, but these anomalies were found in both treated and control groups in this study as well as contemporaneous studies of unrelated compounds. This, and the fact that these anomalies were not seen with the parent compound, chlorpyrifos, suggest that their origin was spontaneous. Thus, TCP was not considered fetotoxic or teratogenic in either rats or rabbits, even at dose levels that produced maternal toxicity.     

A 90-day subchronic toxicity study of beta-calcium pyrophosphate in rat

β-calcium pyrophosphate has been used as a bone-graft extender. The present study evaluated the toxicity from the subchronic administration of β-calcium pyrophosphate to male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were divided into two groups consisting of 10 male and 10 female rats each and fed β-calcium pyrophosphate extract (30?mg/kg body weight/day) and saline, 7 days per week for 90 consecutive days. During the experiment, no deaths were observed in any groups, and there were no remarkable changes in clinical signs, body weight, food and water consumption, hematological and serum biochemical parameters, organ weight, and histopathological findings between the control and treated groups. The results show no adverse toxic effects of β-calcium pyrophosphate extract (30?mg/kg body weight/day) for rats of either sex.