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Fetal malformations in mice caused by tap water exposure
Author(s) -
Hrubec Terry C,
Ferguson Elizabeth E,
Mallela Murali K,
Keller Vanessa E
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.450.2
Subject(s) - tap water , exencephaly , teratology , gestation , anencephaly , fetus , spina bifida , neural tube , anatomy , offspring , biology , craniofacial , pregnancy , medicine , physiology , embryo , surgery , genetics , environmental engineering , engineering
In May of 2006, we began to observe neural tube defects (NTDs ‐ a common birth defect resulting in spina bifida and anencephaly) in untreated mice. The longer the mice were housed, the greater the incidence of defects. The cause of these defects was eventually traced to the municipal tap water provided to the mice. Rearing mice for 2 generations (F2 mice) on distilled deionized (DDI) water eliminated the NTDs. When the mice were placed back on tap water from 4 different municipalities, their offspring developed NTDs again. We hypothesized that the contaminant in the tap water could induce other fetal malformations as well. To test the hypothesis, F2 mice were exposed to tap water or DDI for 8 weeks before breeding and throughout gestation. Gestational day 17 embryos were examined for eye, tail, limb, palate, and craniofacial malformations. The embryos were then cleared and stained to assess axial skeleton malformations such as number of ribs and vertebrae, fused, transitional, hemi, and supernumary vertebrae/ribs. Tap water exposure significantly increased cleft palates (5.0% vs. 1.6%), rib malformations (68% vs. 30%) and number of resorptions (7.5% vs. 5.0%) compared to DDI. Analysis of the tap water is underway to identify the teratogen and possible risks to humans. This work was funded through the Harvey Peter's Foundation; Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS); and NIH grant K01RR16241.