Premium
Effects of N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine on Teratogenicity of Cadmium in Mice
Author(s) -
NAYA Masato,
SHUTO Katsuichi,
YASUDA Mineo
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
congenital anomalies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1741-4520
pISSN - 0914-3505
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-4520.1994.tb00795.x
Subject(s) - gestation , teratology , fetus , cadmium , dosing , medicine , pregnancy , body weight , cysteine , andrology , physiology , endocrinology , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , genetics , organic chemistry , enzyme
Embryotoxicity and teratogenicity of cadmium (Cd) and modulation of its effects by N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine (NAC) were evaluated in mice. Pregnant ICR mice were intraperitoneally injected with 3.5 mg/kg of CdCl 2 on day 10 or 11 of gestation (vaginal plug = day 0). Pregnant mice were pretreated with 160 mg/kg of NAC intravenously 2 hours before dosing with CdCl 2 . Pregnant mice were killed on day 17 of gestation. Fetuses were examined for external malformations, especially limb malformations, cleft palate and abnormal palatal rugae. There was little difference in body weight gain of dams during the gestation period in the groups treated with NAC plus Cd as compared with the groups treated with Cd alone. Pretreatment with 160 mg/kg of NAC decreased the fetal mortality, incidence of cleft palate and abnormal palatal rugae induced by Cd on day 11. On day 10, pretreatment with NAC decreased the incidence of Cd induced abnormal palatal rugae. These results clearly indicate that NAC exerts protective effects against embryotoxicity and teratogenicity of Cd.