The teratogenicity of cadmium chloride in two stocks of Wistar rats

Abstract

Abstract The teratogenicity of cadmium chloride (16/μM/kg Cd++) was studied in Wistar rats from two commercial sources. Subcutaneous cadmium was not teratogenic. Intraperitoneal cadmium was highly teratogenic in both stocks when given on day 9, 10, or 11 of gestation. There were marked differences between the two stocks in fetal mortality and the incidence and types of malformations produced. Cadmium on day 9 produced an attenuation of the abdominal wall in 13–16% of the term fetuses. In one stock of rats, cadmium on day 10 produced reduction deformities of one forelimb similar to the previously reported acetazolamide syndrome in rats.