Teratogenicity of sodium arsenate in rats

Abstract

Abstract Pregnant Wistar rats were each injected once ip with various doses of sodium arsenate at one of days 7–12 of gestation (sperm day = day 0). The embryolethal and teratogenic effects of arsenate were dose dependent. The optimum dose, 30 mg/kg, produced optimal effects when injected at day 8, 9, or 10. At autopsy (day 20) the four most frequently seen soft‐tissue malformations were eye defects (anophthalmia and microphthalmia), exencephaly, renal agenesis, and gonadal agenesis. Ribs and vertebrae were the skeletal elements most susceptible to arsenate treatment. The atlas bones were rudimentary or missing in 63% of the experimental fetuses examined for skeletal defects. The results are compared and contrasted with those previously reported following arsenate treatment in hamsters and mice.