Transplacental pharmacokinetics and teratogenicity of a single dose of retinol (vitamin A) during organogenesis in the mouse.
Pregnant mice received 10 or 100 mg retinol/kg body wt. by gavage on day 11 of gestation (plug day = day 0). One group of animals was used for a pharmacokinetic study. At various times after dosing, plasma and tissue samples were collected and analyzed by HPLC for retinyl esters, retinol, 13-cis- and all-trans-retinoic acid and 13-cis-4-oxo and all-trans-4-oxoretinoic acid. In the other group the fetuses were removed on day 18 and examined for malformations. After 10 mg/kg retinol, no teratogenic effect was observed. The pharmacokinetic investigation revealed a moderate increase of retinyl esters, retinol and all-trans-retinoic acid in plasma, embryonic tissue, placenta, yolk sac membranes and extraembryonic fluid. A high incidence of severe fetal malformations occurred after 100 mg/kg retinol. These malformations included limb defects (81% of fetuses) and cleft palate (55% of fetuses) which are characteristically found after administration of a single teratogenic dose of an active retinoid on day 11 of gestation. The concentration-time profile of retinoids after 100 mg/kg on day 11 showed a pronounced increase of retinyl esters and retinol in all compartments including the embryo and a massive generation of the polar metabolites all-trans-retinoic acid and all-trans-4-oxoretinoic acid. These polar metabolites were found in the embryo with peak concentrations of 327 +/- 115 and 143 +/- 20.7 ng/g (mean +/- SE) wet tissue, respectively. It is likely that all-trans-retinoic acid and all-trans-4-oxoretinoic acid, both well-known teratogens, largely contributed to the teratogenic outcome. The in-vivo oxidation of retinol may be an important factor in the teratogenic activity of high doses of vitamin A.
Eckhoff
C
C
Institut für Toxikologie und Embryonalpharmakologie, Freie Universität, Berlin, Germany.
Löfberg
B
B
Chahoud
I
I
Bochert
G
G
Nau
H
H
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004224:Diterpenes; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007536:Isomerism; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D051379:Mice; D010920:Placenta / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity; D015017:Yolk Sac / Q000032:analysis
D004224:Diterpenes; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D014801:Vitamin A; C009166:retinol acetate