title: Embryotoxic effects of EGTA-induced hypocalcemic condition on cultured rat embryos.
abstract: EGTA-treated rat serum was added to the culture medium and tested the toxic effect of EGTA on development of embryo using 11.5-day-old embryo in vitro. Exposure of the embryo to the medium treated with 25 micrograms/ml of EGTA for 2 or 24 hours caused a variety of teratogenic effects such as tail and hind limb bud deformities and facial anomalies (cleft lip). At a higher concentration of EGTA (50 micrograms/ml), damage of yolk sac (shrinkage type), developmental anomalies and dead fetuses were frequently observed. Embryonic growth and differentiation were only moderately affected under any experimental conditions. Calcium levels in EGTA-treated culture medium at doses of 25 and 50 micrograms/ml were significantly reduced as compared to the non-treated medium. These results suggested that the teratogenic action of EGTA is closely related to the decrease of calcium level in the medium.
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D001241:Aspirin / Q000633:toxicity; D001769:Blood; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D003470:Culture Media; D004533:Egtazic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D005026:Ethylene Glycols / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D004533:Egtazic Acid; D001241:Aspirin; D002118:Calcium