title: Teratogenic effects and distribution of cadmium (Cd2+) administered via osmotic minipumps to gravid CF-1 mice.
abstract: Studies to identify the mechanisms underlying the teratogenic effects of cadmium (Cd2+) have been complicated by the inherent difficulties of chronically and subchronically administering specific doses of Cd2+ to gravid animals under strictly controlled conditions. The objective of the present study was to develop a relatively simple animal model for examining the teratogenic effects of subchronic Cd2+ exposure. Cd2+ was administered to gravid CF-1 mice by subcutaneously implanted Alzet osmotic minipumps, which released fixed amounts of Cd2+ over a 14-day period between days 5 and 18 of gestation. The results showed that Cd2+ administered in this manner produced fetal anomalies and that the patterns of Cd2+ distribution and the specific developmental defects were similar to those that have been reported for other routes of Cd2+ administration. These findings indicate that osmotic minipumps may serve as useful tools in long-term studies of Cd2+ teratogenicity. They would appear to be especially useful in teratogenic evaluations where minimizing maternal stress and administering precise doses of Cd2+ are important.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, PA 16509, USA.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Mahalik
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Hitner
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Prozialeck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology; D002104:Cadmium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D015918:Infusion Pumps, Implantable; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009995:Osmosis; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011897:Random Allocation; D013723:Teratogens / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D013723:Teratogens; D002104:Cadmium