Interaction of dimethylsulfoxide and arachidonic acid with the teratogenic effects of caffeine in mice.
Dose-response of the teratogenic effect of caffeine (CA) and the potential role of facial hematomas in the pathogenesis of caffeine-induced cleft palate were investigated using CD1 mice treated with 150, 200, or 250 mg CA/kg i.p. on gestational day (GD) 12. Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO; 20%) and arachidonic acid (AA, 200 mg/kg) were administered along with CA (200 mg/kg) to study their interaction with CA-induced teratogenesis and elevation in maternal glucocorticoids (MGC, measured by RIA) on GD 13 and 14. Dose-dependent increase in the incidence of cleft palate (CP) was noted in CA-exposed mice. High maternal deaths, an increased number of resorptions, gross facial hematomas (GFH), and club foot (CF) were produced only by the highest (250 mg/kg) dose of CA. Palates from all offspring with GFH were clefted at this dose level. None of the control or CA-treated nonclefted offspring had GFH or microscopic hematomas (MH). At 200 mg/kg of CA, DMSO in combination with CA actually increased CA-induced CP from 30% to 100% and also produced 100% GFH as compared to 0% by CA alone at this dose. Greater than 50% of clefted offspring without GFH, given either dose (200 or 250 mg/kg) of CA, had MH. Very high levels of MGC were present in CA-treated mice on GD 13 and 14. Although simultaneous administration of DMSO reduced the magnitude of CA-induced MGC elevations on GD 14, the MGC levels remained high for greater than 24 hours following CA exposure. Increase in maternal mortality and fetal resorptions, a decrease in the number of live pups and their body weights, and no change in the incidence of CP were seen when CA-treated mice were simultaneously exposed to AA. These results suggest a correlation between caffeine-induced FH and CP; a role for increased hematomagenic effects of DMSO in its potentiation of the cleft-palatogenic effect of caffeine; and absence of a role for AA-mediated effects of MGC in the causation of CA-induced CP and other malformations.
Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia 659211.
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D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000633:toxicity*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005145:Face / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D011247:Pregnancy
D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D002110:Caffeine; D003345:Corticosterone; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide