title: All-trans-retinoic acid in maternal plasma and teratogenicity in rats and rabbits.
abstract: The teratogenicity of all-trans-retinoic acid, 13-cis-retinoic acid, and retinol was investigated in pregnant Wistar rats given a single oral dose on Day 10 of gestation. External malformations showed dose-dependent increases and the order of potency was all-trans-retinoic acid > retinol > 13-cis-retinoic acid. The metabolites in maternal plasma were determined following a single oral dose on Day 10 of gestation. Equipotent teratogenic doses of all-trans-retinoic acid and 13-cis-retinoic acid had similar plasma levels of all-trans-retinoic acid; however, retinol teratogenicity could not be accounted for by circulating all-trans-retinoic acid or its metabolites. The teratogenicity and maternal pharmacokinetics of all-trans-retinoic were compared in pregnant Wistar rats when given as a single dose (50 mg/kg) and as three equal doses (16.66 mg/kg) over 6 hr. Divided doses were of slightly greater potency than the single dose but the maximum observed concentration (Cmax) and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) values for the second and third doses were greatly attenuated compared with the first dose; in consequence, both the total AUC and Cmax were reduced compared with the single dose. The altered profile could not be explained by increased formation of all-trans-retinoic acid glucuronide or increased isomerisation to 13-cis-retinoic acid. The maternal plasma levels of all-trans-retinoic acid in pregnant rabbits were reduced by a dose given 24 hr earlier. These data show that all-trans-retinoic acid in maternal plasma is a poor indicator of fetal exposure to teratogenic risk.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pharmacology Group, University of Southampton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Tembe
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Honeywell
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Buss
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Renwick
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005965:Glucuronates / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000235:genetics; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D005965:Glucuronates; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D014212:Tretinoin