title: Effects of ascorbic acid on selenium teratogenicity in cultured rat embryos.
abstract: The effects of ascorbic acid, as an exogenous antioxidant, on selenium (Se) teratogenicity were examined using rat embryo culture. Rat embryos at day 9.5 of gestation were cultured for 48 h in the presence of sodium selenite at 10 and 20 microM or sodium selenate at 30 and 100 microM with or without the addition of 1 mM of L-ascorbic acid (AsA). Selenite or selenate alone increased the incidence of embryonic malformation. With AsA, the incidence of selenite-induced embryonic malformation was increased. On the contrary, the incidence of selenate-induced embryonic malformation was decreased with AsA. It was considered from these results that the redox states in the embryonic environment and of Se are critical in Se teratogenicity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology, National Institute of Health Sciences, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan. usami@nihs.go.jp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Usami
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tabata
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohno
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D011247:Pregnancy; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012643:Selenium / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D012643:Selenium; D001205:Ascorbic Acid