Anterior neural tube malformations induced after all-trans retinoic acid administration in white rat embryos. I. Macroscopical observations.
For this study all-trans-retinoic acid was administered in pregnant white rats in their "prima gravida" pregnancy. Rats were divided in five groups. The first three groups were treated with 20 mg R.A./kg b.w. at several gestational days. The fourth group was treated with corn oil, while the fifth group remained untreated. All the animals were sacrificed during the first hours of the 21st gestational day. In the first group, three embryos, five absorptions and six compact embryonic masses were counted in litters. All the embryos presented exencephaly, combined with external anopthalmia. They also presented severe craniofacial malformations. In the second group, nine embryos and five compact embryonic masses were counted in litters. Three of the embryos presented exencephaly combined with external anopthalmia, while the six remaining presented complex craniofacial anomalies. In the third group, exencephaly was present in two embryos combined with anopthalmia, seven embryos had complex anomalies and four compact embryonic masses were counted in litters. Our results indicate the teratogenic involvement of all-trans-retinoic acid in anterior neural tube differentiation.
Laboratory of Histology-Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
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EN
Emmanouil-Nikoloussi
M
M
Goret-Nicaise
C
C
Kerameos-Foroglou
A
A
Dhem
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000633:toxicity*
D014212:Tretinoin