[Teratosis and damage of viscera induced by microcystin in SD rat fetuses].
OBJECTIVE
To study the teratogenicity and traumatic effect of microcystin LR (MCLR) on pregnant SD rats and their fetuses.


METHODS
Sixty pregnant SD rats were divided into four groups, 16 in each group: three experimental groups in which MCLR was injected into the abdominal cavity at the doses of 4 microgram/kg, 16 microgram/kg, and 62 microgram/kg respectively for 10 days, and control group injected with normal saline. Twenty days after, the pregnant rats were killed. The development, teratosis, and histology of viscera of the fetuses were examined.


RESULTS
Deformities were found in the fetuses of the 62 microgram/kg group and 16 microgram/kg group with the teratogenic rate of 11.70 per thousand (2/172) and 6.76 per thousand (1/155). Petechial hemorrhage and severe hydropic degeneration in liver and maldevelopment of glomeruli and renal medulla were found in 62 microgram/kg group. Mild granular degeneration was found in the liver of fetuses in 4 microgram/kg group.


CONCLUSIONS
MCLR passes through the placental barrier and causes damage in kidney and liver, which may be the basis of high incidence of liver cancer microgram in the fetus phase.
Zhang
Zhanying
Z
Institute of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Fudan University. Shanghai 200032, China.
Lian
Min
M
Liu
Ying
Y
Wei
Guorong
G
Yu
Shunzhang
S
Kang
Suya
S
Zhang
Youchen
Y
Chen
Chuanwei
C
D000818:Animals; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008387:Marine Toxins; D052998:Microcystins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008387:Marine Toxins; D052998:Microcystins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C057862:cyanoginosin LR