title: Effect of Ascaris trypsin inhibitor on fetal development of mice.
abstract: In this study, maternal toxicity and developmental effects of exposure to Ascaris trypsin inhibitor were evaluated in mice. Pregnant BALB/c females were injected intraperitoneally by Ascaris inhibitor /AIT/ at 200, 300, and 400 mg/kg body weight/day, on days 12 to 15 of gestation (stage of fetal development). At day 19 of pregnancy, uterine contents were inspected for implantation sites, early resorptions (moles), living fetuses and dead fetuses. The living fetuses were weighed and examined for external, internal and skeletal abnormalities. The results showed that AIT induced maternal toxicity, evidenced by maternal deaths, abortions, bleeding from uterus and reduced body weight gain as compared to control (p < 0.01). There were no differences between the control group and the rest of all groups investigated for total implantation sites and early resorptions. Fetotoxicity was observed as shown by the decrease in the number of living fetuses and mean fetal weight, a high rate of intrauterine fetal deaths, delayed skeletal ossification, occurrence of pathological changes of fetal organs and tissues. Only one type of congenital malformations (hydronephrosis) was noted in fetuses after injection of higher doses of AIT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Chair of Biology and Medical Genetics, Medical University, P1. Hallera 1, 90-647 Lódź. biolparazyt@poczta.onet.pl
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Błaszkowska
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; D000818:Animals; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000139:chemically induced; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005327:Fetal Resorption / Q000139:chemically induced; D020567:Fetal Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D013723:Teratogens / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D015801:Helminth Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D013723:Teratogens; C089852:trypsin inhibitor, Ascaris