Glycine reduces cadmium-induced teratogenic damage in mice.
The effect of glycine in preventing cadmium (Cd) teratogenicity in mice was studied. Cadmium chloride (CdCl2) was administered subcutaneously at 1, 2 or 4 mg/kg doses on gestation days (GD) 7, 8 and 9. Glycine was given ad libitum (in the drinking water) from GD0 through GD18 (the day when animals were killed), as a 1% and 2% drinking water solution. Cd and nucleic acid concentrations in embryos were determined. The most common finding seen after CdCl2 4 mg/kg exposure was exencephaly. The incidence of this malformation was significantly reduced in mice receiving 2% glycine while fetal Cd significantly decreased as compared to cadmium-treated positive control animals. Increased nucleic acid levels were seen in the same embryos. In glycine non-supplemented mice given CdCl2 4 mg/kg, embryonic lipid peroxidation proved to be increased. In conclusion, lipid peroxidation was associated with cadmium-induced teratogenicity, and glycine inhibited the cadmium-induced effect by inhibiting placental transport of cadmium. However, further detailed studies are needed to establish the mechanism(s) of action.
Paniagua-Castro
Norma
N
National School of Biological Sciences, National Polytechnic Institute, Pre-clinical Toxicology Laboratory, Prolongación de Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n, Colonia Plutarco Elías Calles, Delegación Miguel Hidalgo, 11340 México, DF, Mexico.
Escalona-Cardoso
Gerardo
G
Chamorro-Cevallos
Germán
G
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D019256:Cadmium Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004336:Drug Antagonism; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005998:Glycine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D013723:Teratogens / Q000633:toxicity*
D013723:Teratogens; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D004247:DNA; D019256:Cadmium Chloride; D005998:Glycine