[Developmental toxicity of retrorsine on mouse embryos in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the fetotoxicity of retrorsine.


METHODS
Mouse whole embryo culture (WEC) was applied. Post-implantation (8.5 d) mouse embryos were isolated from their mothers and put into the medium of immediately centrifuged serum (ICS) prepared from rats. Different concentrations of retrorsine (12.5, 25, 50, 100 mg x L(-1)) were added into the WEC culture. Development (yolk sac diameter, crown-rump length, head length, somite number) and organic morphodifferentiation (yolk sac circulation, allantois, embryonic flexion, heart, brain, optic-otic-olfactory organ, branchial arch, maxillary, mandible, bud) of embryos were observed at 48 h after treatment.


RESULTS
Obvious fetotoxicity could be observed in various retrorsine treatment groups in a dose-dependent manner. Development of embryos was delayed significantly at dose 12.5-100 mg x L(-1). Malformations were shown in all organic morphodifferentiation indexes, especially in otic-olfactory organ, branchial arch, maxillary, mandible, bud.


CONCLUSIONS
Retrorsine had obvious fetotoxicity in vitro WEC culture, indicating that exposure of pregnant mice to retrorsine may have potential risk on fetals.
Capital Medical University School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100069, China.
Jiayin
J
Han
Aihu
A
Liang
Yan
Y
Yi
D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D011763:Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods*
D011763:Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids; C003300:retrorsine