title: [Evaluation of embryotoxicity of misoprostol using the whole embryo culture assay].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Approximately 15% of misoprostol-induced-abortions may not be successful, leading to in utero exposure to the drug and to the induction of a series of defects including central nervous system, limb and visceral defects. A common proposal is that the drug causes disruption of the fetal vasculature leading to embryonic or fetal hypoxia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the teratogenicity of misoprostol using the rat post-implantation embryo culture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rat embryos were collected at the beginning of organogenesis and cultured in rat serum containing misoprostol at concentrations of 200, 2,000 or 20,000 pg/ml. Functionality, morphology and morphometry parameters were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Misoprostol induced a dose-dependent embryotoxic effect causing a decrease in embryo viability and function (poor vascular development and survival) and morphometry (alterations in branchial arches, heart and cephalic portions of the neural tube, among others).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All the manifestations observed are indicative of the ability of misoprostol to directly induce developmental retardation and alterations.
authors: Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile.
authors: Carolina
authors: C
authors: Campos E
authors: M Fernanda
authors: MF
authors: Cavieres
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000196:embryology*; D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000633:toxicity*; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D016595:Misoprostol