title: Evaluation of Maternal Toxicity in Rats Exposed to Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes during Pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study investigated the potential adverse effects of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on pregnant dams and embryonic development following maternal exposure in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  MWCNTs were orally administered to pregnant rats from gestational day (GD) 6 through 19 at dose levels of 0, 8, 40, 200, and 1000 mg/kg/day. During the test period, clinical signs, mortality, body weights, food consumption, serum biochemistry, oxidant-antioxidant status, gross findings, organ weights, and Caesarean section findings were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All animals survived to the end of the study. A decrease in thymus weight was observed in the highest dose group. However, maternal body weight, food consumption, serum biochemical parameters, and oxidant-antioxidant balance in the kidneys were not affected by treatment with MWCNTs. No treatment-related differences in gestational index, embryo-fetal mortality, or fetal and placental weights were observed between treated and control groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that 14-day repeated oral dosing of MWCNTs during pregnancy induces minimal maternal toxicity at 1000 mg/kg/day in rats. Under these experimental conditions, the no-observed-adverse-effect level of MWCNTs is considered to be 200 mg/kg/day for dams and 1000 mg/kg/day for embryonic development.
authors: College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea.
authors: Jeong-Hyeon
authors: JH
authors: Lim
authors: Sung-Hwan
authors: SH
authors: Kim
authors: In-Chul
authors: IC
authors: Lee
authors: Changjong
authors: C
authors: Moon
authors: Sung-Ho
authors: SH
authors: Kim
authors: Dong-Ho
authors: DH
authors: Shin
authors: Hyoung-Chin
authors: HC
authors: Kim
authors: Jong-Choon
authors: JC
authors: Kim