title: Fetotoxicity of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in rats and the protective role of vitamin E.
abstract: The present study was conducted to investigate the potential role of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in inducing developmental toxicity and oxidative damage in pregnant rats and their fetuses as well as to assess the efficacy of vitamin E to prevent or alleviate such defects. Pregnant rats received 2,4-D (100 mg/kg bw) alone or in combination with vitamin E (100 mg/kg bw) daily from gestation day 1 to 19. The number of implantations, viable and resorbed fetuses and sex ratio were not statistically different among groups. However, fetuses maternally treated with 2,4-D were characterized by lower body weight and higher morphologic and skeletal defect rate. 2,4-D induced oxidative stress in the liver of mothers and fetuses which was indicated by a significant elevation of malondialdehyde level with reduction in catalase activity and total antioxidant capacity. Coadministration of vitamin E can counteract the deleterious effects of 2,4-D by successive reduction in the oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Zoology department, Women College for Arts, Science and Education- Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Fatma M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Mazhar
authors.affiliation: Zoology department, Women College for Arts, Science and Education- Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Karima M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Moawad
authors.affiliation: Zoology department, Women College for Arts, Science and Education- Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt mhgawad11@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mai H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: El-Dakdoky
authors.affiliation: Zoology department, Women College for Arts, Science and Education- Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Amany S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Amer
mesh_terms: D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D051381:Rats; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014810:Vitamin E; D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid