Teratogenic effect of cadmium on the foetal development of albino rats

Abstract

Foetus of pregnant rats exposed to single intraperitoneal injection of 2 mg/kg body weight cadmium sulphate on eighth gestational days; were compared with control (saline injected) fetuses to assess the effects of cadmium sulphate on foetal growth and ossification. Cadmium sulphate caused significant reduction in body weight and morphological abnormalities such as exencephaly, gastroschiasis, kinky tail and club foot. Cadmium reduced the length of long bones and caused a retardation of ossification of the centra of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae as well as delay in the formation of caudal vertebrae and intervertebral discs.


KEY WORDS: cadmium, foetus, skeletal abnormalities.


Egyptian Journal of Biology Vol.3(2) 2001: 110-115