THE EFFECTS OF HIGH-DOSE TOLUENE ON EMBRYONIC-DEVELOPMENT IN THE RAT

Citation
Sm. Gospe et al., THE EFFECTS OF HIGH-DOSE TOLUENE ON EMBRYONIC-DEVELOPMENT IN THE RAT, Pediatric research, 36(6), 1994, pp. 811-815
Citations number
34
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Pediatrics
Journal title
ISSN journal
0031-3998
Volume
36
Issue
6
Year of publication
1994
Pages
811 - 815
Database
ISI
SICI code
0031-3998(1994)36:6<811:TEOHTO>2.0.ZU;2-A
Abstract
Development disability, intrauterine growth retardation, renal anomali es, and dysmorphic features have been described in offspring of women who abuse toluene during pregnancy. A Sprague-Dawley rat model was dev eloped to study this clinical syndrome. During d 6-19 of gestation, 11 treated dams received daily gavage doses of toluene, 520 mg/kg body w eight, diluted in corn oil, and 11 control dams received corn oil. Thi s dose of toluene simulates the blood toluene levels obtained after an inhalation exposure to 3290 ppm toluene, an inhalation level in the l ower end of the range experienced by toluene abusers. Maternal weight gain was 24% less in the toluene-exposed group (p < 0.002); however, t here were no maternal deaths. The fetuses were delivered on d 19 of ge station, and 287 fetuses (148 toluene exposed, 139 control) were exami ned. Toluene treatment did not affect the number of implantations or s tillbirths. There were no toluene-induced major congenital malformatio ns or neuropathologic changes noted. In the toluene-treated group, the weights of the fetuses were reduced by 9.4% (p < 0.004) and placental weights were reduced by 10.3% (p < 0.01). Toluene exposure also reduc ed fetal organ weights as follows: brain 4.6%, heart 5.9%, liver 13.2% (p < 0.02), and kidney 13% (p < 0.05). Organ weight/body weight ratio s did not differ significantly, suggesting that prenatal toluene expos ure produced a generalized growth retardation.