Fetal teratogens

Avoidance of diphenhydramine because of both fetal teratogenic and withdrawal complications (18)... 

In mice orally administered a single dose of 70, 150, or 300 mg/kg of the compound jervine on day 8, 9, or 10 of pregnancy, teratogenic effects were observed in some strains of mice (C57BL/6J and A/J) but not in others (Swiss N GP[S] and Swiss Webster). Teratogenic effects included cleft lip, cleft palate, isolated cleft palate, and mandibular and limb malformations. Fetal teratogenicity and maternal and fetal toxicity were highly correlated (Omnell et al. 1990). 

Teratogenicity. The effects of chlorodibenzodioxins on maternal and fetal body measurements, incidence of fetal resorptions, and anomalies are given in Tables III and IV. 

Information on the transplacental transfer of americium in humans is not available directly, but the information from experiments with americium and other actinides has been used to derive biokinetic models and perform dosimetric models for the human (NCRP 1998 NRC 1996 Sikov and Kelman 1989). Studies in animals that received parenteral injections of americium have shown that absorbed americium is transferred to the fetus (Hisamatsu and Takizawa 1983 Paquet et al. 1998 Sasser at al. 1986 Schoeters et al. 1990 Weiss et al. 1980) (see Section 3.4.2.1). Limited reports indicate that241 Am may induce fetal death and teratogenic effects in rodents (Moskalev et al. 1969 Rommerein and Sikov 1986). 

The data from the only available animal study (Prigge and Greve 1977) indicate that inhaled lead is not teratogenic. However, it impaired heme synthesis in both rat dams and fetuses. In this study, dams were exposed to 1, 3, or 10 mg lead/m3 (chemical species not provided) throughout gestation (days 1-21). Maternal and fetal ALAD were inhibited at all exposure levels in a dose-related manner, and fetal (but not maternal) hematocrit and body weight were decreased at the 10-mg/m3 lead level. These results suggest that the fetuses were more sensitive to lead-induced toxicity than were the dams. 

Developmental Effects. There are no data available on developmental effects of acrylonitrile in humans however, two well-conducted studies in rats have shown that acrylonitrile is teratogenic in animals by both inhalation and oral exposure (Murray et al. 1978). Fetal malformations occurred in a dose-related manner. When administered orally, malformations were present even at doses in which no maternal or fetal toxicity was apparent. 

Grossly elevated concentrations of dissolved copper produce teratogenicity in fish embryos. A significant number of malformed fish larvae came from eggs treated with 500 pg Cu/L (Birge and Black 1979). In studies with laboratory animals and elevated concentrations of copper salts, copper penetrates the placental barrier into the fetus intramuscular injection of 4 mg Cu/kg BW early in pregnancy adversely affects fetal central nervous system development (Aaseth and Norseth 1986). In humans, no definitive data are available on whether copper can cause birth defects however, incubation of human spermatozoa with metallic copper results in loss of sperm motility (Aaseth and Norseth 1986). 

Marks, T.A., G.L. Kimmel, and R.E. Staples. 1981. Influence of symmetrical polychlorinated biphenyl isomers on embryo and fetal development in mice. I. Teratogenicity of 3,3, 4,4, 5,5 -hexachlorobiphenyl. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 61 269-276. 

Microwaves inhibit thymidine incorporation by DNA blockage in cultured cells of the Chinese hamster irradiated cells had a higher frequency of chromosome lesions (Garaj-Vrhovac et al. 1990). Microwaves induce teratogenic effects in mice when the intensity of exposure places a thermal burden on the dams and fetuses, resulting in a reduction in fetal body mass and an increased number of resorptions (O Connor 1990). 

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