Fetus death

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is known to cross the rat placenta and accumulate in the fetus. Deaths of breast fed infants and an epidemic of skin sores and porphyria cutanea tarda in Turkey resulted from the accidental consumption of HCB-contaminated seed grain. The... 

The effects of a teratogen on a fetus depend on the timing of the exposure, i.e., at which stage of organogenesis the exposure takes place. Exposure to a teratogen before implantation usually leads to death and abortion of the fetus. How-... 

Teratogen Any substance that leads to structural or functional abnormality in the fetus, including death. 

Decreased fetal weight and increased fetal death were reported following single intravenous injection of pregnant rats with 241Am (activity level 90 pCi/kg or 3,330 kBq/kg) on gestation day 9 (Rommerein and Sikov 1986). The investigators indicated a tendency toward increased incidences of fetuses with anomalous ribs. 

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 major adverse effect of warfarin is bleeding. (Ironically, this compound was originally introduced as a very effective ro-denticide. As the active ingredient in rodent poison, it causes death due to internal hemorrhaging.) Furthermore, because it readily crosses the placenta and can cause a hemorrhagic disorder in the fetus, it is contraindicated in pregnant women. 

Signs and Symptoms Initial symptoms are flu-like with abrupt onset of high fever, severe frontal headache, chills, muscle pain (myalgia), pain behind the eyes, nausea, and vomiting. Additional symptoms may include sensitivity to light (photophobia), diarrhea, and sore throat. Fever may be biphasic. CNS symptoms range from drowsiness to disorientation, convulsions, paralysis, coma, and death. May cause abortions or CNS malformations in the fetus. 

Permethrin may behave like estrogen in females but antiandrogen in males when administered to immature female and male rats at 10-800 mg/kg [154]. Treatment of rats with permethrin at 10 mg/kg/day during gestation produced fetal death and feminization of male fetuses [155]. Reductions in sperm count and motility and in serum testosterone were noted in a 6-week repeated dose study in mice at 35 mg/kg/day. Permethrin may cause mitochondrial membrane impairment in Leydig cells, resulting in inhibition of testosterone biosynthesis [156]. 

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