Disposition of glycolic acid into the embryo following oral administration of ethylene glycol during placentation in the rat and rabbit.

In order to evaluate the role of the placenta in the etiology of ethylene glycol (EG) developmental toxicity, the distribution of EG and its main metabolites, glycolic acid (GA) and oxalic acid (OX), into the conceptus was determined at the beginning and completion of placentation in the rat and rabbit. Two groups (n = 28) of timed-pregnant Wistar rats were administered EG (1000 mg/kg bw/day, oral gavage) from gestation day (GD) 6 to either GD 11 or GD 16; similarly, two groups (n = 28) of timed-pregnant New Zealand White rabbits were administered EG from GD 6 to either GD 10 or GD 19. Four animals from each group were sacrificed at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, or 24 h after the final administration, and maternal blood, extraembryonic fluid, and embryonic tissue were removed for analysis of EG, GA, and OX.

Perinatal exposure to the immune-suppressant di-n-octyltin dichloride affects brain development in rats.

Disruption of the immune system during embryonic brain development by environmental chemicals was proposed as a possible cause of neurodevelopmental disorders. We previously found adverse effects of di-n-octyltin dichloride (DOTC) on maternal and developing immune systems of rats in an extended one-generation reproductive toxicity study according to the OECD 443 test guideline. We hypothesize that the DOTC-induced changes in the immune system can affect neurodevelopment.

Neurotoxic effects in zebrafish embryos by valproic acid and nine of its analogues: the fish-mouse connection?

Since teratogenicity testing in mammals is a particular challenge from an animal welfare perspective, there is a great need for the development of alternative test systems. In this context, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo has received increasing attention as a non-protected embryonic vertebrate in vivo model. The predictive power of zebrafish embryos for general vertebrate teratogenicity strongly depends on the correlation between fish and mammals with respect to both overall general toxicity and more specific endpoints indicative of certain modes-of-action.

Development of immune organs and functioning in humans and test animals: Implications for immune intervention studies.

A healthy immune status is mostly determined during early life stages and many immune-related diseases may find their origin in utero and the first years of life. Therefore, immune health optimization may be most effective during early life. This review is an inventory of immune organ maturation events in relation to developmental timeframes in minipig, rat, mouse and human.

Prenatal toxicity of synthetic amorphous silica nanomaterial in rats.

Synthetic amorphous silica is a nanostructured material, which is produced and used in a wide variety of technological applications and consumer products. No regulatory prenatal toxicity studies with this substance were reported yet. Therefore, synthetic amorphous silica was tested for prenatal toxicity, according to OECD guideline 414 in Wistar rats following oral (gavage) administration at the dose levels 0, 100, 300, or 1000mg/kg bw/d from gestation day 6-19.