The Effect of Aluminum Exposure on Maternal Health and Fetal Growth in Rats.

Background This study was performed on female rats to study the effect of oral administration of low dose versus high dose of aluminum chloride (AlCl3) during the period of organogenesis on the maternal and fetal growth parameters. Methods In this study, female mature nulliparous Sprague-Dawley albino rats were used. After mating and confirmation of pregnancy, successfully mated females were divided into three groups (six rats each): control group, low-dose (LD) AlCl3 group, and high-dose (HD) AlCl3 group.

The prenatal toxic effect of methylmercury on the development of the appendicular skeleton of rat fetuses and the protective role of vitamin E.

Methylmercury (MeHg) is an environmental contaminant that is found in many ecosystems. Many studies reported that MeHg toxicity is accompanied by increased lipid peroxidation that may lead to oxidative damage to DNA, RNA, and proteins. Vitamin E is considered as the most effective antioxidant preventing lipid peroxidation.