Cadmium induced teratogenic effects in developing mus musculus

Cadmium,a heavy metal absorbed in human body via environment and cause severe toxicity. this study was designed to evaluate the teratogenic and embryotoxic effects of cadmium on developing mice. the pregnant mice were randomized into four treatment groups (3.13,6.25,12.5 and 25.0 g/g b.w) and a control group and dose was given orally on days 6 to12 of gestation daily. then mice were sacrificed and fetuses were recovered on day 18 of gestation. recovered fetuses were fixed and analyzed on morphological,morphometric,histological and skeletal basis. morphological studies showed the abnormalities such as distorted axis,cryptophthalmia,anophthalmia,open eyelids,micromelia,phocomelia,agnathia,hydrocephaly,angular tail and subcutaneous hemorrhages. morphometric analysis indicated a significant (p<0.05 to p<0.001) reduction in fetal body weight,crown rump length,head circumference,eye circumference,forelimb and hindlimb lengths and tail size against controls. histological observations showed brain defects,dilation in the 3rd and 4th ventricles (internal hydrocephaly),absence of 3rd and 4th ventricles (internal microcephaly) and under developed lateral part of cerebellum. lungs defects included necrosis and underdeveloped lungs lobes while heart anomalies included microcardia,hypopericardium and necrosis in atrium and ventricles. sections through liver shows necrosis and apoptosis and misshapen lobe. the transverse sections through kidney also showed necrosis and in some cases right kidney was missing. skeleton studies showed partially and completely unossified bones as compare to control. it is concluded that cadmium concentrations used in present study caused teratogenic and embryotoxic in mice fetuses. copy; 2016 zoological society of pakistan.