1Maulanaazad medical College, Ms_zirak@yahoo.cow
2Department of anatomy, Maulanaazad medical college
3Department of anatomy, Lady harding medical college
Online published on 28 November, 2011.
Arsenic is an environmental toxicant widely distributed around the world. Arsenic contamination of the environment results from industrial and agricultural uses. There is no way of avoiding incorporation of arsenic, because of the worldwide natural occurrence of this substance.
In the current study we investigated the effects of sodium arsenate on development of mouse embryo. Two groups of plug-positive female mice were given IP injections of sodium arsenate at 40 mg/kg on day 6 and sacrificed on days 16 and 19 of gestation. Control groups included IP injected of distilled water at the same time. Fetuses were measured weight and crown-rump length and examined for morphological defects. There was increases in the number of resorptions fetuses following exposure of AS. However, significant decrease in fetal body weight, as well as a significant decrease in crown-rump length, was observed in the groups exposed to arsenic.
We observed morphologic defects, including skeletal malformation, limb bud defects and craniofacial malformation. The current results suggest that sodium arsenate could induce developmental toxicity.
Sodium arsenate, development, mouse embryo
