teratogenic study of selenium in albino rats

ABSTRACT

Teratogenecity of selenium was investigated in pups of 80 dams. Forty dams served as controls and the other forty administered orally and daily 1.5 mg/kg b. w. of selenium dioxide from day 6 to 15 of gestation. Uteri of sacrificed dams and pups of both groups were examined. Data obtained revealed increased number of resorped and dead pups per litter and decreased number of livings per litter. Significant increase [83.3%] of abnormal pups among livings was found. Growth retardation manifested by a 51.58% and 48.55% decrease in rate of weight and length gain per day recpectively. Also the size of litter decreased 19.8%. Selenium resulted in a 19.35% decrease in mean embryonic weight accompanied by a 16.9% decrease in crown-rump length. High percentages of morphological abnormalities were detected. They included small sized pups [83.3%]; wrinkled skin [74%]; kinking of tails [35.4%]; translucent skin [22.9%]; flat occiput [9.4%]; kyphosis [12.5%]; multiple haemorrhagic areas [67.7%]; misshaped heads [15.6%] and missing eye [9.4%]. Skeletal anomalies following prenatal administration of selenium included absent carpal and metacarpal bones [62.5%]; absent sternebrae [32.5%]; incomplete skeleton [47.5%]; incomplete ossification of cranium [47.5%]; absent coccygeal vertebrae [30%]; absent ischium [25%]; absent metatarsal bones [60%] and incomplete union of vertebral column [47.5%]. Histopathological abnormal changes were found in the skin and internal organs of pups of Se treated dams. Data of the present study proved the teratogenic potential of selenium in Albino rats