ABSTRACT
The effects of dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) in mammary glands of rats during foetalogeneis was studied by means of electron microscopy. Certain morphological alterations were observed in secretory tubules and epithelial cels of mammary glands. These alterations were not evident in control tissues. Secretory tubules of DMSO-treated mammary glands showed dissociation, thickening of granular fibrous-like material and profound darkening. Morphological alterations observed in epithelial cells involved decrease and dissociation of fibrillar complexes, numerous electron-dense droplets, mitochondria with disrupted cristae, hypertrophied granular endoplasmic reticuli, vacuoles and cellular debris. Thus, the results in this study suggest that DMSO at sublethal dosages induces morphological alterations in mammary gland tissue of rats during 16.5 days of gestation.
