World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

DEVELOPMENTAL AND MATERNAL TOXICITY IN PROGENY OF RAT MOTHERS EXPOSED TO METHYL MERCURY DURING GESTATION

D. N. Gandhi* and Dhrupadsing K. Rajput

ABSTRACT

Methylmercury (MeHg) is ubiquitous and persistent environmental pollutant and food contaminant. It’s neurotoxic, especially for the developing nervous system. The main source of human exposure to MeHg is seafood. It is well established that exposure to toxic elements such as mercury or arsenic during gestation and lactation may potentially cause adverse effects on the development of fetuses and neonates. The aim of the present work was to find out whether and how exposure at different gestational periods to MeHg affects early developmental millstones and neurobehavioral functions in maturity. Therefore, the earlier developmental and neurobehavioral effects in the offspring on postnatal day (PND) (1-28) were studied following maternal exposure to methylmercury (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5mg.kg/day) by oral gavages from gestation day (GD) 8 to till parturition. It’s a period of timing of neurulation and organogenesis. Neither maternal toxicity nor any noticeable signs or symptoms were observed with all exposure/treatment groups. Maternal weight gain (%) during gestation was reduced significantly only in those animals that had received 1.0 and 1.5mg/kg/dayMeHg treatment groups on day 8 of gestation. There were no absorption or early deliveries observed in all dose levels MeHg exposures, except two pups of deaths in each MeHg-treated groups, In contrast, dam treated with 1.5mg/kg/day MeHg-treatment group alone caused reduction in pups, dead fetuses, as well as the percentage of post implantation loss were significantly affected. The length of gestation was increased and/or delays in delivery at 1.5mg/kg/day MeHg treatment group. The number of dams that delivered viable litters reduced in dose dependant manner. The number of live pups per dam treated with 1.5 mg/kg/day MeHg treatment group affected significantly. There was a significant increased in percentages of pups’ mortality with 1.5 mg/kg/day MeHg group on PND1-4. However, the values of the viability index (i.e. percentage of pups surviving beyond PND4) as well as resorption per litter were significantly affected with 1.5-mg/kg/day MeHg dose group. These results, combined with those of our earlier study, suggest that gestational exposure would enhance the MeHg-induced maternal and embryo/fetal toxicity, confirmed the high-teratogenic potential of MeHg suggest to pay increased attention to MeHg concerning its exogenous use during pregnancy.

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