The effects of caffeine on embryotoxicity including teratogenicity and clastogenicity of different classes of teratogens were examined in ICR‐mice in order to make clear the relationship between embryotoxicity and induced chromosomal aberrations in embryos. The teratogens used were isopropyl methanesulfonate (IPMS, 100 mg/kg), N‐methyl‐N‐nitrosourea (MNU, 20 mg/kg) and dimethyl sulfate (DMS, 25 mg/kg).
In teratological studies, teratogens were given intraperitoneally on day 12 of gestation and caffeine subcutaneously in five divided doses (100 mg/kg for each) at 6 hours intervals during 0–24 hours following the teratogen treatment. In cyto‐genetical studies, teratogens (ip) were administered to ICR‐mice along with caffeine (sc) at a dose of 200 mg/kg on day 12 of gestation. Embryotoxicity was checked on day 18 of gestation, and clastogenicity at 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours following the co‐administration of these drugs.
The co‐administration of caffeine and any one of these teratogens induced potentiative response in the formation of gross malformations and particularly in the production of chromosomal aberrations. The data obtained suggest the positive association of teratogenicity with clastogenicity of IPMS, MNU and DMS. Excess cell death due to chromosomal aberrations is highly suggestive as one of the mechanisms of embryotoxicity including teratogenicity of these teratogens.