Teratogenicity of asbestos in mice

Abstract

-Possible teratogenicity of 3 different asbestos (crocidolite, chrysotile and amosite) was assessed in CD1(ICR) mice. Dams on day 9 of gestation were given a single intraperitoneal administration at dose of 40 mg/kg body weight of asbestos suspended in 2% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution in phosphate buffered saline, while dams in the control group were given vehicle (10 ml/kg body weight). Dams and fetuses were examined on day 18 of gestation. To compare with the control group, the mean percentage of live fetuses in implantations in the group given crocidolite and the incidence of dams with early dead fetuses in the groups given chrysotile or amosite were increased. While no external or skeletal malformation was observed in the control group, the incidence of external malformation (mainly reduction deformity of limb) in the group given amosite, and the incidences of skeletal malformation (mainly fusion of vertebrae) in the all dosed groups were significantly increased. The result indicated that asbestos (crocidolite, chrysotile and amosite) have fetotoxicity and teratogenicity in mice.

Comparison of fetal toxicity of various multi-wall carbon nanotubes in mice

“…In addition, during the course of various toxicological evaluations of MWCNTs in our laboratory, we revealed the teratogenicity of MWCNTs that were intraperitoneally or intratracheally administered to mice [5] . Currently, MWCNTs are a focus of attention in exogenous fibrous toxicity [10] , [12] , [2] , [21] , because both mesothelioma and teratogenicity are induced by MWCNTs at lower dose levels than those of asbestos that cause the same effects [17] , [5] , [6] . Difference abilities for inducing inflammation and formation of mesothelial granulomas and finally inducing mesotheliomas had been shown to markedly vary in some MWCNTs products, and this is thought to possibly depend on the differences in the length of MWCNTs [16] , [4] , [12] , [18] .…”