Effects of prenatal exposure to the environmental pollutant 2-bromopropane on embryo-fetal development in rats

Toxicology. 2004 Mar 1;196(1-2):77-86. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2003.11.006.

Abstract

2-Bromopropane (2-BP), a halogenated propane analogue, is a substitute for chlorofluorocarbones. The present study was carried out to investigate the potential adverse effects of 2-BP on pregnant dams and embryo-fetal development after maternal exposure on gestational days (GD) 6 through 19 in Sprague-Dawley rats. The test chemical was administered subcutaneously to pregnant rats at dose levels of 0, 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg per day. All dams were subjected to caesarean section on GD 20 and their fetuses were examined for external, visceral and skeletal abnormalities. In the 1000 mg/kg group, maternal toxicity included an increase in the incidence of abnormal clinical signs, a suppression in the body weight and body weight gain, and a decrease in the food intake. Developmental toxicity included an increase in the fetal deaths, a decrease in the litter size, and a reduction in the fetal body weight. In addition, an increase in the incidence of fetal external, visceral, and skeletal abnormalities was seen. In the 500 mg/kg group, minimal developmental toxicity including decreased fetal body weight and increased fetal ossification delay was observed. There were no adverse effects on either pregnant dams or embryo-fetal development in the 250 mg/kg group. These findings suggest that a 14-day subcutaneous dose of 2-BP is embryotoxic and teratogenic at a maternally toxic dose (i.e., 1000 mg/kg per day) and is minimally embryotoxic at a nonmaternally toxic dose (i.e., 500 mg/kg per day) in Sprague-Dawley rats. In the present experimental conditions, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of 2-BP is considered to be 500 mg/kg per day for dams and 250 mg/kg per day for embryo-fetal development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / pathology
  • Animals
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Cesarean Section
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Eating / drug effects
  • Embryonic and Fetal Development / drug effects*
  • Environmental Pollutants / toxicity*
  • Female
  • Growth / drug effects
  • Hydrocarbons, Brominated / toxicity*
  • Male
  • Mutagens / toxicity*
  • Pregnancy
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Reproduction / drug effects
  • Skin Absorption

Substances

  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Hydrocarbons, Brominated
  • Mutagens
  • 2-bromopropane