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. 2014 Winter;13(1):199-206.

Embryo toxic effects of depleted uranium on the morphology of the mouse fetus

Nina Mirderikvand  1 , Baharak Mohammadzadeh Asl  2 , Parvaneh Naserzadeh  2 , Fatemeh Shaki  3 , Mohammad Shokrzadeh  3 , Jalal Pourahmad  2
Affiliations

Embryo toxic effects of depleted uranium on the morphology of the mouse fetus

Nina Mirderikvand et al. Iran J Pharm Res. 2014 Winter.

Abstract

Although the biokinetics, metabolism, and chemical toxicity of uranium are well known, until recently little attention was paid to the potential toxic effects of uranium on reproduction and development in mammals. In recent years, it has been shown that uranium is a developmental toxicant when given orally or subcutaneously (SC) to mice. Decreased fertility, embryo/fetal toxicity including teratogenicity, and reduced growth of the offspring have been observed following uranium exposure at different gestation periods. For investigating the effects of DU on pregnant animals, three groups (control, sham and test) of NMRI mice were chosen. In test group 4 mg/Kg of DU were administered intraperitonealy at 11 day of gestation, in sham group only normal saline injected to interior peritoneum as indicated in the test group and in Control group which was considered as the comparison base line of our research, no injection was made. Caesarean sections were performed at 15 day of the gestation; and their placentas were examined externally. Base on our results DU caused significant external anomalies, and caused a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the weight and diameter of placentas, the number of the embryos, their body weight and crown-rump length of fetuses.

Keywords: Depleted uranium; Embryotoxicity; Morphology; Mouse fetus.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Comparison of the curves in the cerebral cortex of fetuses in test and control groups.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The lack of fingers in the test group
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparison of the correct rotation of fetus and the CR in both test and control groups
Figure 4
Figure 4
View of enlarged liver and also umbilical hernia in the test group due to the delay in the fetal development
Figure 5
Figure 5
Comparison of weight of fetuses in the test, sham and the control groups. Values represented as mean±SD (n=3). * P<0.001 compared with sham and the control groups
Figure 6
Figure 6
Comparison of weight of placentas in the test, sham and the control groups.Values represented as mean±SD (n=3).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Comparison of diameter of placentas in the test , sham and the control groups. Values represented as mean±SD (n=3).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Comparison of length of Fetuses in the test, control and sham groups. Values represented as mean ± SD (n=3). * P<0.001 compared with sham and the control groups
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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