Quantitative Study of the Effect of Cadmium Chloride on the Rat Embryos Growth

Purpose: The purposet of the present study is to investigate the effects of Cadmium Chloride on absorption of embryos and macroscopic changes of morphyology,height and weight of neonatal and embryos of rats. Materials and Methods: 30 female Sprauge-dawley rats were used. They were classified in 6 quintet groups. On the 9th day of pregnancy, 2 mg/kg and 4 mg/kg Cadmium Chloride were injected intraperitonally in right lower quadrant of abdomen of I & III and II , IV groups respectively. The V, VI groups recieved 1ml/kg of normal saline solution. On 21 day of pregnancy and postnatal day 3, fetuses and offsprings were examined for atrophy, retarded growth, and facial malformations. Then, their left kidney were weighted. Results: Treatment with 4 mg/kg Cadmium Chloride leads to significant neonatal and postnatal rats atrophy (loss of weight and height, and decrease of kidney weight only in postnatal groups; however treatment with 2 mg/kg Cadmium Chloride didnt affect kidney weight. At this dose, only growth of offspring and fetuses was disturbed. Conclusion: The results show that prenatal exposure to Cadmium Chloride can induce significant changes in kidney weight and growth of fetal and ne,onatal rat. Such changes seem to be restricted to the late prenatal and early postnatal period and can occur in the absence of overt signs of toxicity.