Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) were mixed with diet at graded levels of 0.05, 0.1, 0.2. 0.4 and 1.0 wt-% and given to pregnant ICR mice throughout gestation. Maternal weight gain was suppressed and fetal resorption increased at 0.2, 0.4 and 1.0% levels of DEHP and 1.0% level of DBP. All the implanted ova died early in rats fed 0.4 and 1.0% levels of DEHP. Exter...

Glycol ethers are known to produce embryotoxic and teratogenic effects in a variety of animal species. In addition, testicular edema and tubular atrophy have been reported. The health effects of this class of compounds are not known in humans, despite the fact that these solvents are widely used in industry. In order to evaluate potential effects in humans, it is first necessary to estimate exp...

Implantation and pregnancy rates following in-vitro fertilization-embryo transfer are reduced in the presence of hydrosalpinges, but the basis of the inhibition is unknown. We examined the effect of hydrosalpingeal fluid on preimplantation development of mouse embryos. Embryos cultured in 100% hydrosalpingeal fluid were significantly inhibited developmentally as compared to embryos cultured in ...

Severe toxicological responses have been associated with certain chlorodibenzodioxins. One of these responses is chloracne, a folliculosis first associated with skin contamination by chlorohydrocarbons in 1899 (1)). Serious outbreaks of chloracne-like lesions associated with runaway reactions in the production of 2,4,5-trichlorophenol occurred in Germany in the early 1950's (2). 2,4,5Trichlorop...

BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii infection is embryotoxic in humans. It is mainly transmitted through raw/undercooked meat and ingestion of oocysts in cat feces. There remains controversy about the actual risk of cats transmitting the disease to humans. Our primary objective was to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii antibody among veterinary staff, to ascertain whether they have an increased...

Studies have shown that pesticides are sometimes detected at rather high levels in seawater and it has been suggested that these chemical compounds could act as additional stress factor for oysters cultured in coastal environments. The effects of pesticides on marine molluscs could be particularly harmful in the early stages which correspond to critical life stages. This study aimed to assess t...

Recent evidence describing a suboptimal clinical outcome in women with hydrosalpinges who undergo in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer suggests a potential deleterious effect of this fluid on in-utero embryo development. Consequently, we evaluated in-vitro mouse embryo development in the presence of hydrosalpingeal fluid (HF) collected from 10 infertile women of reproductive age. Ch...

Selenium (Se) is embryotoxic in many oviparous vertebrates, but little is known about maternal transfer of Se and its impact in reptiles. Over a four-year period, we collected three clutches of eggs of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) from a single nest at a site contaminated with Se and compared egg and hatchling Se concentrations and clutch viability from this nest to nests...

Fumonisins are produced by Fusarium moniliforme F. verticillioides) and other Fusarium that grow on corn worldwide. They cause fatal toxicoses of horses and swine. Their effects in humans are unclear, but epidemiologic evidence suggests that consumption of fumonisin-contaminated corn contributes to human esophageal cancer in southern Africa and China. Much has been learned from rodent studies a...

BACKGROUND Over the past 18 years, according to data from the Clinic of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, L. Pasteur University Hospital, there have been 493 cases of orofacial clefts (OC) reported in the area of Eastern Slovakia. The aim of this study was to map the occurrence of orofacial clefts reported in the area of Eastern Slovakia during the years 1996-2013. Also, we compared the occur...