triethyllead and Fetal-Growth-Retardation

Female mice were injected intraperitoneally daily from day 18 of gestation and throughout lactation with triethyl lead chloride (TEL; 0.0, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg body wt). Off-spring of treated mothers displayed a slight perinatal growth retardation. Male off-spring appeared to be more sensitive to TEL, as indicated by their lower body weights. During the latter half of the lactation period the treated sucklings grew faster than controls, thereby compensating for their initially retarded growth, by the time of weaning. The hepatic cytochrome P-450 content of 9 to 10-day old sucklings of treated mothers was lower than in corresponding controls. We suggest that perinatal growth retardation is initiated by a disturbance in the uterus, e.g. reduced nutrient transport across the placenta.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Body Weight; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation; Fetus; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Mice; Organometallic Compounds; Pregnancy