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B F Hales

Publications and source records attributed to B F Hales.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Effects of phosphoramide mustard and acrolein, cytotoxic metabolites of cyclophosphamide, on mouse limb development in vitro.

Phosphoramide mustard and acrolein are toxic and reactive metabolites of the widely used anticancer drug and known teratogen cyclophosphamide. To study the mechanism(s) involved and to determine which of the active metabolites of cyclophosphamide is responsible for the production of limb malformations, the effects of exposure of cultured limb buds to phosphoramide mustard and acrolein were investigated. Fore- and hindlimbs were excised from ICR mice on day 12 of gestation and cultured in roller bottles for 6 days. Limbs were exposed to either phosphoramide mustard or acrolein (10 or 50 micrograms/ml) for the first 20 hours of the culture period. Exposure to phosphoramide mustard produced limb reduction malformations in both the fore- and hindlimbs; total limb bone area was greatly reduced, while the relative contribution of the paw to this area in forelimbs was increased. There was a fourfold reduction in both DNA and RNA; protein content was reduced only by one-half. Alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly decreased in fore- and hindlimbs exposed to phosphoramide mustard, whereas creatine phosphokinase activity was only reduced in hindlimbs in the limbs exposed to the higher concentration of phosphoramide mustard. Exposure to acrolein also produced malformed limbs with a mangled appearance; however, total limb bone area and the relative contribution of the long bones versus paw structures were not altered. Acrolein exposure had little effect on growth parameters such as DNA (decreased only in hindlimbs exposed to 50 micrograms/ml), RNA (increased in hindlimbs exposed to 50 micrograms/ml), or protein content. Alkaline phosphatase and creatine phosphokinase activities were not altered in acrolein-exposed fore- or hindlimbs. Thus, phosphoramide mustard and acrolein have dramatically different effects on developing limbs in vitro; this observation may indicate that they have different targets and/or mechanisms of action as teratogens in the limb. The effects of phosphoramide mustard are very similar to those of "activated" cyclophosphamide (4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide).

Acrolein↗

Role of the 4-hydroxy intermediate in the in vitro embryotoxicity of cyclophosphamide and dechlorocyclophosphamide.

Cyclophosphamide must be metabolically activated to produce malformations in cultured rat embryos. A 4-hydroxylated intermediate, 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide is initially formed during this activation. While 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide (and/or its open-ring tautomer, aldophosphamide) is believed to act as a transport form in mediating the antineoplastic activity of cyclophosphamide, its role in the teratogenicity of this drug is not known. In this study the effects of two "preactivated" cyclophosphamide analogs on cultured Day 10 rat embryos were determined. The first analog, 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide, is converted to 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide in aqueous solutions, releasing both acrolein and phosphoramide mustard, while the second, 4-hydroperoxydechlorocyclophosphamide, releases, in a similar manner, acrolein and the inactive metabolite, phosphoric acid diamide. Both cyclophosphamide analogs were teratogenic, embryolethal, and growth retarding in vitro, but the effective concentrations and the types of malformations produced were different. 4-Hydroperoxycyclophosphamide produced embryo deaths and malformations and decreases in embryonic growth and protein content at concentrations in the range of 5 to 25 microM. In contrast, 4-hydroperoxydechlorocyclophosphamide did not produce embryo deaths at concentrations below 100 microM and produced embryo malformations and growth retardation only at 125 microM. The concentration-response curve and the spectrum of malformations produced by 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide resembled those previously reported for phosphoramide mustard, while the concentration-response curve and types of malformations produced by 4-hydroperoxydechlorocyclophosphamide more closely resembled those observed with acrolein. Thus, the 4-hydroxy intermediates are similar as teratogens to the most potent of the metabolites which they produce; the 4-hydroxy compounds may serve as a transport form of cyclophosphamide but do not appear themselves to have a major role in teratogenicity.

Animals↗

Protection of rat embryos in culture against the embryotoxicity of acrolein using exogenous glutathione.

The aldehyde acrolein is embryotoxic in vivo and in vitro. Since acrolein is reactive towards thiols, glutathione was evaluated for its protective effects against the in vitro embryotoxicity of acrolein. Day 10 rat embryos were cultured in the presence of acrolein and glutathione, either concurrently or sequentially, and evaluated for embryo deaths, malformations, growth retardation, and content of glutathione and protein. Acrolein, added alone at the initiation of the culture period, was embryolethal to 64 and 100% of the embryos at 120 and 160 microM respectively. At acrolein concentrations of 80 and 120 microM, 50 and 100%, respectively, of the surviving embryos were malformed. In addition, both of these concentrations of acrolein produced growth retardation manifested by significant decreases in the yolk sac diameter, crown-rump and head lengths, number of somites, and morphological score. Concurrent exposure to 100 or 500 microM glutathione markedly protected embryos against all of these effects. To study the mechanism of the protective effect of glutathione against the embryotoxicity of acrolein, the effects of sequential addition of acrolein and glutathione were determined. When rat embryos were cultured in the presence of acrolein for 2 hr prior to exposure to glutathione, even 500 microM glutathione could not offer any protection against the embryolethality, teratogenicity, and growth retardation induced by acrolein. However, a 6-hr preincubation with 500 microM glutathione, prior to exposure to acrolein (in the absence of exogenous glutathione), significantly decreased the incidence of embryo deaths at 160 microM acrolein and brought the number of deaths and malformations among embryos exposed to 120 microM acrolein down to a level not significantly different from control; unlike the embryos exposed concurrently to acrolein and glutathione, however, the sequential treatment with glutathione and acrolein did not protect against growth retardation. While there were some changes in the total glutathione and protein content of embryos and yolk sacs with acrolein exposure, none of the treatments had any overall effect on the glutathione concentration per mg protein. Thus, exogenous glutathione can protect against the in vitro embryotoxicity of acrolein. We propose that this protection is mediated in part by a direct interaction between glutathione and acrolein, added concurrently to the serum medium, and in part by an indirect effect on the embryo of glutathione added prior to acrolein.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Enhancement of the embryotoxicity of acrolein, but not phosphoramide mustard, by glutathione depletion in rat embryos in vitro.

The intracellular thiol glutathione is known to protect cells against the toxicity of certain drugs and reactive intermediates. In this study, the role of glutathione in protecting the embryo against two embryolethal and teratogenic metabolites of cyclophosphamide, and anticancer drug, was assessed in vitro using the rat whole embryo culture system. Day 10.5 rat embryos were cultured in rat serum medium containing phosphoramide mustard (1, 10, or 25 microM) or acrolein (10, 25, 50 or 100 microM), with and without buthionine sulfoximine (10 or 100 microM), a compound which depletes glutathione by inhibiting its synthesis. After 45 hr, embryos were assessed for viability, malformations, growth and development, and the glutathione content of embryos exposed to buthionine sulfoximine alone was assayed. The glutathione levels of the embryos and their yolk sacs were decreased significantly by 100 microM buthionine sulfoximine, whereas 10 microM buthionine sulfoximine decreased glutathione levels in the yolk sacs only. Phosphoramide mustard alone, at concentrations of 10 and 25 microM, did not produce embryo deaths but did cause malformations and growth retardation in 100% of the exposed embryos. The addition of buthionine sulfoximine (100 microM) had no effect on the teratogenicity or growth-retarding effects of phosphoramide mustard. Acrolein alone produced a 25 and 48% incidence of embryo deaths at 50 and 100 microM, respectively, and a 46% incidence of embryo malformations, as well as significant growth retardation, among the surviving embryos at 100 microM. Buthionine sulfoximine (10 or 100 microM) significantly enhanced the embryotoxic effects of acrolein. The addition of 10 microM buthionine sulfoximine resulted in 100% embryolethality at 100 microM acrolein; this buthionine sulfoximine concentration decreased the EC50 values for embryo deaths and malformations to 50% of those for acrolein alone. The addition of 100 microM butionine sulfoximine significantly potentiated the embryolethality of acrolein at 25, 50 and 100 microM; the combination of 100 microM acrolein plus 100 microM buthionine sulfoximine was 100% embryolethal. The incidence of embryo malformations was enhanced significantly at 10 and 25 microM acrolein by 100 microM buthionine sulfoximine. The EC50 values for embryo deaths and malformations were decreased to 50 and 20%, respectively, of those values for acrolein alone. Both butionine sulfoximine concentrations produced significant growth retardation at all acrolein concentrations compared to either acrolein or buthionine sulfoximine alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Effect of glutathione depletion by buthionine sulfoximine on rat embryonic development in vitro.

The intracellular thiol glutathione has many functions within cells including protection against xenobiotic and oxidative damage, and a role in protein and DNA synthesis and amino acid transport. Consequently, glutathione might be an important substance for normal growth and development. In this study the extent of glutathione depletion by buthionine sulfoximine, an agent which depletes glutathione by inhibiting its synthesis, and the subsequent effects of the depletion on rat embryonic growth and development were assessed. Day 10.5 rat embryos were cultured in rat serum medium in the presence of L-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine (0.01 to 2.0 mM) and examined for viability, malformations, growth and development 45 hr later. The glutathione concentrations of the cultured embryos and their yolk sacs were also determined. Exposure to buthionine sulfoximine produced marked and significant (P less than or equal to 0.05) depletion of glutathione at a buthionine sulfoximine concentration of 0.10 mM in the embryos and 0.05 mM in the yolk sacs. Exposure to 1 mM buthionine sulfoximine depleted glutathione to less than 7% of control in both of these tissues. None of the concentrations of buthionine sulfoximine tested had a significant effect on embryo viability; however, buthionine sulfoximine caused a significant (P less than or equal to 0.05) incidence of malformed embryos at concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mM. The types of defects induced by buthionine sulfoximine were blebs of the maxillary or nasal processes, prosencephalon or forelimb buds, small or misshapen heads, small prosencephalons and swollen hind brains, and tail defects. Embryonic growth was the most sensitive, of the variables assessed, to the effects of buthionine sulfoximine. Significant (P less than or equal to 0.05) growth retardation was observed at buthionine sulfoximine concentrations as low as 0.01 mM. At 2.0 mM buthionine sulfoximine, the yolk sac diameter, embryo crown-rump length, head length, number of somites and morphological score were reduced to 65, 72, 77, 90 and 80% of control levels respectively. We propose that the embryotoxic effects of buthionine sulfoximine are due to glutathione depletion and, consequently, that a certain basal level of endogenous glutathione is essential to allow for normal development.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

A time-course study of chronic paternal cyclophosphamide treatment in rats: effects on pregnancy outcome and the male reproductive and hematologic systems.

We have found previously that daily treatment of male rats for 11 wk with low doses of the anticancer drug cyclophosphamide had no apparent effect on male reproductive organ weights, epididymal sperm counts, or serum hormones at the end of the treatment period; yet, upon breeding to untreated females, these males produced a high rate of post-implantation loss and fetal anomalies. The present study was designed to investigate the time course and dose response of the effects of chronic cyclophosphamide treatment on the male reproductive and hematologic systems. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were gavage-fed for 1, 3, 6 and 9 wk with saline (control), or 5.1 (low dose) or 6.8 (high dose) mg/kg/day of cyclophosphamide. After each of the treatment periods, males were mated to determine the effect on pregnancy outcome, then killed, and the effects on the male reproductive and hematologic systems were assessed. After 6 wk of treatment, a sharp increase in mortality was found between the 5.1 and 6.8 mg/kg/day doses of cyclophosphamide. The high dose of cyclophosphamide induced higher levels of pre- and post-implantation loss but fewer fetal anomalies than did the low dose. The low dose of cyclophosphamide did not affect reproductive organ weights; in contrast, the high dose caused decreases in epididymal, ventral prostate, and seminal vesicle weights after 3, 6, and 9 wk. Testicular and epididymal sperm counts were decreased in a dose-dependent manner after 3 wk; in addition, the high dose led to a decrease in epididymal sperm counts after 6 wk of treatment. Another rapidly proliferative tissue, the bone marrow, was dramatically affected by both doses of cyclophosphamide at all time points, with leukocyte counts decreasing to 40% of control by 1 wk. After 9 wk of treatment, effects on the male reproductive system were less marked, compared to earlier time points, whereas those on the hematologic system and pregnancy outcome persisted. Thus chronic low-dose treatment of male rats with cyclophosphamide not only had early and striking effects on the bone marrow and the pregnancy outcome but also affected the male reproductive system in a clear time- and dose-dependent manner.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Effect of estradiol-filled polydimethylsiloxane subdermal implants in adult male rats on the reproductive system, fertility, and progeny outcome.

Combinations of testosterone and estradiol have been proposed as potential male contraceptives. For any compound to be an acceptable male contraceptive, it must be demonstrated either to prevent pregnancy completely or, if contraceptive failure occurs, to not have any adverse effect on pregnancy outcome. We have previously established that increasing doses of testosterone given via subdermal implants to adult male rats will decrease spermatogenesis and fertility but will not result in an increased incidence of pre- or postimplantation loss or in abnormal progeny. In the present study, we have monitored the effects of a dose of estradiol that has been proposed for the contraceptive regimen, as well as doses three and seven times as large, on progeny outcome. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats received s.c. implants of estradiol-filled polydimethylsiloxane capsules of varying lengths and, after three months, were each mated twice to two females in proestrus. The smallest dose of estradiol (the dose used in the contraceptive formulation) did not have any significant effects on any of the measured parameters of the male reproductive system, or on the incidence of pre- or postimplantation loss or on progeny outcome. With increasing doses of estradiol, there was a marked reduction in fertility. This reduction in fertility was not associated with a sufficient decrease in epididymal sperm reserves to account for the decrease in number of females impregnated, but was associated with a major reduction in seminal plugs; this would suggest that the large doses of estradiol were decreasing male sexual behavior.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

The embryolethality and teratogenicity of acrolein in cultured rat embryos.

Acrolein, a three-carbon unsaturated aldehyde, is teratogenic to rats in vivo following intraamniotic administration but has been reported not to be teratogenic in vitro in the rat whole embryo culture system. In this study the effects of acrolein on rat embryos cultured in the standard medium consisting of rat serum were assessed over a narrow-concentration range. Additionally, a comparison was done of the effects of culture in a serum medium vs. a serum-free medium. In the serum medium acrolein caused 100% embryolethality at 140 microM and was found to be teratogenic in the concentration range of 80-120 microM. In the serum-free medium acrolein was 100% embryolethal at 20 microM and was teratogenic in the range of 5-15 microM. The EC50 for malformations in the serum medium was 137 microM, whereas that for embryolethality was 115 microM; the EC50s for malformations and embryolethality in the serum-free medium were 2.8 microM and 8.3 microM, respectively. Malformations were observed in the brain, facial area, and heart in addition to blebs and twisted or kinked bodies. Decreases in yolk sac diameter, crown-rump length, head length, number of somites, morphological score, and protein content were observed within the teratogenic ranges in each type of medium. Thus acrolein is teratogenic and embryolethal in vitro as well as in vivo. Dissociation between embryolethality and teratogenicity was seen in the serum-free medium. The slope of the acrolein log concentration-response curve in the serum-free medium was twice that in the serum medium, indicating that acrolein may have a different mechanism of action in this medium.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Differential effects of 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide on limb development in vitro.

Cyclophosphamide must be metabolically activated to produce malformations in limbs developing in culture; 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide is an analog of the active metabolite of cyclophosphamide, 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide, that breaks down spontaneously in solution to form 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide. To study the mechanism by which metabolites of cyclophosphamide produce limb malformations in vitro we determined the effects of exposure of cultured limb buds to 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide. Fore- and hindlimbs were excised from ICR mice on day 12 of gestation and cultured in roller bottles for 6 days. Limbs were exposed to 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide for the first 20 hours of the culture period. Addition of 10 micrograms/ml of 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide to forelimb or to hindlimb buds in culture produced limb reduction malformations. A dramatic decrease in total limb bone area in fore- and hindlimbs was observed with 10 micrograms/ml of 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide. In forelimbs, the long bone area decreased and the paw area remained constant so that the relative contribution of the long bone area to total limb bone area was decreased. In hindlimbs treated with 10 micrograms/ml of 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide, no paw skeleton was observed. The DNA, RNA, and protein contents of the limbs were not affected by exposure to 1 microgram/ml of 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide, but were decreased by exposure to 10 micrograms/ml of this compound. Exposure to the higher concentration of 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide also decreased alkaline phosphatase activity, a marker for osteogenesis, in both fore- and hindlimbs; in contrast, neither concentration of 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide had an effect on creatine phosphokinase activity, a marker for myogenesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Cyclophosphamide in the seminal fluid of treated males: transmission to females by mating and effect on pregnancy outcome.

Cyclophosphamide is an anticancer and immunosuppressant drug administered to men of reproductive age. In the present study the ability of cyclophosphamide and/or its metabolites to enter secretions of the male reproductive tract, to be transmitted to the female partner upon mating, and to alter progeny outcome was assessed. [14C]Cyclophosphamide was given intravenously to adult male Sprague-Dawley rats; radiolabel (greater than 96% cyclophosphamide) was first found in seminal vesicle fluid within 10 min and equilibrated with plasma radioactivity within 30 min. Furthermore, radiolabel from cyclophosphamide given to the male was transmitted to the female upon mating up to 5 hr post-drug treatment. To study possible consequences of paternal treatment with cyclophosphamide on pregnancy outcome, male rats were administered a single dose of cyclophosphamide, 10, 30, or 100 mg/kg, or saline immediately prior to cohabitation with females in proestrus. There was no effect on the number of pregnant females per sperm-positive females but there was a significant decrease in the number of implantations per pregnant female per male and in the number of live fetuses per pregnant female per male. There was a twofold increase in preimplantation loss. There was no increase in postimplantation loss or number of abnormal fetuses. These results demonstrate that cyclophosphamide not only penetrates the male reproductive tract but that it can be transmitted to the female partner and can affect progeny outcome.

Animals↗

Sodium 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate protection against cyclophosphamide-induced teratogenicity in rats.

Certain deleterious effects of cyclophosphamide, for example urotoxicity, can be prevented by the administration of thiol compounds such as 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate (MESNA) without altering the therapeutic efficacy of cyclophosphamide. To evaluate the effect of MESNA on the teratogenicity of cyclophosphamide, pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into nine treatment groups. Individual groups were administered 0.9% NaCl or cyclophosphamide (10 or 15 mg/kg) alone or in combination with MESNA at one of two doses (5 or 30 mg/kg) on Day 13 of gestation. The fetuses were examined for malformations on Day 20 of gestation. Cyclophosphamide alone produced malformations in 50% (10 mg/kg) or 100% (15 mg/kg) of the fetuses. The abnormalities observed were hydrocephaly, hind- and forelimb defects, open eyes, cleft palate, edema, micrognathia, omphalocele, and various skeletal defects. MESNA alone did not induce a significant number of fetal malformations compared to control. The low dose of MESNA had no significant effect on the total incidence of external malformations produced by either dose of cyclophosphamide. The high dose of MESNA significantly reduced the total number of externally abnormal fetuses and fetuses with skeletal defects produced by both 10 and 15 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide. This protection, although statistically significant (p less than or equal to 0.05), is probably not extensive enough for MESNA to be considered effective in protecting pregnant women from the teratogenic effects of cyclophosphamide chemotherapy.

Animals↗

Chronic low dose cyclophosphamide treatment of adult male rats: effect on fertility, pregnancy outcome and progeny.

Cyclophosphamide is an anticancer and immunosuppressive agent commonly used in men of reproductive age. The relationship between the effects of paternal cyclophosphamide treatment on the male reproductive system and the pregnancy outcome is unknown. To study this relationship, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered saline or cyclophosphamide (1.4, 3.4, and 5.1 mg/kg) daily for 11 wk by gavage. Each male was mated weekly with two females in proestrous; 20 days later, the females were caesarean-sectioned and the number of corpora lutea, resorptions, and normal and abnormal fetuses were noted. After 11 wk of treatment, none of the drug-treated males showed any significant difference compared to controls with respect to male reproductive organ weights, serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone or follicle-stimulating hormone, epididymal sperm counts or fertility. Despite the apparent minimal effects of the treatment regimen on the male reproductive system, there were a number of effects on pregnancy outcome. There was a dose-dependent increase in preimplantation loss at 5-6 wk that was not evident at other times, a progressive dose-dependent increase in postimplantation loss starting at 2 wk, and an increase in malformed and growth-retarded fetuses at 3-4 and 7-9 wk. These results indicate that low dose chronic cyclophosphamide treatment of the male rat can affect the outcome of his progeny; such effects are seen in the absence of any apparent alteration of a number of measures of male reproductive function.

Animals↗

Teratogenicity and embryolethality of acrolein and structurally related compounds in rats.

Acrolein, a metabolite of the anticancer agent cyclophosphamide, is teratogenic to rats after intraamniotic administration. It is not known whether acrolein or a metabolite of acrolein is responsible for the teratogenicity of this compound. We assessed the teratogenicity and embryolethality of acrolein and five structurally related compounds: acrylic acid, allyl alcohol, glycidol, glyceraldehyde, and propionaldehyde by intraamniotic injections in Sprague-Dawley rats on day 13 of gestation. All compounds tested were significantly embryolethal with at least one concentration of the drug. Acrolein was the most embryolethal of the drugs, causing a significant increase in resorptions with as little as 0.1 micrograms/fetus; the other drugs were embryolethal at doses 100-10,000 times that of acrolein. Acrolein was also the most teratogenic of the drugs tested; a dose as low as 5 micrograms/fetus caused a significant increase in the incidence of fetal malformations. Of the other compounds tested, only glycidol at a dose of 1,000 micrograms/fetus induced a significant number of malformed fetuses compared to control. These results suggest that it is acrolein itself that is responsible for its teratogenicity.

1-Propanol↗

Suppression of spermatogenesis by testosterone in adult male rats: effect on fertility, pregnancy outcome and progeny.

The relationship between decreasing spermatogenic activity and fertility, pregnancy outcome and the progeny is poorly understood. To study this relationship a model where testosterone is given by a sustained release device is used. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats received empty or testosterone-filled implants measuring 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 8.0 cm. On Day 90 and again on Day 104 each male was exposed to two females in proestrus. Twenty days later the females were killed. Corpora lutea, implantation sites, resorptions and live normal and abnormal fetuses were counted. Sperm counts in the caput-corpus region of the epididymis in the 3.0-, 4.0- and 8.0-cm testosterone treatment groups were 12.6%, 3.0% and 29.9% of control, while those in the caudal region were 19.8%, 4.0% and 50.8% of control, respectively. The number of females with spermatozoa in the vagina after breeding was significantly diminished only in animals treated with the 4.0-cm testosterone implants (control, 95.8%; 4.0-cm, 50%) while the number of pregnant females per sperm-positive females was markedly reduced in the females mated with both the 3.0-cm and 4.0-cm testosterone implants (control, 82.6%; 3.0-cm, 10.0%; 4.0-cm, 7.7%). There was no effect on the numbers of corpora lutea, on the incidence of pre- or post-implantation loss, malformations, or on the numbers of pups/litter. Individual animals with a decrease in caudal epididymal spermatozoal reserves to less than 5 million, however, are infertile. A decrease in epididymal spermatozoal reserves mediated by testosterone does not cause an increase in teratogenicity in the resultant progeny.

Animals↗

Relative mutagenicity and teratogenicity of cyclophosphamide and two of its structural analogs.

In this report, cyclophosphamide was compared to two of its structural analogs, 5,5-dimethylcyclophosphamide and diethylcyclophosphamide, with respect to mutagenic and teratogenic activities. Mutagenicity was assessed using Salmonella typhimurium TA 1535; teratogenicity was assessed in Sprague-Dawley rats on day 20 of gestation after intra-amniotic drug administration on day 13. After metabolic activation, cyclophosphamide caused base substitution mutations in S. typhimurium TA 1535 and major structural defects in both intra-amniotically injected and contralateral uninjected fetuses. 5,5-Dimethylcyclophosphamide was neither mutagenic nor teratogenic. Diethylcyclophosphamide was not mutagenic but was teratogenic. However, diethylcyclophosphamide was less potent as a teratogen than cyclophosphamide and, unlike cyclophosphamide, caused malformations only in the intra-amniotically injected fetuses. Diethylcyclophosphamide does liberate acrolein after metabolic activation. If acrolein is responsible for the teratogenic effects of diethylcyclophosphamide, the other major cytotoxic metabolite of cyclophosphamide, phosphoramide mustard, may account for the difference in teratogenic potency between cyclophosphamide and diethylcyclophosphamide. These results would suggest that acrolein, although apparently not mutagenic, mediates the teratogenicity of diethylcyclophosphamide and a significant proportion of the teratogenicity of cyclophosphamide.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗