• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.73-81
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to determine the adverse effects of methylmercuric chloride(MMC) against the fetal growth and the ossification rate of fetal pectoral and pelvic girdle, stermebrae, ribs and tail in pregnant Fischer 344 rats administered orally on day 7 of gestation. The resulted obtained are as follows. The weight and size of fetus were highly reduced by MMC. The reduction of fetal weight and size were 16. 2%~24.5%(p<0.01), and 34.1%~48.8%(p<0.01), and that of the litter’s weight were 67.0%(p<0.01) and 89.2%(p<0.01) by 20 and 30mg/kg MMC, respectively. Ossification centers were never formed in pectoral and pelvic phalanges and sternebrae, and was reduced as much as 70% in tail by 30mg/kg MMC. And also those were 82.4%~ 91.2%(p<0.01) in ischium, and 52.4~66.7%(p<0.01) in the others(ilium, fenur, tibia, fibula, metatarsals)of pelvic girdle by 30 mg/kg MMC. Ossification of sternebrae was terrible. 5th bone of sternebrae was not ossificated by 20 and 30 mg/kg MMC(p<0.01), and 2nd was also not ossificated by 30 mg/kg MMC(p<0.01).And reduction of ossification rate was 84.8~97.8%(p<0.01) in the others of sternebrae by 30 mg/kg MMC. And then, the reduction of ossification rate was 26.65~49.8%(p<0.01) in fetal ribs by 30 mg/kg MMC, and they were trend to increased as following from center to each edge. In conclusion, it was observed that fetal weight, size, and ossification of each bone were highly significantly reduced by the increased dosage of MMC.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.27-37
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• 1990

The extrafetal transfer of $Li^{+}$ in amniotic fluid was studied in 45 pregnant rabbits. LiCl solution was administered either intravenously to mother or directly into the amniotic sac and monitored the appearance and disappearance of $Li^{+}$ in the amniotic fluid, then calculated the transfer rate of $Li^{+}$ of extrafetal origin. To study the transplacental $Li^{+}$ transfer, a solution of 150 mM LiCl was infused continuously via maternal vein (initial dose: 0.7 mmol/kg, maintaining dose: 0.03 mmol/kg/min) and the $Li^{+}$ concentration was measured in maternal blood and amniotic fluid after 60 and 120 minutes of infusion. Change in the volume of aminotic fluid was determined by Congo red dilution method at the same time. Effects of duration of gestation was not considered in this study. Extrafetal transport of $Li^{+}$ into the amniotic fluid was estimated by comparing the $Li^{+}$ concentration and volume of amniotic fluid determined before and after ligating the placental vessels. Extrafetal $Li^{+}$ transport from the amniotic fluid was determined by observing the time dependent disappearance of $Li^{+}$ and Congo red in amniotic fluid after injecting 0.5 ml solution of 15 mM or 90 mM LiCl and 50 mg/ml Congo red. Following are the results obtained: 1) During infusion of LiCl through maternal vein the ratio of the aminotic $Li^{+}$/maternal plasma $Li^{+}$ increased significantly along with the increment of fetal weight. 2) The volume of amniotic fluid of larger fetuses than 20.5 gm increased significantly during administration of LiCl while that of smaller fetuses did not change. 3) After umbilical cord ligation the $Li^{+}$ concentration of amniotic fluid of larger fetuses than 20.5 gm was decreased to $59.9{\pm}10.3%$ and $56.9{\pm}42.9%$ $(mean{\pm}S.D.)$ of those of control group after 60 and 120 minutes of LiCl infusion respectively. In amniotic fluid of smaller fetuses than 20.5 gm, there was no significant difference between control and ligation groups. 4) The disappearance rate of Congo red in the amniotic fluid was $45.2{\pm}8.2%/hr$. 5) The disappearance rate of $Li^{+}$ after intraamniotic injection of LiCl depended on the amount injected. On injecting $7.5\;{\mu}mol$ LiCl, $Li^{+}$ disappeared rapidly from the amniotic fluid and the rates after 60 min and 90 min were $97.0{\pm}2.8,\;98.5{\pm}2.0%$ respectively. On injecting $45\;{\mu}mol$ LiCl, the rates were $56.0{\pm}15.4,\;78.9{\pm}14.5%$ at 60 and 90 min. 6) From the above results it was concluded: a) $Li^{+}$ transfer into the amniotic fluid increased along with the fetal growth and one half of $Li^{+}$ influx is through the extrafetal route even after the maturation of fetal kidney. b) One half of the $Li^{+}$ transfer from the amniotic fluid was through swallowing of fetus, while the remaining half was transfered rapidly through amniotic membrane, which was concentration limited.