Teratogenicity of zinc chloride, 1,10-phenanthroline, and a zinc-1,10-phenanthroline complex in mice.
Zinc chloride, in single doses of 12.5, 20.5 and 25 mg/kg ip on Day 8,9,10, or 11 of gestation in CF-1 albino mice, produced skeletal anomalies without accompanying soft tissue defects. Ripple ribs, the most unusual anomaly, first appeared when the zinc salt was given on Day 9 of gestation in a dose of 20.5 mg/kg, becoming more prevalent when 25 mg/kg of the drug was administered on Day 11.1,10-Phenanthroline, in single doses of 30 mg/kg ip on Day 8,9,10, or 11 of gestation elicited skeletal defects comparable to those caused by zinc chloride as well as soft tissue anomalies, but a significant incidence of the former occurred with this agent only following its injection on Day 8 of gestation. A zinc-1,10-phenanthroline complex in single doses of 50 mg/kg on Day 8,9,10, or 11 of gestation yielded significant incidences of skeletal and soft tissue anomalies only when the complex was administered on Day 8 or 9 of gestation. This dosage level was toxic to both the mother and fetus when given on Day 10 of gestation. However, when the complex was given on Day 8,9,10, or 11 in a dose of 25 mg/kg, neither toxic nor teratogenic effects were observed in the mother or fetus, respectively.