Assessment of the teratogenic potentials of surfactants: Part II — AOS

Abstract

The surfactant α-olefin sulphonate (AOS) was examined for potential teratogenic and embryotoxic activity. The material was administered (by oral gavage) during days 6–15 of pregnancy in rats and mice, and days 6–18 of pregnancy in rabbits. Dosages employed were 0.2, 2, 300 and 600 mg/kg/ day. Maternal toxicity in the form of retarded weight gain or weight loss, death and/or total litter loss was apparent in rabbits and mice at 600 mg/kg, and to a lesser extent at 300 mg/kg; only slight affects were observed at 0.2 and 2 mg/kg. Rats showed no rection at the dosages tested. Litter parameters were unaffected at dosages that were either non-toxic or only slightly toxic to the dam, i.e. 0.2 and 2 mg/kg in rabbits and mice, 0.2, 2, 300 and 600 mg/kg in rats. Higher foetal loss (with consequent reduction in litter size) arising from an increased incidence of total litter losses occurred in mice at 300 and 600 mg/kg. Lower mean pup weight was observed in rabbits at 300 mg/kg and mice at 600 mg/kg. No rabbits survived at 500 mg/kg. The incidence of major malformations and of minor visceral and skeletal anomalies and skeletal variants (extra ribbed pups) appeared unaffected apart from higher incidences of minor skeletal anomalies and variants in rabbits at 300 mg/kg, and of major malformations (cleft palate)_and minor skeletal anomalies in mice at 600 mg/kg.