Abstract
AbstractThe effect of phenytoin on morphology of otoliths was investigated in rat fetuses. Pregnant rats were administered with phenytoin (PHT) 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day on days 11–14 of pregnancy and the fetuses were removed on day 20 of pregnancy. Methyl salicylate cleared specimens were prepared and the otoliths were scored for morphological completeness.Otolith score decrease was observed only in utricles of the fetuses treated with PHT 200 mg/kg/day with a statistical difference. The most remarkable morphological change in otoliths was that the utricular otolith and the saccular otolith were connected and the otoconial crystals were visible between utricular and saccular otoliths. The frequency of this conjoined utricule and saccule was about 30% of the fetuses treated with PHT 200 mg/kg/day. From these results, the threshold level of PHT for induction of otolith abnormalities was estimated to be between 100 and 200 mg/kg/day.
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