Influence of maternal restraint stress on arsenic-induced pre- and postnatal alterations in mice

Abstract

The potential interaction between arsenic and maternal stress was assessed in Swiss mice. Two groups of pregnant animals were given by gavage a single dose of 30-mg/kg sodium arsenite on gestation Day 7. Mice in one of the groups were subjected to restraint for 2 h per day on gestation Days 7–9. Control groups included restrained and unrestrained pregnant mice nonexposed to arsenite. One half of the animals were euthanized on gestational Day 18 and fetuses were examined for embryotoxic and teratogenic effects. The remaining dams were allowed to deliver and wean their offspring. Pups were evaluated with a multiitem neurobehavioral test battery. Although arsenite-induced maternal toxicity was enhanced by restraint, there were no significant effects of maternal stress on embryo/fetal toxicity or on most neurobehavioral parameters. According to these results, maternal restraint stress would not enhance the developmental and neurobehavioral toxicity of arsenite in mice at oral doses that are not teratogenic by themselves.