Skeletal congenital abnormalities induced by nickel chloride hexahydrate on Balb/C albino mice embryos during organogenetic period

Abstract

Nickel is an essential metal, and its compounds are widely used in industry and commerce. The development of industrialization has led to increased emission of nickel into environment causing teratogenesis in the developing embryos. This study aimed to investigate the toxic and teratogenic effects of nickel on Balb/C albino mice embryos during organogenetic period. This study was carried out on forty pregnant female albino mice; they were randomly divided into four equal groups: group I (control group) received distilled water; groups II, III, and IV (experimental groups): each group contains ten mice received 46.125 mg, 92.25 mg, and 184 mg Ni/kg body weight, per day, respectively, by orogastric tube for successive 8 days started from the 6th gestational day. The extracted lived fetuses were examined externally then double-stained and prepared for skeletal examination by dissecting microscope. The numbers of live-birth pups decreased significantly (p value for comparing between control and each other group, statistically significant at p ≤ 0.05). But there was significant increase in resorption sites in all nickel-treated groups compared to control group. Total number of resorption sites in all nickel-treated groups is 28: 15 resorption sites are present at left horn and 13 in the right horn. At the same time, there was significant increase in stillbirth fetuses in group IV. Double-stained fetal skeleton showed incomplete ossification of skull bones, unossified interparietal bone, open arch of atlas, incomplete ossification of vertebrae, supernumerary lumbar rib, incomplete ossification of ribs and sternebrae, incomplete ossification of bones of forelimb, incomplete ossification of bones of hindlimb, unossified carpals, metacarpals, tarsals, metatarsals, and phalanges in nickel-treated groups, compared to control group. Nickel results in number of skeletal congenital abnormalities indicating its teratogenic effect.