Synergistic Teratogenic Effects Induced by Retinoids in Mice by Coadministration of a RARα- or RARγ-Selective Agonist with a RXR-Selective Agonist

Abstract

To study the interaction of retinoid-induced limb defects and cleft palate on day 11 of gestation, a RXR-selective agonist (AGN191701, an arylpropenyl-thiophene-carboxylic acid derivative, 20 mg/kg orally) was coadministered with a RARα-agonist (Am580, an arylcarboxamidobenzoic acid derivative, 5 mg/kg orally) to NMRI mice. AGN191701 was neither fetotoxic nor teratogenic at the dose used but potentiated Am580-induced limb defects and cleft palate and prevented Am580-induced fetal weight retardation. These results suggest that Am580-induced limb defects and probably cleft palate on day 11 of gestation may be mediated via RARα–RXR heterodimerization, particularly in the absence of toxicokinetic interactions. AGN191701 was also coadministered with a RARγ-agonist (CD437, an adamantyl-hydroxyphenyl naphthoic acid derivative, 15 mg/kg orally) on days 8 and 11 of gestation to investigate which CD437-induced defects are mediated via RARγ–RXR heterodimerization. On day 8 of gestation, AGN191701 potentiated CD437-induced embryolethality, exencephaly, spina bifida aperta, cleft palate, and tail defects, as well as visceral and skeletal defects, but not micrognathia. On day 11 of gestation, the incidence of CD437-induced cleft palate and limb defects was also potentiated when coadministered with the RXR agonist. These results suggest that synergistic teratogenic effects can be induced by coadministration of two receptor-selective retinoids, indicating the importance of RARα–RXR and RARγ–RXR heterodimers in producing structural defects during organogenesis.