Teratogenic effects of aflatoxin in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the teratogenic effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in balady rabbits. The female animals divided into two groups control and treated, each group contained three dams. A dose of 0.05mg /kg/day AFB1 was administered by gastric intubation to pregnant rabbits on the 6th–18th day of pregnancy. The fetuses were obtained through the uterine incision at 29th day of gestation. The lengths and weights of the fetuses as well as absolute organs weights were measured, revealing the statistically significant differences between the two groups (p<0.001).The observed gross anomalies included wrinkled skin, enlarged eye socket and microphthalmic eyes. The heart of treated group showed reduction in size with wide ventricular lumen and shallow inter ventricular groove. The characteristic fetal histopathological findings were vaccuolation and distortion of hepatic cord pattern. The renal tubular epithelium was vacuo- lated and their lumen were occluded with casts. The eye lids revealed less number of hair follicles. Regarding, the skeletal anomalies there were incomplete ossification in some of the skull bones, the lami- nae of the vertebral arches throughout the vertebral column remain cartilaginous. The sternum was incompletely ossified. The 2nd phalanx, carpus, extremities of metacarpi had no cartilaginous drafts. The central and distal tarsal rows as well as extremities of metatarsi remained car- tilaginous..