The teratogenic action of propylene glycol (propanediol-1,2) and propanediol-1,3 in the chick embryo.

Abstract

AbstractWhen 0.05 ml propylene glycol or a related glycol was introduced into the air chamber during early development most chick embryos survived the treatment. When a glycol was injected on the second day of incubation or later the viability of the embryos was reduced. A maximal sensitivity towards glycols was observed on the fourth day of development, when 90% of the embryos died within two hours and 20% of the surviving embryos had asymmetric malformations of the limbs. Of all the compounds tested in the air chamber, only propanediol‐1,3 caused a specific type of malformation (micromelia) in a high percentage of the embryos.When injections were made into the yolk sac it was found that the insertion of a needle prior to incubation caused a high mortality even in the controls. This sensitivity towards a mechanical disturbance diminished rapidly after 24 hours of incubation. With the exception of propanediol‐1,3 none of the glycols appeared to be teratogenic when injected into the yolk sac in amounts not exceeding 0.05 ml. When 0.2 ml propylene glycol was introduced into the yolk on the fourth day of incubation, a large liquid‐containing cyst was observed on the dorsal side of many of the embryos.The high toxicity of glycols when injected into the air chamber on the fourth day may be attributed to their capacity of destroying the vascular system of the yolk sac.