Pre-natal (segment II) toxicity study of cinnamic aldehyde in the Sprague-Dawley rat

Cinnamic aldehyde (CA) was administered by gavage to Sprague-Dawley rats on days 7-17 of pregnancy at doses of 5,25 or 250 mg/kg body weight/day. Significantly lower weight gain of the dams was observed at the two higher dose levels. No significant dose-related increase of abnormalities was observed: the incidence of poor cranial ossification was significantly increased in all treated groups, while reduced ossification of the tympanic bulla was increased at 25 or 250 mg/kg/day. Significant increases of the incidences of dilated pelvis/reduced papilla in the kidney, dilated ureters and greater than or equal to 2 abnormal sternebrae per foetus were detected in the 2-mg/kg group, which had the highest overall prevalence of minor abnormalities. Since significant increases in the incidences of reduced cranial ossification, dilated ureters and renal variants were observed at 5 mg/kg, a dose at which there was no detectable maternal toxicity, it is suggested that the foetus might be slightly more sensitive than the adult to the action of CA.