Strain differences in teratogenic susceptibility to trypan blue between WM and BDIX rat strains

Female rats of WM (Wistar-Mishima)/Nem strain were mated with WM/Nem (group W) or BDIX/Nem males (group WB), and BDIX/Nem females were mated with BDIX/Nem (group B) or WM/Nem males (group BW). On day 8 of gestation, pregnant females were treated intraperitoneally with 1% aqueous solution of trypan blue at a dose of between 20 and 120 mg/kg of body weight. On day 20 of gestation, fetuses were examined for external, visceral, and skeletal malformations. In group W, fetal mortality increased dose dependently at doses higher than 20 mg/kg, and incidences of external, visceral, and skeletal malformations were significantly higher than control at doses of 30 mg/kg and more. In group B, fetal mortality and the incidence of external malformations were significantly higher than control only in the group treated with 120 mg/kg, and no significant increase of visceral and skeletal malformations was shown. It was confirmed that BDIX strain is much more resistant to trypan blue teratogenicity than WM strain. In group BW, nearly the same teratogenic effects were shown as in group W in terms of fetal mortality and incidence of malformations. However, in group WB, teratogenic effects were not so remarkable as in group BW, suggesting patroclinous effects in teratogenic susceptibility to trypan blue. In group BW, sex differences in teratogenic susceptibility were found; male fetuses were more susceptible to trypan blue than females.