Teratogenic effects of Ochratoxin A in rats with impaired renal function

The teratogenic potential of Ochratoxin A (OA), was compared in impaired renal function (IRF) and sham-operated (SO) female rats. Surgical removal of approximately 70% of the total renal tissue was accomplished utilizing unilateral ligation/electrocoagulation procedures. Control animals were sham-operated. All animals were allowed a period of 27 days to recover post surgery. IRF rats exhibited normal mating tendencies and the pregnancy rate was 100%. A single, subcutaneous teratogenic dose of OA (1.75 mg/kg) on gestation day 7 resulted in significantly increased fetal resorptions, decreased fetal body weights and increased fetal malformations in both IRF and SO animals, although the incidence of gross malformations was greater in IRF rats. A subthreshold teratogenic dose (i.e. 1 mg/kg) did not produce any significant increase in embryotoxicity or fetal malformations in IRF animals compared to SO rats.