The amelioration of mercury-induced embryotoxic effects by simultaneous treatment with zinc

Prior work has demonstrated that inorganic mercury produces a number of toxic effects in embryos when this metal is administered to pregnant hamsters subcutaneously on the eighth gestation day. Also, treatment of various pregnant animals with zinc produces little evidence of embryotoxicity. The literature reveals that the simultaneous exposure of pregnant animals to different combinations of teratogenic and nonteratogenic agents produces variable responses which can be characterized as either protective or synergistic types of interactions. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of subcutaneously injected combinations of zinc and mercury on the developing hamster embryo. The major conclusion drawn from this work is that the simultaneous maternal treatment with zinc and mercury ameliorates the harmful effects produced by treatment with mercury alone.