[Cyclophosphamide-induced pathohistological events in the fetal rat (author's transl)]

The paper describes pathohistological events after damaging of fetal blastemas by the cytotoxic agent cyclophosphamide in the rat. Fetuses were investigated at 24 hours intervals after application of cyclophosphamide (20 mg/kg body weight) on day 15 p. c. to detect the time of injury and reparation. During the first 24 hours heavy degenerations are seen in the central nervous system. Especially, dorsal parts of brain regions (alar plate derivatives) and certain mesenchymal structures (skin of the trunk, eye lids, auricle, mesenchyme of touch hairs) are affected. Moreover, 48 hours after damaging repairing processes are parallel to necrobiotic events. Resorption of necrotic cell detritus takes place by fetal macrophages and the primitive cerebral liquor. After 72 hours only repairing processes are to be seen. Structural defects in certain brain regions and in mesenchymal parts of the body (skin, palatal processes, eye lids, auricle) are the final results of cell injury and determine the typical malformation syndrome in the rat.