[Effects of arsenic on the offspring development in mice]

Effects of arsenic exposure on offspring development were studied in pregnant mice. The results showed arsenic contents of the body and brain tissue increased and the structure of neural cells in cerebral cortex became abnormal after exposure. The offspring neurobehavioral development appeared retardant and the proportion of their peripheral lymphocytes with alpha-naphthalene acetate enzyme (ANAE) declined in a mice group with exposure to 0.75 mg/kg arsenic, and the offspring body weight gain slowed after weaning, blood cholinesterase activity and serum level of haemolysin declined significantly in a group with 4.50 mg/kg. It indicated arsenic could affect embryonic and offspring development in mice through pregnant exposure.