Teratology Studies on Lewisite and Sulfur Mustard Agents. Effects of Sulfur Mustard in Rats and Rabbits

Sulfur mustard (HD) was administered to rats and rabbits by intragastric intubations. Rats were dosed daily from 6 through 15 days of gestation (dg) with 0.0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 mg of HD/kg; rabbits were dosed with 0, 0. 4, 0.6 or 0.8 mg/kg on 6 through 19dg. Maternal animals were weighed periodically and, at necropsy, were examined for gross lesions of major organs and reproductive performance; live fetuses were weighed and examined for external, internal and skeletal defects. In rats, reductions in body weights were observed in maternal animals and their female fetuses at the lowest administered dose (0.5 mg/kg), but the incidence of fetal malformations was not increased. In rabbits the highest administered dose (0.8 mg/kg) induced maternal mortality and depresses body weight measures but did not affect fetal development. These results suggest that orally administered HD is not teratogenic in rats and rabbits since fetal effects were observed only at dose levels that induced frank maternal toxicity. Estimations of dose ranges for no observable effects levels in rats and rabbits, respectively, were: 0.5 and 0.4 mg/kg in maternal animals and 0.5 and 0.8 mg/kg in their fetuses. Keywords: Fetal development; Teratology. See also appendices, ADA189161.