Generalized growth retardation in rats induced by prenatal exposure to methylazoxymethyl acetate

The brain was the only organ that showed macroscopic malformations, characterized by greatly reduced cerebral hemispheres and defects in the cortical mantle.

Abstract

Abstract Single injections to rats of methylazoxymethyl acetate on days 13 to 18 of gestation retarded the general postnatal development of the offspring and resulted in micrencephaly. The effects were most severe when the compound was administered on day 14 or 15 of gestation. At 35 days of age, body, brain, kidney, liver, spleen, and testis weights were significantly reduced, whereas at 14 days of age only the brain weights were significantly less than controls. The brain was the only organ that showed macroscopic malformations, characterized by greatly reduced cerebral hemispheres and defects in the cortical mantle. In addition, nuclear groups and fiber tracts throughout the telencephalon, diencephalon, midbrain, and cerebellum were reduced in size.