Toxicology of Maternally Ingested Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl_4) on Embryonal and Fetal Development and in vitro Fertilization in Mice

Oral administration of carbon tetachloride (CCI4) for five consecutive days beginning on either day 1, 6 or 11 of pregnancy in mice had no effect on maternal body weight, liver and kidney weight or pregnancy. The various neonatal parameters e.g. pup weight and crown rump length were also not affected. No malformations were detected in any 1 post-partum. The development of pups (incisor eruption on day 11 and eye opening on day 14) was normal. CCI4 at concentrations of 0.05 and 0.5 mM had no significant effect on in vitro fertilization while higher doses caused a significant decrease. A significant linear relationship between 1, 2, 5 and 10 mM CCI4 and a decrease in the fertilization rate were found. Similarly all the doses of CCI4 (1 to 10mM) resulted in a significant increase in abnormal ovum forms. A significant linear relationship was found between the dose and percent of abnormal forms. Thus CCI4 had no in vivo reproductive toxic effects following administration of 1/10 and 1/100 LD50 dose. However, addition of CCI4 in culture medium in concentrations found in blood of lethally intoxicated rats, adversely affected the in vitro fertilization rate and caused an increased incidence in abnormal ova.