Reproductive toxicology
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Reproductive toxicology · Mar 2002
The effect of methoxychlor on the epididymal antioxidant system of adult rats.
Methoxychlor is widely used as a pesticide in many countries and has been shown to induce reproductive abnormalities in male rats, causing reduced fertility. The mechanism of action of methoxychlor on the male reproductive system is not clear. In the present study we investigated whether administration of methoxychlor induces oxidative stress in the epididymis and epididymal sperm of adult rats. ⋯ Co-administration of the antioxidant vitamin E (20 mg/kg body weight/ day) to the 200 mg/kg/d methoxychlor-treated rats for 7 days prevented significant changes in the antioxidant systems in the epididymis and epididymal sperm and prevented alterations in sperm counts and motility. The results indicated that methoxychlor induces oxidative stress in the epididymis and epididymal sperm by decreasing antioxidant enzymes, possibly by inducing reactive oxygen species. In conclusion the adverse effect of methoxychlor on the male reproduction could be due to induction of oxidative stress.
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Reproductive toxicology · Nov 2001
The teratogenic risk of trimethoprim-sulfonamides: a population based case-control study.
To study human teratogenic potential of two trimethoprim-sulfonamide combinations: trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (cotrimoxazole) and trimethoprim-sulfamethazine during pregnancy. These agents have antifolate effects and other antifolate agents can induce multiple congenital abnormalities, neural-tube defects, cardiovascular, and other malformations in animal experiments and in humans. ⋯ Treatment with cotrimoxazole during pregnancy may increase the risk of cardiovascular malformations, and particularly multiple congenital abnormalities including defects of the urinary tract and cardiovascular system. A higher rate of cardiovascular malformations was also found after treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethazine in the second-third months of pregnancy.
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Reproductive toxicology · Jan 1996
Editorial Comparative StudyThalidomide and isotretinoin--why treat them differently?
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Reproductive toxicology · Nov 1994
ReviewThe effects of benzodiazepine use during pregnancy and lactation.
Although there are a number of studies and individual case reports concerning the use of benzodiazepines in human pregnancy, the data concerning teratogenicity and effects on postnatal development and behaviour are inconsistent. There is evidence from studies in the 1970s that first trimester exposure to benzodiazepines in utero has resulted in the birth of some infants with facial clefts, cardiac malformations, and other multiple malformations, but no syndrome of defects. Diazepam and chlordiazepoxide are amongst the drugs most frequently implicated in the earlier studies. ⋯ There is evidence that clonazepam, clorazepate, diazepam, lorazepam, midazolam, nitrazepam, and oxazepam are excreted into breast milk. The published data indicate that the levels detected in breast milk are low; therefore, the suckling infant is unlikely to ingest significant amounts of the drug in this way. Problems may arise if the infant is premature or has been exposed to high concentrations of drug either during pregnancy or at delivery.