Sodium salicylate teratogenicity in vitro.

Rat embryos were exposed to sodium salicylate in vitro at concentrations comparable to those used to produce terata in vivo. Embryos treated with 400, 600, or 800 micrograms Na salicylate/ml were compared with embryos treated with an equimolar concentration of NaCl. When compared to growth of the controls, a significant dose-dependent decrease in growth parameters was observed. The incidence of abnormal embryos characterized by generalized swelling (particularly in the area of the rhombencephalon) was also dose dependent. This study demonstrates the teratogenicity of salicylate in the rat independent of maternal factors.