Teratogenesis of retinoic acid in rats: susceptible stages and suppression of retinoic acid-induced limb malformations by cycloheximide.

The susceptible stages and the malformation pattern produced by excess retinoic acid were investigated in rat fetuses. Retinoic acid (120 mg/kg body weight, suspended in rape oil) was administered orally to pregnant females on one of the first 20 days of gestation. Fetuses were examined for external and, after visualization of the skeleton with alizarin red, for skeletal malformations on the 21st day of gestation. Retinoic acid was highly embryolethal when administered on days 9 and 10 of gestation (96.2 and 100% resorptions). The earliest teratogenic effect of retinoic acid was noted on the 9th day of gestation. Severe multiple defects were produced by retinoic acid administration on days 9 and 11 of gestation, but more specific malformations involving the axial skeleton, the fore- and hindlimbs, and cleft palate resulted from treatment on days 12-18 of gestation. Cycloheximide, and inhibitor of protein synthesis, reduced the incidence of limb defects induced by retinoic acid. This result indicates that the teratogenic effect of retinoic acid on limb morphogenesis may be dependent upon continuous protein synthesis and is compatible with the view that vitamin A may act like a hormone.