The teratogenic effects of beta-aminopropionitrile in hamsters.

The teratogenicity of beta-aminopropionitrile (beta APN) was evaluated in golden Syrian hamsters; single doses of 1250, 2500, and 3750 mg/kg given on days 7-13 produced fetal mortality, growth retardation and malformations. All time-dose combinations produced gross external abnormalities with the highest rate (92.5%) occurring following day-12 treatment. High frequencies of skeletal abnormalities including deformities of the ribs, fibula, and scapula occurred after days-10-12 treatment. Deformed ribs occurred in 100% of fetuses exposed on day 11 to any of the dosages. The types of abnormality generally resembled those produced by lathyrogens in other species except for exencephaly and encephalocele, which occurred after treatment on day 7. These results indicate that betaAPN is a typical teratogen, capable of producing abnormalities of the central nervous system early in gestation, and may reflect a broader mechanism for its activity than previously suggested.