Repeated administration of diphenyl diselenide to pregnant rats induces adverse effects on embryonic/fetal development

Abstract The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of diphenyl diselenide, (PhSe) 2 , on embryo-fetal development. Dams were treated subcutaneously with 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 mg/kg (PhSe) 2 from days 6 to 15 of pregnancy. After cesarean section at gestation day (GD) 20, external and skeletal abnormalities were evaluated. A decrease in maternal body weight gain was found in (PhSe) 2 groups, indicating maternal toxicity. There was a reduction in the fetal weight and in crown-rump (CR) length of fetuses at three doses tested. The occipito-nasal length decreased in fetuses from dams exposed to 3.0 mg/kg (PhSe) 2 . Signs of delayed ossification in the skull, sternebrae and limbs were observed in all (PhSe) 2 groups, revealing a relation between morphological alterations and growth retardation in fetuses, but none of the changes appeared to be dose-dependent. Exposure of dams to (PhSe) 2 resulted in altered placental morphology that may have contributed to adverse reproductive outcomes. We concluded that (PhSe) 2 is toxic to dams and induces developmental delay of the fetal skeleton, but does not cause externally visible malformations in rat fetuses, in this experimental procedure.