Developmental toxicity assessment of arsenic acid in mice and rabbits.

To evaluate potential effects of exposure to inorganic arsenic throughout major organogenesis, CD-1 mice and New Zealand White rabbits were gavaged with arsenic acid dosages of 0, 7.5, 24, or 48 mg/kg/d on gestation days (GD) 6 through 15 (mice) or 0, 0.19, 0.75, or 3.0 mg/kg/d on GD 6 through 18 (rabbits) and examined at sacrifice (GD 18, mice; GD 29, rabbits) for evidence of toxicity. Two high-dose mice died, and survivors at the high and intermediate doses had decreased weight gains. High-dose-group fetal weights were decreased; no significant decreases in fetal weight or increases in prenatal mortality were seen at other dosages. Similar incidences of malformations occurred in all groups of mice, including controls. At the high dose in rabbits, seven does died or became moribund, and prenatal mortality was increased; surviving does had signs of toxicity, including decreased body weight. Does given lower doses appeared unaffected. Fetal weights were unaffected by treatment, and there were no effects at other doses. These data revealed an absence of dose-related effects in both species at arsenic exposures that were not maternally toxic. In mice, 7.5 mg/kg/d was the maternal No-Observed-Adverse-Effect-Level (NOAEL); the developmental toxicity NOAEL, while less well defined, was judged to be 7.5 mg/kg/d. In rabbits, 0.75 mg/kg/d was the NOAEL for both maternal and developmental toxicity.