EFFECTS OF SODIUM SELENITE ON METHYLMERCURY EMBRYOTOXICITY AND TERATOGENICITY IN MICE

Female IVCS mice were fed food containing methylmercury (MeHg) at 0, 15.9, or 31.9 nmol/g food and drinking water containing sodium selenite at 0, 11.4, or 22.8 nmol/ml for 30 days before gestation and thereafter up to Day 18 of gestation. Groups receiving MeHg had (1) affected estrus cycles, (2) decreased litter size accompanied by increased implantation sites, resorptions, dead embryos, and dead fetuses, (3) increased incidence of cleft palate, and (4) retarded fetal growth. Selenite was not teratogenic and even at the high dose, generally only retarded fetal growth. The low dose of selenite when combined with the high dose of MeHg, increased the incidence of resorptions and implantation sites. Embryolethality was decreased and the incidence of cleft palate was increased in the group receiving the high dose of selenite combined with the high dose of MeHg. © 1979.