Reproductive Toxicity of Sodium Nitrite and Its Modulation by Ascorbic Acid as An Antioxidant in Pregnant Female Mice

Document Type : Original Article

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Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Fayoum University, Egypt

Abstract

Sodium nitrite (NaNO2) is a water-soluble compound, well-known as a principal food preservative and colorant in the food industry. Besides the variety of industrial and medicinal applications, toxicity to humans and animals is well documented after nitrite overexposure. This study was carried out to investigate the reproductive toxicity of sodium nitrite and its modulation by ascorbic acid as an antioxidant in mice. Forty-eight pregnant female mice were divided into equal sex groups (8 per group). Group I was used as control group. Group II received 100 mg/kg of ascorbic acid. Groups III& IV received 0.016 and 0.032 mg sodium nitrite/g body weight. Group V and VI received 0.016 and 0.032 mg sodium nitrite /g body with 100 mg ascorbic acid/kg body weight. Pregnant female mice were orally administered doses at days 8 to 17 of gestation and sacrificed on day 18 of gestation. Sodium nitrite treatment during late pregnancy induced maternal toxicity as indicated by a reduction in the maternal body weight and incidence of both partial and complete resorption of implants and miscarriage of fetuses. Also, examination of life fetuses from NaNO2-treated dams on the 18th day of gestation showed marked fetal growth retardation and a significant increase in the percentage of malformed fetuses per dam and the percentage of dams with malformed fetuses. These malformations were clearly recorded in the gross morphology and skeleton of the fetuses. Skeletal malformations were observed in sternebrae. Also, the assessment of skeletal ossification of life fetuses revealed marked retardation in the major parts of the skeleton.  It could be concluded that ascorbic acid treatment can ameliorate the toxic effects of sodium nitrite.

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