Gonadal Development Of Lead Intoxicated Rat Embryos

Abstract

Pregnant rats injected with 60ju,g lead nitrate/gm body weight on day 8 of gestation showed a significant fetal resorption and reduced size of gonads on day 13.5 gestation. Incidence of fetal death and fetal resorption decreased and embryo gonads attained a normal size on day 18 of gestation. The developing gonads of lead treated embryos possessed a smaller number of primordial gprm cells, spermtogonia and oogania compared with those of controls.