Teratogenic Effect of Ethylene Glycol-Methyl Cellosolve Mixture in Rats. I. Reproductive Damage

We investigated the reproductive damage and teratogenic effect of an ethylene glycol-methyl cellosolve mixture on gestating Wistar rats, which received a daily intraperitoneal dose of different concentration of the mixture on day 8 of gestation until day 20. In rats treated with the mixture the number of live fetuses decreased and reabsorptions increased with increasing concentrations of the mixture, as well as the number of abnormal fetuses. We conclude that the ethylene glycol-methyl cellosolve mixture possesses a higher teratogenic potential than each of its constituents separately, producing reproductive damage, external fetal abnormalities, growth delay, and increased fetal death.