Effects of specific dosages of magnesium and zinc on the teratogenicity of cadmium nickel and cobalt in xenopus embryos, as assessed by the fetax test

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine if exposure to divalent cations, Cd2+, Ni2+, and Co2+ would lead to malformations in Xenopus laevis embryos, and whether addition of Mg 2+and Zn2+; separately and in combination, would reduce their toxicity and teratogenicity on the embryos of Xenopus laevis as assessed by 96-h FETAX tests. Results indicate that exposure to Cd2+, Ni 2+ or Co2+ lead to an increase in toxicity and teratogenicity in embryos, whereas Mg2+, Zn2+, or a combination of them reduced the toxic and terato- genic effects of these divalent cations. Modulation of Cd2+, Ni2+ or Co 2+ toxicity and ter- atogenicity by Mg2+ and Zn 2+, varied with the metal. Zn2+ was observed to be a better suppressor of Co2+ toxicity and teratogenicity than Mg2+. In contrast, Ni2+, and Cd2+ terato- genicity was reduced more prominently by Mg2+. On the other hand, combination of Mg 2+ and Zn2+ showed potentialization effect on all divalent cation toxicity and teratogenicity. We concluded that Mg2+ and Zn2+ reduced the toxicity and teratogenicity of Cd2+, Ni2+, Co2+. Copyright © 2008 University of Massachusetts.