The capability of brine shrimp test as a teratogenicity screening system

Abstract

Objectives: The goals of this study were to analyze the capability of brine shrimp test (BST) as a potent teratogenicity screening system on teratogenic agents (methotrexate, captopril, diclofenac, phenytoin, warfarin, and valproic acid). Methods: Artemia cysts were hatched into 1st stage nauplii, then taken and put into seawater medium which contain test substance and kept alive until 2nd stage, 3rd stage, and 4th stage, and number of deaths, morphological abnormalities, body length, and retarded of development were observed for each stage. Results: Hatch ability of cysts in methotrexate 0.015 mg/ml, captopril 0.25 mg/ml, diclofenac 0.075 mg/ml, phenytoin 1.56 mg/ml, and valproic acid 2.5 mg/ml were significantly different compared to control (p<0.05). Nauplii survival in methotrexate 0.015 mg/ml, captopril 0.25 mg/ml, diclofenac 0.075 mg/ml, phenytoin 1.56 mg/ml, and valproic acid 2.5 mg/ml were significantly different to control (p<0.05). The morphological abnormalities was found in methotrexate 0.015 mg/ml, captopril 0.25 mg/ml. Nauplii with retarded development were expressed in methotrexate 0.015 mg/ml, captopril 0.25 mg/ml, diclofenac 0.075 mg/ml, phenytoin 1.56 mg/ml, and valproic acid 2.5 mg/ml. Significant difference in body length was presented in captopril 0.25 mg/ml, and phenytoin 1.56 mg/ml compared to control (p<0.05). Conclusion: BST can be used as an alternative method of the teratogenic screening test, although not as sensitive teratogenic tests on mammals. This screening method was not suitable for a compound which its chemical characteristic can change the tonicity of the medium.