Hong Kong Med J 2013;19(Suppl 8):S20-2
Melamine toxicity in rat foetuses and infants
CC Wang, KP Fung, TF Fok, TK Lau, CP Pang, KO Chu, ASW Shum, CWK Lam, MHM Chan, CS Ho, CM Lau, TL Ting, TCW Mak
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
1. Melamine and cyanuric acid can transfer to mammary glands and pass through the placenta to foetuses and amniotic fluid.
2. In rats, pharmacokinetic profiles of maternal samples during gestation and of infant samples during the postnatal period were reversed.
3. High bioavailability was identified in foetal kidneys at late gestation and in infant kidneys at early postnatal period.
4. The foetal LD50 was defined as 300 mg/kg, whereas infant IC50 as <80 mg/kg and the tolerable daily intake as <0.02 mg/kg.
5. Maternal exposure resulted in no congenital malformation but decreased maternal weight gain and litter size as well as increased pregnancy loss and perinatal deaths.
2. In rats, pharmacokinetic profiles of maternal samples during gestation and of infant samples during the postnatal period were reversed.
3. High bioavailability was identified in foetal kidneys at late gestation and in infant kidneys at early postnatal period.
4. The foetal LD50 was defined as 300 mg/kg, whereas infant IC50 as <80 mg/kg and the tolerable daily intake as <0.02 mg/kg.
5. Maternal exposure resulted in no congenital malformation but decreased maternal weight gain and litter size as well as increased pregnancy loss and perinatal deaths.