METAL-INDUCED DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY IN MAMMALS - A REVIEW

It is well established that certain metals are toxic to embryonic and fetal tissues and can induce teratogenicity in mammals. The main objec tive of this paper has been to summarize the toxic effects that excess es of certain metals may cause on mammalian development. The reviewed elements have been divided into four groups: (a) metals of greatest to xicological significance (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and uranium ) that are widespread in the human environment, (b) essential trace me tals (chromium, cobalt, manganese, selenium, and zinc) (c) other metal s with evident biological interest (nickel and vanadium), and (d) meta ls of pharmacological interest (aluminum, gallium, and lithium). A sum mary of the therapeutic use of chelating agents in the prevention of m etal-induced developmental toxicity has also been included. meso-2,3-D imercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) and sodium 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfo nate (DMPS) have been reported to be effective in alleviating arsenic- and mercury-induced teratogenesis, whereas sodium 4,5-dihydroxybenzen e-1,3-disulfonate (Tiron) would protect against vanadium- and uranium- induced developmental toxicity.