INFLUENCE OF CERULOPLASMIN ON THE EMBRYOTOXIC EFFECT OF SILVER IONS

Silver chloride added to the regular diet of pregnant albino rats did not notably change their physiology, though enzymatically active coppe r-containing ceruloplasmin (CP) could no longer be detected in their b lood plasma. The copper content in placental and fetal tissues also be came much lower. Severe developmental abnormalities of embryos and the ir prenatal death or 100% mortality within the first 24 h after birth were observed. A marked decrease in the activity of Cu,Zn-superoxide d ismutase (SOD) in the cytoplasm of embryonic cells was accompanied by its less pronounced drop in the tissues of pregnant females. Repetitiv e injections of native copper-containing CP to the pregnant rats stron gly diminished the toxicity of AgCl, increasing placental and embryoni c SOD activity and allowing the survival of some newborns. The embryot oxic effect of AgCl is probably caused by its effect on the copper-tra nsporting function of CP.