Maternal and fetal toxicity of N-methylmorpholine by oral administration in rats

Teratog Carcinog Mutagen. 1999;19(6):369-76.

Abstract

N-methylmorpholine, which is used as a catalyst in polyurethane foams producing, in solvents, stabilizing agents, and corrosion inhibitors, was administered to female rats by gavage at 100, 200, 600, and 900 mg/kg during organogenesis. It did not exhibit selective toxicity toward the developing conceptus. This compound administered to pregnant females was fetotoxic and teratogenic in the presence of maternal toxicity. N-methylmorpholine induced anophthalmia, internal hydrocephalus, and hydronephrosis but only at one dose which was also maternotoxic. Teratogenesis Carcinog. Mutagen. 19:369-376, 1999.

MeSH terms

  • Abnormalities, Drug-Induced*
  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Anophthalmos / chemically induced
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Fetal Resorption / chemically induced
  • Fetus / drug effects*
  • Hydrocephalus / chemically induced
  • Hydronephrosis / chemically induced
  • Litter Size / drug effects
  • Maternal-Fetal Exchange*
  • Morpholines / administration & dosage
  • Morpholines / toxicity*
  • Pregnancy
  • Rats
  • Teratogens*

Substances

  • Morpholines
  • Teratogens
  • 4-methylmorpholine