Transplacental and Neonatal Effects of Hypercortisonism in the Rat on Thymo-Lymphatic System Differentiation and Serum Immunoglobulin Levels

Abstract

The teratogenic potential of cortisone, cortisol or ACTH has been clearly established in the mouse and rabbit. The incidence of consequent malformation (such as cleft palate in the mouse, cardiac anomaly in the rabbit) varies according to dosage of cortisone, timing, the specific strain studied, as well as other factors. In the rat, however, cortisone is usually not believed to be teratogenic, although high dosages have been related to small fetuses (1), many of which die soon after delivery, usually from infection. The question arises whether the well-known immunosuppressive influence of this drug may underlie this latter observation. Thus, the study of its possible adverse effects upon the immunity mechanism of the fetus as a specific teratogenic role is of interest.