Effects of limited doses of retinyl palmitate at the critical time of limb morphogenesis in mouse embryos.

With a view to examine the effects of defined doses of retinyl palmitate (Vit. A) on limb morphogenesis and their effects at the critical time in mouse embryos, pregnant Swiss Webster albino mice were administered retinyl palmitate (10000 or 15000 IU/kg, i.p.) on different days of pregnancy. Vitamin A in 15000 IU/kg, i.p. dose was most effective as produced malformations in the forelimbs by day 10 in 28.6% mice and in the hindlimbs by day 11 in 20.6% mice. Further, two injections in a day with the lower dose (10000 IU/kg, i.p.) had more teratogenic effects than single 15000 IU/kg, i.p. injection. Two injections of either dose on day 10 resulted in higher embryo absorption.