Malformed foetuses and karyotype abnormalities in the offspring of cyclophosphamide and allyl alcohol-treated male rats.

Litters sired by male rats chronically treated with cyclophosphamide (CP) or allyl alcohol (AA), were evaluated for the incidence of foetal malformations and karyotype abnormalities. The male rats were also examined for the induction of deleterious effects on various parameters including those involved in reproductive performance. A highly significant and consistent increase in the numbers of malformed foetuses was seen in the litters from CP-treated male rats. Chromosome preparations revealed that a large proportion of the malformed foetuses carried karyotypic abnormalities. These effects were paralleled by a large increase in the number of post-implantation losses without significant differences in several sperm and semen characteristics including sperm abnormalities. No adverse reproductive effects were observed with allyl alcohol treatment.