Influence of a low protein diet on salicylate-induced damage in mice.

The influence of a low protein diet (8%) during pregnancy on the teratogenic potential of sodium salicylate was studied in NMRI mice. Sodium salicylate was given intramuscularly as a single dose of 250 or 500 mg/kg on gestation day 9 or 17. Reduced fetal weight was the only adverse effect of the low protein diet. Following the teratogenic dose of 500 mg/kg, more skeletal malformations were found in fetuses of deficient mothers than of those on a standard diet. An increased incidence of fetal death was demonstrated on gestation day 17 even at the subteratogenic dose of 250 mg/kg.