Teratogenesis and low copper status resulting from D-penicillamine in rats.

The teratogenicity of D-penicillamine was studied using the Sprague-Dawley rat. Fetuses from rats fed diets containing 0.83% D-penicillamine during pregnancy had a high incidence of malformations. Maternal and fetal tissue copper levels were significantly lower in the D-penicillamine group than in controls, suggesting that the teratogenicity of the drug may be due in part to the induction of copper deficiency by its chelating properties.