[Teratogenicity study of magnesium chloride hexahydrate in rats].

Teratogenicity of magnesium chloride hexahydrate (MgCl2.6H2O) was examined in rats. Magnesium chloride hexahydrate dissolved in distilled water was given to pregnant Wistar rats by gavage once a day from day 6 through 15 of pregnancy at doses of 0, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg/day. The pregnant rats were sacrificed on day 20 of pregnancy and their fetuses were examined for malformation. Magnesium chloride hexahydrate caused no increased incidences of fetal malformation, and no toxic signs in the pregnant rats and the fetuses. It was concluded that magnesium chloride hexahydrate has no teratogenicity in rats when given by gavage. The no observed adverse effect level was estimated to be over 800 mg/kg/day for both pregnant rats and rat fetuses.