In Vivo Effects of Vinblastine and Podophyllin on Dividing Cells of Dba Mouse Fetuses

Vinblastine (highly teratogenic) and podophyllin (non-teratogenic) each induced significant accumulations of metaphase plate in fetal and maternal tissues when injected intraperitoneally into day 9 pregnant DBA mice. Chromosome fragments and bridges also were slightly more frequent in the treated fetuses than in the controls. These findings clearly indicate that both compounds or their products can easily cross the placental barrier and that metaphase arrests do not necessarily lead to teratogenic effects. Prolonged persistence of the mitotic block and the presence of extensive necrosis in podophyllin-treated fetuses contrasted with the vinblastine results and suggest that teratogenicity may result from the recovery pattern rather than the initial lesion.