Effects of benzalkonium chloride on pregnant mice
Momma, J.; Takada, K.; Aida, Y.; Takagi, A.; Yoshimoto, H.; Suzuki, Y.; Nakaji, Y.; Kurokawa, Y.; Tobe, M.
Eisei Shikenjo Hokoku. Bulletin of National Institute of Hygienic Sciences 1987(105): 20-25
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0077-4715 PMID: 3449162 Document Number: 287055
Benzalkonium chloride (BK-Cl), which is known as one of the cationic surfactants, was examined for its effects on both dams and fetuses of mice. In the first experiment, relatively high doses of BK-Cl (3, 10 and 30 mg/kg) were given by gavage daily at an early stage of pregnancy (0-6 days). Animals were sacrificed on the 13th day. Significant changes were not found in body weight, food consumption and general appearance in dams. Also the number of implantations, number of live fetuses, sex ratio and body weight in fetuses were not significantly changed. However, there was a tendency toward a slight decrease in the pregnancy rate of dams in the groups treated with 10 and 30 mg/kg and a slight increase in the number of dead or resorbed fetuses in the group treated with 30 mg/kg. In the second experiment, groups of animals were treated with BK-Cl at the lower doses (1, 50 and 100 .mu.g/kg) during pregnancy (0-6 days), while other groups were treated with 1 and 50 .mu.g/kg throughout the entire pregnant period (0-18 days). Significant changes were not observed in both treated groups when compared with controls for dams and fetuses. These results indicate that BK-Cl can cause implantation disturbance and/or abortion at a relatively high dose (30 mg/kg) but that it has no effect on reproductive functions at lower dose levels (less than 100 .mu.g/kg).