Reproductive Toxicity of Sodium Nitrite and Its Modulation by Ascorbic Acid as An Antioxidant in Pregnant Female Mice

Abstract

Sodium nitrite (NaNO 2 ) is a water-soluble compound, wellknown as a principal food preservative and colorant in the food industry. Besides the variety of industrial and medicinal applications, toxicity to humans and animals is well documented after nitrite overexposure. The present work was carried out to investigate the maternal and developmental toxicity of sodium nitrite and its modulation by ascorbic acid as an antioxidant in pregnant female mice. Forty-eight pregnant female mice were divided into equal sex groups (8 per group). Group I was used as control. Group II received 100 mg/kg of ascorbic acid. Groups III& IV received 0.016 and 0.032 mg sodium nitrite/g body weight. Group V and VI received 0.016 and 0.032 mg sodium nitrite /g body with 100 mg ascorbic acid/kg body weight. Pregnant female mice were orally administered doses at days from 8 to 17 of gestation and sacrificed on day 18 of gestation. Sodium nitrite treatment during late pregnancy induced maternal toxicity as indicated by a reduction in the maternal body weight and incidence of both partial and complete resorption of implants and miscarriage of fetuses. Examination of life fetuses from NaNO2-treated dams showed fetal growth retardation and a significant increase in the percentage of malformed fetuses per dam and the % of dams with malformed fetuses. These malformations were clearly recorded in both gross morphology and skeleton of the fetuses (sternebrae). The assessment of skeletal ossification of life fetuses showed marked retardation in the major parts of the skeleton. The results could be concluded that ascorbic acid administration may ameliorate the maternal toxic effects of NaNO2.

Does Nitrate and Nitrite Additive Make Food Super Toxic?

“…Even more studies demonstrate the transfer of nitrate, nitrite and nitrosamine compounds from mother to foetus having negative effect on growth and have the potentiality to cause death or abortion of the foetus [37]. One of the most recent studies [38] conducted to demonstrate the toxicity of sodium nitrite using 48 pregnant female mice, sodium nitrite treated mice shows maternal toxicity including reduction of body weight and death of the foetus. The foetus showed growth retardation and malformation.…”