Background & Aims : arsenic is an important environmental toxicant which is usually found in drinking water. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of arsenic on development of visual system on mouse embryos.

  Materials & Methods : In this study 30 albino mice were used in controls and experimental groups (N=15). The experimental group received 40 mg/kg intraperitoneally sodium arsenic on the 8^th day of gestation. On the 10^th, 16^th and 19^th days of the gestation the pregnant mice were sacrificed and the embryos were removed from uterus. All embryos of the groups were examined macroscopically and microscopically by H&E and immunufoluorescence staining for detection of Reduced Folate Carrier 1 (RFC1).

  Results : Macroscopic observations of the 16^th and 19^th days in the experimental group showed anophtalmia or defect in eye ball formation. Histological examination by H&E revealed that 60% of experimental embryos belonged to (E10), 60% (E16) and 33.5% (E19) showed defects in development of different layers of eye. Furthermore, the expression of retina layer RCF 1 in the experimental group decreased in compared control.

  Conclusion : These results demonstrated the association between prenatal exposure to inorganic arsenic and eye defects and more likely related to a defect in RFC1.

  SOURCE: URMIA MED J 2014: 25(83): 20 ISSN: 1027-3727