The present study assessed central nervous system (CNS) and immune system changes in murine fetuses after cyclophosphamide (CP) exposure during intrauterine life. A single CP dose of 0, 10, or 20mg/kg body weight was administered by intraperitoneal inj ection to pregnant mice (20/group) on day 11 of gestation (GD 11) and fetuses were evaluated on day 19 of gestation (GD 19). Fetuses were examined for external changes, and then the brains and thymuses were removed for further evaluations of histological changes, protein content, apoptotic cell count, DNA fragmentation, and in vitro cell proliferation using 1 fetus/litter for each assessment. Brains and thymuses from CP-exposed fetuses were smaller in size and distorted in overall shape compared to those... |