Teratogenesis and low copper status resulting from D-penicillamine in rats

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Abstract
The teratogenicity of D‐penicillamine was studied using the Sprague‐Dawley rat. Fetuses from rats fed diets containing 0.83% D‐penicillamine during pregnancy had a high incidence of malformations. Maternal and fetal tissue copper levels were significantly lower in the D‐penicillamine group than in controls, suggesting that the teratogenicity of the drug may be due in part to the induction of copper deficiency by its chelating properties.