The Effect of Dissolved Nitrate Toxicity on Follicologenesis of the Pregnant Mice and Their Offspring

Nitrate is one of the most common ground water contaminants in urban and rural areas. These days sodium nitrate has been added to the environment through burning of the fossil fuels and using the chemical fertilizers. In this research the effects of the Sodium Nitrate (doses 450, 900mg ∕ liter in drinking water) during pregnancy of female mice were investigated. The hypothesis of this study was to find out the developmental effects of Sodium Nitrate on ovaries of the pregnant mice and their offspring’s ovaries. For these objectives the offspring in 12 and 24 days after birth were examined, the significant changes in the body weight, the quantity and quality of different follicles, ovary diameter and hormones level were investigated in treated groups. These observations indicate the toxicity of excess nitrates can make changes in ovary such as disturbances in development of follicles and ovarian tissue damage. Even more the oral LD50 for mice varied from 2480 to 6250 mg of the Sodium Nitrate /kg [1].