The influence of procarbazine and thiocyanate on embryonic bone maturation

The substance procarbazine (Natulan®) is a teratogen known to induce cleft palates in rats on day 14 post-conception. The application of thiocyanate (SCN-) alone to rats on day 10 and 14 of pregnancy had no effects on fetal bone maturation. However, when procarbazine was used, the maturation and growth of fetal bones was delayed. Upon additional application of thiocyanate, the effects of procarbazine (Natulan?) were increased. Thus, no antiteratogenic effect of thiocyanate occurs. We propose that charge and metabolites of teratogenic agents play a key role in developing the effects of thiocyanate.