The environmental pollution by insecticides is most considerable due to their untoward effects on the production and reproduction in human and animals.The teratogenic potential of methomyl insecticide in rats was the aim of our study to assess. Pregnant rats were separated into four equal groups; the first one kept as a control group. The 2nd and 3th groups were orally administered methomyl on 6th through 15th of Gestation period at doses of 2 mg/kg b.wt. and 0.67 mg/kg b.wt ,dailycorresponding to 1/10 and 1/30 LD50 methomyl, respectively. All pregnant rats were exposed to caesarean section on GD 21 and their fetuses were examined for morphological, visceral and skeletal abnormalities. Decreased maternal weight gain and fetal weight and significantly reduced the number of implantation sites, the number of live fetuses and increased the incidence of dead embryos and resorption sites at the same dose levels were recorded in groups exposed to methomyl at 2 mg /kg. b.wt.
The fetuses of dams rats exposed to methomyl at 2 mg/kg .b .wt., were significantly increased in the percentage of morphological, visceral and skeletal abnormalities The retardation in growth of viable fetuses, hydrocephaly, an ophthalmia , lung hypoplasia, incomplete ossification of cranial bones, aplasia of metacarpals, metatarsals, phalanges and caudal vertebrae were the important fetal
anomalies