Teratological and Other Effects of Malachite Green on Development of Rainbow Trout and Rabbits

Malachite green oxalate caused significant developmental abnormalities when administered to eggs of rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri and to pregnant New Zealand white rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus. Treatment of rainbow trout eggs with malachite green caused deformities of larvae at rates three to five times that observed in untreated lots. All dose levels affected fetal development of rabbits. At the dosages given, the incidence of anomalies caused by malachite green was about half that observed in thalidomide-treated positive controls and two to three times that in untreated controls. Abnormalities noted in fish were primarily of the spine and skull. In rabbits, anomalies most frequently involved the skeleton, liver, heart, and kidneys. Some fetal toxicity was observed. Received March 28, 1983 Accepted August 8, 1983