Teratogenic Effects of Methylazoxymethanol

Abstract

Methylazoxymethanol (MAM), the aglycone of cycasin, a naturally occurring glucoside of cycad plants, causes retardation of growth and a variety of malformations in embryos of the golden hamster. This same substance was previously shown to be carcinogenic, hepatotoxic and to cause mutations, methylation of nucleic acids and chromosome breakage.