Decreased reproductive effects from snakeweed (Gutierrezia microcephala) in Sprague-Dawley rats with increased dietary snakeweed consumption.
Sprague-Dawley rats have been used to study the pathogenesis and toxicokinetics of snakeweed (Gutierrezia microcephala and G sarothrae) toxicosis. Diets containing as little as 10% snakeweed (SW) will induce early embryonic toxicosis and abortion in Sprague-Dawley rats. The sc administration of safflower oil to inseminated female rats will provide protection/tolerance against SW embryotoxins. Two studies evaluated this embryotoxin protection. In the first study, an increase in daily consumption of SW resulted in increased embryo-fetal survival in the SW-containing diet+saline group from 0% in previous studies to 35%. In the second study, once again an increase in diet consumption was associated with 40% of the females in the SW-containing diet+saline group carrying litters to term.
Staley
E C
EC
Veterinary Medical Clinic, Alamogordo, NM, USA.
Smith
G S
GS
Greenberg
J A
JA
D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D010939:Plant Poisoning; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013723:Teratogens / Q000633:toxicity*
D013723:Teratogens