Effect of N-Desacetyl Thio Colchicine (TG) and N-Desacetyl-Methyl-Colchicine (MC) on Rat Fetus and Litter in utero.

Abstract

Both compounds were given in fractions of the LD50 to groups of pregnant rats in different stages of gestation. Both compounds permitted complete litter destruction in utero when given after the 10th day of gestation. Placentas survived the fetuses. The mothers showed mild depression of the myeloid tissue of the bone marrow, peripheral WBC and prothrombin. Four consecutive litter destructions in utero, in the same animals, with TC were well tolerated and did not impair subsequent fertility or reproduction of the same rats. Abnormalities in subsequent offspring were not noted. No increase in dosage was necessary to affect complete litter destruction with increasing fetal age from day 10 to 19. Pregnant rats (429) were used in the experiments.