Some Effects of Large Doses of Ergot Products on Rats.

Abstract
The effects of dihydroergocornine, dlhydroergocristine, dihydro-ergotamine, and a mixture of dihydroergocornine, dihydro. ergocristine, and dihydroergokryptine, were studied on rate of growth, production of gangrene, and survival of rats, as compared with ergotamine. None of the dihydrogenated products inhibited growth consistently when given by daily injn. for 17 weeks; none inhibited growth as much as ergotamine. None of the dihydrogenated products produced gangrene; in contrast, ergotamine produced gangrene in 80% of the rats. Survival of all treated rats was equal to or better than survival of the controls.