Vinblastine‐induced malformations of face and nervous system in two rat strains

Abstract

Vinblastine, an oncolytic Vinca alkaloid, given in a single intramuscular injection of 0.025 mg to pregnant female rats on the eighth day of gestation, causes fetal death and face-brain malformations in the majority of the fetuses. Commonest malformations were ano-phthalmia, microphthalmia, micrognathia, cephalic or spinal dysrha-phism, and eventration. Although having teratogenic potentialities which must be considered, the Vinca alkaloids can induce remissions and reversal of neurological signs in some patients with intracranial neoplasms, warranting fuller exploration of their oncolytic value in intracranial as well as extra cranial neoplasia.