Effect of O-Diazo Acetyl-L-Serine on Rat Litter.

Abstract

AZS was given to groups of pregnant rats. Fetal development was prevented by 5 mg/kg, given at the time of implantation. Entire litters in utero were destroyed by 10 mg/kg, given at mid-term. The drug was ineffective on the 15th and 16th day of gestation. Malformations occurred with smaller doses. Combination of 6-mercaptopurine and AZS was effective in litter destruction in smaller doses than either compound alone. Neither progesterone nor adenine protected the litter against AZS. AZS given before mating did not delay it, nor did it affect the subsequent litter. Rats aborted 4 and 5 consecutive times with AZS showed no accumulative toxicity nor impairment of their fertility. Litters raised from rats aborted 4 or 5 times were normal in all respects and produced normal litters. The total number of pregnant experimental rats used was 496.