Effects on reproduction in female offspring from Sprague-Dawley rats fed 10% snakeweed (Gutierrezia microcephala) throughout pregnancy and concurrent treatment with safflower oil
Staley, E.C.; Smith, G.S.; Greenberg, J.A.
Veterinary and Human Toxicology 37(5): 440-442
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0145-6296 PMID: 8592831 Document Number: 444841
Previous studies determined that safflower oil administration provided protection against the embryotoxicity seen following ingestion of 10% snakeweed (Gutierrezia microcephala) throughout pregnancy. 62 young primiparous female rats born in those studies were mated with adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. After 4 d they were removed and carried their litters to term. Observations were made of the presence and extent of reproductive effects attributable to the 10% snakeweed exposure and differences in fecundity that were attributable to dosing with safflower oil or normal saline during the snakeweed exposure. Of the 62 rats, 50 carried litters to term, the normal reproductive efficiency of primiparous Sprague-Dawley rats. There was no significant difference between the fecundity of females born to rats fed the 10% snakeweed and dosed with safflower oil, those born of rats fed snakeweed dosed with normal saline, or those fed a snakeweed-free diet and dosed with normal saline. Regardless of the diet or treatment administered, dams carrying their litters to parturition gave birth to healthy offspring. While the toxic principles in Gutierrezia species plants may act as oestrogenic or anti-oestrogenic compounds, they did not impair fertility in the female offspring of dosed rats.