Rat fertility and early embryo development toxicity of intragastric administration of realgar / 中国药学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To observe the toxicity effect of realgar on rat fertility and early embryo development. METHODS: Male and female SD rats were divided into control group, realgar low (50 mg · kg-1), medium (125 mg · kg-1) and high (250 mg · kg-1) dose groups. Realgar (batch No. H2007052401) was given by i.g. daily to male rats from six weeks before mating until the successful mating day and to females from two weeks before mating until the sixth day of pregnancy. Male rats were sacrificed after mating, and female rats were sacrificed on the 15th day of pregnancy. The numbers of corpus luteum, implantation spot, and survival fetus were recorded. Histopathological examination was carried out. Statistical analysis was done to compare with the control group. RESULTS: The mating rates, pregnancy rates, live fetus rates, loss rates before and after implantation, the number of corpus luteum, the number of implantations and reproductive organs in realgar groups were not significantly different when compared with the control group. Histopathological examination showed that there were micro-vacuolization in liver cells, focal infiltration of mononuclear cells and steatosis in liver in some female rats (3/10) and male rats (1/10) in realgar high-dose groups. And some female rats (2/10) in realgar high-dose group had interstitial fibroblasts proliferation with lymphocyte infiltration and focal renal tubular basophilic change. CONCLUSION: Realgar has no significant toxicity effect on rat fertility and early embryo development, but has certain toxicity to liver and kidney.