Teratological evaluation of Ukrain in hamsters and rats

The compound Ukrain, containing thiophosphoric acid alkaloid derivatives from the plant Chelidonium majus L., was given intramusculary (i.m.) on days 6-11 of gestation to hamsters and on days 6-15 of gestation to rats in doses of 0.1, 1.67 and 28 mg/kg daily. No clinical signs of toxicity were found in treated animals and no teratogenic effect could be noted in either species. Such parameters as the number of corpora lutea, implantation sites, pre and post-implantation losses, number of live foetuses per litter, placental weight, foetal weight and crown-rump length were not significantly different between the Ukrain treated rats and the controls. Slight embryotoxic effects (increased post-implantation losses) and in consequence decreased number of average litter size were noted in hamsters exposed to Ukrain at doses which were otherwise not embryotoxic to rats.