[The prenatal toxicity of butenylisothiocyanate in rats]

Butenyl isothiocyanate (BylITC), the hydrolysis product of the glucosinolate gluconapin, present in various cruciferous vegetables and in rapeseed, was administered in oral doses of 0, 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg to pregnant rats on day 12 to 19 of gestation. Maternal toxicity was indicated by reduced body weight gain and increases in the weights of liver and kidneys. BylITC doses of 100 and 150 mg/kg caused retardation of fetal growth and ossification.