[Reproduction study of propiverine hydrochloride (2)--teratological study in rats by oral administration]

A teratogenicity study was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats by oral administration of propiverine hydrochloride (P-4) at dose levels of 0 (control), 2, 10 and 50 mg/kg/day to dams from day 7 to day 17 of pregnancy. Twenty two or twenty three female rats in each group were sacrificed on day 21 of pregnancy for examination of their fetuses, and thirteen female rats were allowed to deliver for the postnatal examination of their offspring. In dams, the dose of 50 mg/kg caused toxic signs consisting of mydriasis, salivation and rale, body weight loss in the early stage of administration, and reduced food intake and increased water intake. The dose of 10 mg/kg caused rale, very slight suppression of body weight gain and slight reduction of food intake. Body weight of the fetuses was decreased very slightly in the 50 mg/kg group. However, embryonal or fetal mortality and incidences of external, visceral or skeletal anomalies were not increased. In offspring, P-4 had no adverse effect on the postnatal development such as viability, growth, differentiation, emotionality, learning ability or reproductive performance. The results suggest that the non-effective dose level of P-4 is 2 mg/kg/day in maternal animals, 10 mg/kg/day in fetuses and 50 mg/kg/day in offspring.