Teratological evaluation of picloram potassium salt in rabbits

The embryotoxic and teratogenic potential of orally administered picloram potassium salt was evaluated in New Zealand white rabbits. Artificially inseminated rabbits were given 0, 40, 200 or 400 mg picloram acid equivalent/kg body weight/day in the form of picloram potassium salt in aqueous solution on days 6 to 18 of gestation. The foetuses were removed for examination on day 29 of gestation. Transient weight loss was observed among rabbits given 200 or 400 mg/kg/day of the test material, though the total weight gain of the treated groups during gestation was comparable to that of controls. A few isolated, sporadic cases of foetal malformations were observed in the dosed groups, but there was no indication of a dose-related embryotoxic or teratogenic response to treatment.