[Effect of bee venom and its low- and high-molecular fractions on embryogenesis in rats]

The authors injected 3 groups of pregnant rats with 1/5 of LD50 of whole bee venom and its low and high weight molecular fractions daily between the 6th and 14th day of gestation. The embryos of the treated animals, aged 20 days, showed a reduction of the weight and dimunution of the activity of lactate dehydrogenase and isocitrate dehydrogenase in their liver homogenate. There were autolisis and dead rats in the uterus of the treated animals (embryotoxic effect). There were no teratogenic alterations. The low weight molecular fraction of the bee venom revealed more manifested embryotoxic effect.