Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 31, 2026
Utero-tubal Embryo Transfer and Vasectomy in the Mouse Model
Published on: February 28, 2014
Trichosanthin as an abortifacient for terminating early pregnancy in mice
1Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Objective:
To test trichosanthin--a basic protein from Trichosanthes kirilowii--as abortifacient, and effect on subsequent pregnancy.
Methods:
Female mice, on day 1, 2, or 3 of pregnancy, given 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, or 0.25 mg/25 g body wt., intraperitoneally. Animals killed on day 11 for assessment of abortion, or day 4 for examination of embryos. Subsequent pregnancy was tested after 20 days in mice that had aborted completely.
Results:
With 0.20-0.25 mg/25 g, 64-80% aborted. At day 4, pre-implantation development was disturbed, many still being morulae (in the oviduct). Subsequent pregnancies and offspring were entirely normal.
Conclusions:
Trichosanthin, long used to effect abortion in humans in China, has congruent effects on ICR laboratory mice.
Insights
Trichosanthin, a protein from Trichosanthes kirilowii, effectively caused abortion in mice. Subsequent pregnancies in these mice proceeded normally, indicating no long-term reproductive effects.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Trichosanthin is a basic protein derived from the plant Trichosanthes kirilowii.
- It has a history of use as an abortifacient in traditional Chinese medicine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate trichosanthin's efficacy as an abortifacient in a laboratory setting.
- To assess the impact of trichosanthin on subsequent pregnancies after induced abortion.
Main Methods:
- Female ICR mice were administered varying doses of trichosanthin intraperitoneally on days 1-3 of gestation.
- Embryonic development was assessed on day 4, and abortion rates were determined on day 11.
- Mice that successfully aborted were monitored for subsequent pregnancies after 20 days.
Main Results:
- Doses of 0.20-0.25 mg/25 g body weight resulted in abortion rates of 64-80%.
- Early embryonic development, including pre-implantation stages, was disrupted.
- No adverse effects were observed in subsequent pregnancies or offspring.
Conclusions:
- Trichosanthin demonstrates congruent abortifacient effects in ICR laboratory mice, consistent with its traditional use in humans.
- The compound appears safe for future reproductive cycles following successful abortion.
More Related Videos
07:04A Novel Use of Three-dimensional High-frequency Ultrasonography for Early Pregnancy Characterization in the Mouse
Published on: October 24, 2017
03:19Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes
Published on: June 28, 2024