Improved embryonic survival in the jaundiced female rat fed activated charcoal.

The effects of reducing plasma bilirubin concentrations, by feeding activated charcoal, on embryonic survival in the jaundiced female Gunn rat was studied. The feeding of charcoal was effective in reducing plasma bilirubin levels by as much as 40%. Improved embryonic survival was observed in the charcoal-fed female rats in which 58% of the time-mated females were pregnant at necropsy. This was compared to 0% for the control females. Forty-eight percent of the charcoal fed and 7% of the control females that were continuously mated produced a live litter. Necropsy observations showed that 41-58% of the fetuses were in some stage of resorption. These findings support the hypothesis of an adverse bilirubin effect on reproduction in the female Gunn rat. It is suggested that jaundice during pregnancy may result in a risk to the unborn fetus.