Examination for toxicity of a Chinese drug, the toad glandular secretory product chan su, in pregnant mice and embryos.

In order to evaluate the developmental toxicity and teratogenicity of a Chinese drug, the toad venom Chan Su, the drug was administered in a single intraperitoneal injection to pregnant ICR mice during the period of embryonic organogenesis. At the end of the gestation period, the mice were sacrificed, and the fetuses were collected, fixed and sectioned. A dose of Chan Su lower than 50 mg (dry weight)/kg body weight did not produce detectable changes in the recipient mice, but at a dose of 50 mg/kg the drug induced a decrease in body weight and structural abnormalities in livers and kidneys of the pregnant mice as well as increases in the number of resorbed and dead fetuses. There was a reduction in fetal weight although there were no changes in fetal crown-rump length nor tail length. No abnormalities were observed in the fetuses.