Preliminary Notes on the Teratogenic and Embryocidal Effects of Colchicine on Mouse Embryos

Abstract

Effects of colchicine on mouse embryos were investigated with special regard to the frequency of fetal malformation and death. Pregnant females at three different gestation periods, ranging from 2 to 14 days after copulation, received colchicine by subcutaneous injections at three different doses, 0.5mg/kg, 1.0mg/kg, and 2.5mg/kg of body weight.The frequency of dead fetuses tended to increase with colchicine dose according to the age of the embryos. Gross malformations, such as exencephaly, maxillary and facial defects, agnathia, umbilical hernia, abnormal tail, cleft palate, hindfoot polydactyly, and hindfoot syndactyly, were noted exclusively in the treated mice. Taking the total malformed fetuses into consideration, a statistically significant difference in number of malformed fetuses was obtained between the control and the experimental animals. No specific abnormalities characteristic of colchicine or of the ages of the embryos were found.