Teratological assessment of the antiprotozoal, diminazene diaceturate, in rats.

Diminazene diaceturate was dissolved in deionized water and administered to pregnant rats by oral gavage once daily on days 8-15 of pregnancy at dose levels of 0, 100, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg. On day 21 of pregnancy, the dams were killed and the number of implants, resorptions and live fetuses counted. All fetuses were examined by routine teratological method. A significant increase in fetal resorptions and decrease in fetal body weights were found at the 1000 mg/kg dose. No significant increase in the incidence of anomalous fetuses was observed in external, skeletal and internal examinations even at the maternally toxic dose of 1000 mg/kg. Thus, these data indicate that diminazene diaceturate is not teratogenic in rats.