Failure to detect dominant-lethal mutations and effects on reproductive capacity in mice exposed to dihydroergotoxine mesylate.

Triethylenemelamine (TEM), a known chemical mutagen, and dihydroergotoxine mesylate (DHETM, Hydergin), an ergot derivative, were tested for mutagenic effects by means of the dominant-lethal test in male mice and the total reproductive capacity test in female mice. In contrast to TEM, which proved to be strongly effective in these test systems, DHETM did not show any effect. It is concluded that this drug, at both subtoxic and pharmacologically active dose-levels, has no potential to affect spermatogenic and oogenic cells.