Decreased reproductive effects from snakeweed (Gutierrezia microcephala) in Sprague-Dawley rats with increased dietary snakeweed consumption.

Sprague-Dawley rats have been used to study the pathogenesis and toxicokinetics of snakeweed (Gutierrezia microcephala and G sarothrae) toxicosis. Diets containing as little as 10% snakeweed (SW) will induce early embryonic toxicosis and abortion in Sprague-Dawley rats. The sc administration of safflower oil to inseminated female rats will provide protection/tolerance against SW embryotoxins. Two studies evaluated this embryotoxin protection. In the first study, an increase in daily consumption of SW resulted in increased embryo-fetal survival in the SW-containing diet+saline group from 0% in previous studies to 35%. In the second study, once again an increase in diet consumption was associated with 40% of the females in the SW-containing diet+saline group carrying litters to term.