Action of Some Sympatholytic Agents on Pregnancy in the Rat

Abstract

Conclusions

These experiments permitted screening of various drugs, affecting the neurovegetative nervous system, for their action on early and middle pregnancy in the rat. Where effects are noted, they were, mainly, in that pregnancy did not proceed normally. In some instances there was evidence of abortion, in others of toxic action on the mother, or on the foetuses (with resulting death or malformation) or recurrence of estrus (e.g., ergotoxine) or simple persistence of diestrus. No effort was made in these preliminary experiments to pin-point the site or mechanism of action on the course of pregnancy.

The findings of other workers (1–4) were confirmed. Rats treated with 2 drugs of our series, 1656IS and 933F, revealed significant percent of failure to achieve successful pregnancy, but the mechanism of action remains to be elicited.

It appears that pharmacologically active substances may have significantly selective effects on the sexual cycle and on early pregnancy. This is an area of investigation which until now has remained mainly in the domain of endocrinology.

Summary. Drugs acting on the neurovegetative nervous system, particularly certain derivatives (sympatholytic) of the β-tetra hydronaphthylamine and 2-aminomethylben-zodioxan series, were tested for their action on gestation in the rat. Certain agents showed interference with normal pregnancy, but the mechanism of action remains to be explored.