The effect of cyproheptadine chlorhydrate on rat embryonic development

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Abstract
The teratogenic effect of cyproheptadine chlorhydrate was studied in Wistar rats. Rats were given the substance by gastric intubation on days 6–15 of pregnancy in two experimental series. In the first series rats were treated at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg/d and in the second one they received 15, 25 and 35 mg/kg/d. Controls received only an equivalent volume of water by the same route. Doses of 25 or more mg/kg/d are highly embryotoxic. At 15 mg/kg/d the effects were relatively minor. The major anomalies caused by the drug were edema and abnormal ossification of the ribs. Some other malformations were also found: craniorrhachischisis, cleft lip, cleft palate, hypoplastic limbs, micrognathy, micromelia, and vascular damage.