Studies of Embryotoxicity and the Incidence of External Malformations after Continuous Intravenous Infusion of α‐Chaconine in Pregnant Rats

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Abstract
Embryotoxicity and effects on the incidence of external malformations of the major potato glycoalkaloid α‐chaconine (α‐cha) were studied in rats. Pregnant Sprague‐Dawley rats (n = 17) were given a continuous intravenous infusion of α‐cha via implanted osmotic minipumps (1.7 mg/kg/day), to maintain a stable blood concentration on days 6–13 of gestation. Control animals recevied physiological saline solution or were left untreated, respectively. Blood serum levels of α‐cha were monitored at selected time intervals during the treatment using a specific HPLC method. The foetal body weights and the number of resorbed or dead foetuses per litter in the α‐cha treated group were not significantly different from the control groups. No case of malformation was detected among 143 foetuses inspected in the treated group. The average maternal blood serum concentration of α‐cha measured during the experiment was 340 ng/ml. This is more than 20 times the average peak serum level previously reported for human volunteers after intake of potatoes with a total glycoalkaloid content at the upper safe limit for acute adverse effects. The results support the view that potato glycoalkaloids, at levels normally found in potatoes, do not present a risk for teratogenicity in humans.