EMBRYO RESORPTIONS IN MICE INDUCED BY DITERPENE RESIN ACIDS OF PINUS-PONDEROSA NEEDLES

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 71  (1) , 34-42
Abstract
Ingestion of Ponderosa pine (P. ponderosa) needles sometimes results in reproductive failure in cattle. Ingestion of hexane extract of P. ponderosa needles causes reproductive failure in mice during the early stages of gestation. Virgin mice of the ICR strain were mated with males of proven fertility. The day the copulatory plug was observed was designated as day 1 of gestation. Hexane extracts were administered daily via stomach tube at various concentrations and for various feeding periods. Implantation sites were stained by injections of pontamine sky-blue dye on day 8 of gestation, 15 min before sacrifice by cervical dislocation. Embryonic resorptions were observed in the uterus. The active components of the hexane extract were isolated and identified as a mixture of diterpene resin acids. The diterpene resin acids are pimaric, isopimaric, sandaracopimaric, palustric/levopimaric, abietic, dehydroabietic and neoabietic acid.

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