Reproduction study of carteolol hydrochloride in mice. Part I. Fertility and reproductive performance

Abstract

Carteolol was administered orally by gastric intubation at 3, 15, 75 or 150 mg/kg/day to ICR-JCL mice of both sexes prior to mating and to females during early stage of pregnancy to determine its effects on the entire reproductive process and fetal development. A decrease in spontaneous motor activity was observed in all treatment groups, and some animals in the 75 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg groups pressed the chest or abdomen against the cage wall. The incidence of early resorptions in the 75 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg groups was significantly higher than that in controls. The ossification of the talus and calcaneus was significantly retarded in the 75 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg groups. The maximum non-effective dose on fertility and reproduction for carteolol was estimated to be 15 mg/kg/day, although the incidence of early resorptions was slightly elevated with this dose.