Subacute toxicity experiment with rats fed a diet containing ergotaminetartrate. 1 General toxicology

In this study reduced food intake, food efficiency and growth were noticed at dose levels of 100 mg EAT/kg diet and higher. Slight changes in the red blood parameters were seen in the 100 and 500 mg EAT/kg diet dose groups. Urea concentration was increased in the females of the highest dose group. The urinalyses showed an increased urine production of male of the 100 and 500 mg/kg diet. Endocrinological analyses revealed decreased T4 (500 mg/kg diet) and TSH (100 and 500 mg EAT/kg diet, only in males). Macroscopical examination revealed gaseous distension of the duodenum, pale thyroids, red tail tips and enlarged iliacal lymph nodes. In the females of 20, 100 and 500 mg EAT/kg diet relative heart, brain and liver weights were higher than the control. The relative ovaries weights were increased at the 100 and 500 mg EAT/kg diet levels. In males (100 and 500 mg EAT/kg diet) relative heart and liver weights were elevated. A slight increase in regenerative and degenerative changes in the kidneys, strong activation of the iliacal lymph nodes was seen in the highest dose group. In the tail of the animal of the 500 mg EAT/kg diet group degenerative changes in the longitudinal skeletal muscle, sometimes accompanied by slight fibrosis was observed.<br&gt