1984 Volume 9 Issue SupplementI Pages 29-52
The effects of ranitidine hydrochloride, a histamine H2-receptor antagonist, on development and general behavior of F1 generation of Crj : CD (SD) rats were examined. Ranitidine hydrochloride was intravenously administered once daily from day 7 to 17 of gestation at dose levels of 5, 15 and 40 mg/kg in base weight respectively. Two-thirds of females were killed on day 20 of gestation to examine the development of fetuses, the remaining females were allowed to litter naturally and the postnatal development of the offsprings was observed. Tachypnea, prone position and transient tremor were observed for approximately 15 from 30 seconds directly after an intravenous administration of ranitidine hydrochloride in the dose of 40 mg/kg, which were probably induced by a rapid fall in blood pressure. During the gestation period, there occurred a slight depression of the maternal body weight gain in the ranitidine-treated groups. At the stage of lactation, the body weights of dams showed slightly lower levels than control and their liver weights of dams were also inclined to decrease in 15 and 40 mg/kg groups. In the observation of the fetuses, there were no significant differences between the control and ranitidine-treated groups concerning fetal growth and development, external, skeletal and internal anomalies in fetuses. In delivery and postpartum observation, no influence of ranitidine administration was observed on the litter size, mortality rate of F1 pups. There was a tendency towards decrease in body weight in males of the ranitidine-treated group. But no significant changes were observed in general behavior, postnatal development, various functions such as reflex response, learning and reproductive performances of Fl generation. Therefore, it was concluded that ranitidine hydrochloride had no effects on fetal and postnatal development, general behavior and various functions of F1 generation at the dose of 40 mg/kg/day or less.
