| Summary |
A total of 24, day 15 pregnant albino rats (Holtzman strain) were 3 given 5 u curies of d-amphetamine (Holtzman strain) by either I.P. or I.V. injection. It was determined that d-amphetamine is transferred across the placenta and into the embryo within five minutes following I.V. injection. Peak values "were obtained in most tissues, except the maternal blood and the liver, at 15 minutes after I.V. administration. Peak values when given I.P. were obtained on or before hour one and uptake was significantly reduced by 12 hours in all tissues assayed. D-amphetamine sulfate (100 mg/kg b.w.) was given to 10 rats I.P. on day 5 and 6 of pregnancy and to 8 rats on day 5 and 6 of pseudopregnancy No alteration of the process of implantation nor any changes in the duration of pseudopregnancy were noted in comparison with control animals. Twelve rats were treated on day 9 of pregnancy with 200 mg/kg I.P. and 10 rats with 400 mg/kg. Significant differences were noted in two parameters in comparison with control animals; (1) reduction of mean fetal lengths (200 mg), (2) increase in mean number of resorptions (400 mg). Complete resorption of all fetuses and a differential death rate of 11 of 13 fetuses were noted in two 400 mg treated rats. No significant abnormalities were noted in any treated group. D-amphetamine sulfate was also administered I.P. (300 mg/kg daily) on days 9, 10 and 11 of pregnancy. This sequential treatment with amphetamine during a longer period of organogenesis did not produce significant gross external abnormalities in this species of rat. |
| General note | Submitted to the faculty of the Department of Biology. |
| General note | Advisor: Everett C. Simpson |
| Dissertation note | M.A. East Carolina University 1972 |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 55-57). |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Thèses et écrits académiques. |
