Reproductive Toxicities Caused by Swainsonine from Locoweed in Mice

Swainsonine is the primary toxin in locoweeds. It causes intention tremors, reproductive dysfunction, emaciation, and death. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential reproductive and developmental toxicities caused by swainsonine in mice. The treatment groups consisting of three generations of mice were given a range of concentrations of swainsonine by intraperitoneal injection (2.50 mg/kg body weight (BW), 1.20 mg/kg BW, 0.60 mg/kg BW, and 0 mg/kg BW). The 0 mg/kg BW group exhibited significantly fewer estrous cycles and an increased number of estrous ones compared to the 2.50 mg/kg BW, 1.20 mg/kg BW, and 0.60 mg/kg BW groups (P < 0.05). All three generations of mice treated with swainsonine had significantly higher spleen, liver, and kidney indices and significantly lower body weights compared to the 0 mg/kg BW group (P < 0.05). For the first and second generations of treatment group, the copulation indices and the numbers of live pups on postnatal days (PND) 0, 4, and 15 were significantly decreased compared to those of the 0 mg/kg BW group (P < 0.05). The fertility and gestation indices of the treatment group of the first generation were significantly increased compared to the 2.50 mg/kg BW, 1.20 mg/kg BW, and 0.60 mg/kg BW groups of the second generation (P < 0.05). Cumulatively, these results indicate that swainsonine may cause reproductive and developmental toxicities in mice in both parents and offspring.