Objective: To explore the protective effect of modified danshou decoction (MDD) on teratogenicity of bisphenol A intoxicated pregnant rats.
Methods: Forty-four successfully mated rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, 10 in the blank group and 10 in the model group, 12 in the MDD group and 12 in the positive control group. Bisphenol A (BPA) at the dose of 600 mg/kg was given to rats by gastrogavage in the latter three groups from the 1st day of mating to the 20th day, while the soybean oil was given to rats by gastrogavage in the blank group. No intervention was given to rats in the model group, but the normal saline, MDD condensed decoction, and shoutai pill (STP) condensed decoction was respectively given to rats in the rest three groups during the experimental period. All rats were sacrificed by the 20th pregnancy day.
Results: Compared with the model group, the body weight of pregnant rats and fetal rats, body length and tail length of the fetal rats significantly increased in the MDD group (P < 0.05). But the effect of MDD was superior to that of STP (P < 0.05). Moreover, the teratogenic rate was significantly lowered in the MDD group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: MDD could promote the weight gaining of pregnant rats and fetal rats, improve the body length and tail length of fetal rats, and lower the teratogenic rate in fetal mice.