Abstract

Oral or subcutaneous administration of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) to hundreds of pregnant Wistar-O‘Grady rats resulted in damage to litters which was 3 to 4 times higher than in corresponding controls given distilled water or saline. The proportion of deaths during gestation, abortions, resorptions, runting, offspring stillbirths and the rate of offspring mortality was increased. However, no unusual number of specific deformities was encountered. Teratogenicity during any particular organogenetic period was not demonstrated. Treatment during the first seven days was found harmful; treatment later in pregnancy was ineffective. The LSD effects appear to be dose-related and persist into the second generation.