Effects of cabergoline on the fertility of female mice during early and late pregnancy, and potential for its use in mouse control

- Cabergoline had different effects on fertility of early and late pregnant mice.
- Cabergoline terminated pregnancy in early gestation, but not in late gestation.
- Cabergoline reduced the survival rate of pups of late pregnant mice.
- The effect of cabergoline on fertility of mice was dose-related.

To evaluate the dose effects of cabergoline on the fertility of female mice during early or late pregnancy, cabergoline was continuously administered by gastrogavage for three days within 1 day to 3 day or 15 day to 17 day of gestation. The body mass, reproductive rate, litter size at birth and weaning of females, as well as the body mass, survival rate of pups, were recorded. During early pregnancy, cabergoline treatment effectively terminated the pregnancy of mice. Cabergoline (100 μg/kg) was half effective in terminating pregnancy and significantly reduced the average litter size and survival rate of pups compared with those of the controls. Cabergoline treatment of 200 and 400 μg/kg completely terminated pregnancy of mice and induced incomplete restoration of fertility (40% and 44%, respectively) even at the second cycle of reproduction. During late pregnancy, cabergoline did not change the litter size at birth but significantly reduced the litter size at weaning and the survival rate of pups, 400 μg/kg cabergoline markedly reduced the survival rate to 77% compared with the controls. The death of pups mainly occurred during seven days after parturition. Cabergoline had no significant difference on the average body mass of surviving pups in treated groups compared with controls during lactation. In conclusion, cabergoline may inhibit or reduce the reproduction of female mice, and demonstrate different dose effects on the fertility during early or late pregnancy. Together with infertility efficacy in phase prior to mating and lactation, cabergoline is a potential fertility control agent for pest rodent control.