Strychnine induces embryotoxicity in rat neurulation

Administering strychnine, a potent antagonist of glycine receptors, to pregnant rats caused marked toxic effects on the ensuing embryos. The embryotoxic effects of strychnine were compared with those induced by retinal palmitate during rat neurulation; and it was found that strychnine was stronger than retinal palmitate in a number of abnormalities such as anencephaly, general aplasy and abnormal cerebral vesicles. Although the glycine receptor β1 subunit mRNA was found to be expressed in the embryos when strychnine was administered to the mother rats, its presence may not fully account for the toxic effects and it may be that strychnine is targeting also other molecules, such as the nicotinic receptor that has been found early in development.