Toxic Effects of Potato Sprouts and of Solanine Fed to Pregnant Rats

Potato sprouts are shown to be toxic to pregnant rats when fed at a level of 10% of the diet. When the potato alkaloid solanine was incorporated into the diet at a level approximating the concentration in the sprout diet, similar effects were observed. All of the pups in 18 of 33 litters born of rats eating the test diet died before reaching weaning age. Only one of 11 control litters was lost.