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 mg/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 mg/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 mg/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.