Abstract: OBJECTIVE： To investigate teratogenic effect of γ-polyglutamic acid in SD rats. METHODS： Pregnant rats (n=80) were divided into negative control group，positive (cyclophosphamide) control group，and low，medium，and high dose (750，1 500，3 000 mg/kg，respectively) γ-polyglutamic acid groups according to the National Food Safety Standard GB 15193.14-2015 and to their body weight in a zigzag pattern. Rats were orally administered with γ-polyglutamic acid at the designed dose per day from day 6 to day 15 after conception，while the positive control group was given a one-time intraperitoneal injection of 15 mg/kg cyclophosphamide on day 12 of conception. On the 20th day of pregnancy，they were euthanized，and their parental pregnancy and fetal development were examined by caesarean section. Uteri connected to fetuses were removed and weighed， the number of corpora lutea were recorded as well as premature deaths， late stillbirths，live births，and implantation. Fetel rats were inspected for the appearance，internal organs，and skeletal deformities. RESULTS： There was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) in the uterine mass， corpus luteum number， implantation number， absorbed fetus， stillbirth， live fetus number， as well as the appearance，visceral，and skeletal deformities of the fetal mice between the γ-polyglutamic acid dose groups and the negative control group. However，there was a statistically significant difference (P<0.05 or P<0.01) in all indicators between the cyclophosphamide (15 mg/kg) group and the negative control group. CONCLUSION： Under the conditions of this experiment，γ-polyglutamic acid had no significant adverse effects on the body mass of pregnant rats，reproductive ability of rats，and growth and development of fetal rats. No teratogenic effects of γ-polyglutamic acid on the appearance，bones，and internal organs of fetal mice were observed.

Key words: γ-polyglutamic acid, teratogenicity, growth and development, rat