Effects of aspirin and acetaminophen on fetal and placental growth in rats

Aqueous suspensions of aspirin or acetaminophen (125 and 250 mg/kg/day) were administered orally to pregnant Sprague‐Dawley rats on Days 8–19 of gestation. On gestation Day 20, each rat was sacrificed and the uterus was examined in situ. Each fetal—placental unit was resected and examined. Fetuses from rats given 125 or 250 mg/kg/day of aspirin were shorter and weighed less than those obtained from control rats. In animals receiving the higher dose of aspirin, the placentas were smaller and the number of fetal resorptions was increased. Acetaminophen (250 mg/kg/day) did not affect fetal length or weight or the incidence of resorptions. Acetaminophen interfered less with the normal growth of the rat fetus and placenta than did aspirin.