THE EFFECT OF PREPARTUM ZIDOVUDINE ADMINISTRATION ON THE PHYSICAL ANDBEHAVIORAL-DEVELOPMENT OF MICE

Pregnant mice were given 1 mg/ml zidovudine in drinking water througho ut pregnancy. Their offspring were then compared with controls for pos sible behavioral or morphological effects of the drug. Preweaned mice that received zidovudine prenatally were found to perform more poorly in both negative geotaxis and olfactory discrimination tests. Addition ally, dams given zidovudine resorped more offspring. However, no diffe rences were detected between treatment and control groups in terms of their weight and length at 7 days of age, nor in terms of the day on w hich the pups first opened their eyes. Furthermore, comparisons of wea ned animals given zidovudine vs. controls uncovered no significant beh avioral differences in step-down passive avoidance tests. Possible mec hanisms underlying the greater rate of resorption among the zidovudine -treated animals are considered. Additionally, possible locomotor, olf actory, or vestibular deficits in the zidovudine-treated animals are d iscussed.