EVALUATION OF PERI-NATAL AND POSTNATAL TOXICITY OF POLICOSANOL IN RATS

The effects of Policosanol, a newly developmented hypocholesterolemic drug administered during the perinatal and postnatal periods, were stu died in Sprague-Dawley rats. This compound was administered orally to female rats at dose levels of 0 (control), 5, 50, and 500 mg/kg/day, f rom day 15 of pregnancy to day 21 after parturition. The animals were allowed to deliver and their offspring were examined for postnatal gro wth and development. No signs of toxic effects related to the test mat erial were observed in the dams F0 during pregnancy and lactation. No adverse effects were observed on the postnatal growth, behaviours, or reproductive ability of pups F1. The physical and sensorial developmen t of pups F2 was also normal. These results confirm that Policosanol d oes not affect the reproductive performance or fetal/neonatal developm ent. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.