Cyclophosphamide therapy in prepubertal rats and subsequent reproductive performance.

In an experimental system using rats, prepubertal treatment with cyclophosphamide was associated with slightly reduced fertility of the adult female. No malformations were noted in the offspring, and there was no change in the size of the rat pups produced. Reduction in litter size was apparent by day 11 of gestation, suggesting that losses before or around implantation were the most likely cause of the reduction in litter size. The relevance of these results to cytotoxic drug therapy in the nephrotic syndrome in childhood is considered.