Teratogenic effect of an inhibitor of cholesterol synthesis (AY 9944) in rats: correlation with maternal cholesterolemia.

The teratogenic action of AY 9944, an inhibitor of cholesterol synthesis, was previously shown. Its prevention by simultaneous administration of cholesterol led to the hypothesis that this action is correlated with the decrease in cholesterol. The present investigation demonstrates that there is an inverse correlation between holoprosencephalic type of malformations and maternal cholesterolemia and that, in Wistar rats, 0.30 g/liter of cholesterolemia is a threshold under which these malformations can be observed.