Reproductive toxicology of the new antitussive moguisteine.

Moguisteine (R,S(+/-)-2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-methyl-3-ethoxycarbonylacetyl- 1,3-thiazolidine, CAS 119637-67-1), a new oral non narcotic peripherally acting antitussive drug, was examined for effects in the rat on general reproductive performance (at 0, 50, 212, 900 mg/kg/d,) for embryotoxicity (at 0, 25, 75, 225, 900 mg/kg/d) and for peri-postnatal toxicity (at 0, 62.5, 250, 1000 mg/kg/d). Embryotoxicity (at 0, 75, 225, 900 mg/kg/d) was also examined in the New Zealand White rabbit. In all the studies, moguisteine was administered orally as a suspension by gavage. At the tested doses, moguisteine did not interfere with general reproductive performance, either in the F0 or in the F1 generation. The drug did not show any toxic effect on the dams and their fetuses, nor did it have any teratogenic effect in either of the tested species. Finally, moguisteine had no adverse effects, either on parturition or on peri-and postnatal survival and/or development of the offspring.