[Reproductive and developmental toxicity studies of prulifloxacin (NM441)(1)--A fertility study in rats by oral administration].

A study of fertility and fetal development of prulifloxacin, a new antibacterial agent, was conducted in Sprague-Dawley rats. Male rats were given the drug orally from 63 days before mating to the end of the mating period. Female rats were given from 14 days before mating to day 7 of pregnancy. The dose levels for both males and females were 0 (control), 30, 170 and 1000 mg/kg. The females were sacrificed on day 20 of pregnancy for examination of their fetuses. In the 170 mg/kg group, water consumption increased in the female rats, and food consumption decreased and the cecum increased in weight and was enlarged in the males and the females. In the 1000 mg/kg group, body weight gain was suppressed in the males, and food consumption decreased, water consumption increased and cecum increased in weight and enlarged in the males and the females. Moreover, this dose caused white spots and rough surface of the kidney in the males. Prulifloxacin had no adverse effects on reproductive function of the parent animals, and also on development of the fetuses. These results show that the NOAEL of prulifloxacin are 30 mg/kg for general toxicity in parent animals, 1000 mg/kg for reproductive function of parent animals and for development of fetuses.