Effects of hydroxyurea on postnatal growth and behaviour of rats

Hydroxyurea was administered intraperitoneally to pregnant albino rats in a single dose of 2000 mg/kg on day 14 of gestation. Both the perinatal and postnatal mortality rates of the progeny were increased and their weight gain reduced. Exploratory locomotion of 32-day-old rats, calculated by means of an 'activity index', was significantly reduced. The treatment had no effect on the brain weight. The fertility of the progeny was not impaired.