Total reproductive capacity test

Total reproductive capacity studies have been designed with the specific purpose of evaluating female reproductive capacity and are not tests of general reproduction function. 

One of the major objectives in the development of mammalian test systems for the wide-scale screening of chemicals is to be able to integrate different studies in a single batch of test animals. This is very important inasmuch as mammalian studies are relatively expensive. Thus, in addition to fertility effects, results of a study on delayed pathological and survival effects in chemically treated female mice in the total reproductive capacity experiments are also discussed here. 

It should be noted that the total reproductive capacity procedure for female mice is simple and flexible. It is equally practicable for experiments requiring a single acute dose and for experiments requiring long-term exposures at chronic levels. With long-term exposures both male and female mice can receive the treatment, and when effects on fertility are observed the cause can be studied further. Also, the procedure can be combined easily with other tests, such as those for carcinogenicity and teratogenicity. 

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