Teratogenic action of an inhibitor of cholesterol synthesis in Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats]

Sprague-Dawley rats are sensitive to the teratogenic action of AY 9944, an inhibitor of cholesterol synthesis, but the dose of inhibitor necessary to induce the same rate of characteristic malformations is twice as large for Sprague-Dawley as for Wistar rats. This variation is probably related to differences in levels of blood cholesterol in the strains and demonstrates a relationship between teratogenicity and metabolic disturbances.