Fertility Study of LBD-001 a Recombinant Human Interferon $\gamma$, in Rats

LBD-001, a recombinant human interferon $\gamma$ produced by genetically engineered yeast as a host system, was administered intraperitoneally to Sprague-Dawley male rats from premating to mating period at least for 60 days and to female rats from at least for 2 weeks before mating to early gestation period (from day 0 to 7 of gestation) at dose levels of $0.35\times10^6, 0.39\times10^6, and 1.38\times10^6$ I.U./kg/day. In the positive control group, ethynylestradiol ($EE_2$; 40 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg/day) was subcutaneously administered only to female rats during the early gestation period. Effects of the test agents on reproductive performances of the male or female rats and embryonic development were as followings; (1) No significant changes by the treatment of LBD-001 were observed in general behaviors, body weight, food and water consumption, and necropsy of parent animals. However, significant decreases of body weight, food consumption, and water consumption were observed in ($EE_2$ -treated female rats. (2) Mating performances and fertility of parent animals were not significantly affected by the treatment of LBD-001. In ($EE_2$ -treated females, however, the fertility was completely inhibited. (3) No changes in resorption rate and external abnormality of F1 fetuses were observed by the treatment of LBD-001. The results show that LBD-001 at the dose of $1.38\times10^6$ I.U./kg/day or less does not affect general toxicity and reproductive function of parent animals and embryonic development of F1 fetuses.