In order to investigate the repeated dose oral toxicity of BMY-28100 in juvenile rats, the drug was administered orally to 4-day-old Crj: CD(SD) rats of both sexes at daily doses of 250, 750 and 1,500 mg/kg for 4 weeks. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. Soiling around the anus apparently correlated to soft stool or diarrhea was observed at 750 and 1,500 mg/kg and the incidence appeared to be dose-related. Three deaths including 1 death due to cannibalization occurred at 750 and 1,500 mg/kg, but they were considered to have been caused by misadministration. 2. Slightly depressed body weight gains were noted in the 750 and 1,500 mg/kg dose groups during early dosing period. 3. Slightly increased averages of food and water consumption observed predominantly in the 1,500 mg/kg dose group at later dosing period and the recovery period were considered as incidental and unrelated to the treatment. 4. Though average values of some blood chemical parameters were slightly suppressed or elevated compared with those of controls at the completion of the dosing and recovery periods, these differences appeared to be generally within normal ranges and to be irrelevant to the drug treatment. No definitive drug-related changes were detected in hematological examinations and urinalyses. 5. The average absolute and/or relative organ weights of the brain, thymus, lungs and liver from male rats in the 1,500 mg/kg dose group were lower than those of the corresponding organs from controls. However, these findings were not considered to be toxicologically significant because no corroborative changes were detected microscopically. 6. Macroscopic and microscopic examinations demonstrated dilatation of the cecum in a dose-related fashion. This phenomenon has been reported with other antibiotics and appears to be drug-related and reversible caused by an alteration of the gut flora. There were no other microscopic changes that were considered to be related to the administration of the drug. 7. Electron microscopic examination revealed no drug-related changes in the liver and kidneys from rats of the 1,500 mg/kg dose group. Based upon these results, the no-effect dose level of BMY-28100 was estimated to be 250 mg/kg/day for both male and female juvenile rats in the 4-week repeated dose oral toxicity study if the finding of cecum dilatation was not considered.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)