ABSTRACT
Whereas acute toxicity studies are generally performed to identify lethal doses and to
demonstrate toxic effects at high dose levels associated with a single administration of an
agent, multidose studies, often referred to as subacute, subchronic, and chronic studies,
are performed to provide information on the effects of repeated lower-dose administration
of a compound. The major endpoints in multiple dose studies are used to evaluate the
cumulative and latent toxicity potential of a chemical including potential functional,
biochemical, physiological and/or pathological changes. Such nonlethal effects may often
be repairable over time, and a recovery phase is often added to repeat dose studies to
identify reversibility.
