The effects of dietary flaxseed on the Fischer 344 rat: I. Development, behaviour, toxicity and the activity of liver gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase.

The effect of exposure to, followed by consumption of, 10% flax chow from the 18th day of gestation to the 86th day after birth was examined in male and female Fischer 344 rats. Growth curves of the flax chow-fed rats were identical to those of regular chow-fed rats, as were such developmental milestones as pinna development, growth of hair and eye opening. Acoustical startle and the righting reflexes, developmental behavioural indices, were also the same.