Toxicology and pathology considerations for the design of juvenile animal studies.

Although exposure to drugs or toxicants can affect children and adults very differently, many compounds lack specific safety information for children. Studies in juvenile animals can help researchers assess pediatric patients' potential response to certain chemicals. Juvenile studies are highly sensitive to animal age, sex and species and must be planned with care to prevent misinterpretation of experimental data. The author reviews considerations for the design of these studies, focusing on toxicological and pathological aspects.