Fertility and developmental toxicity study of (±)-4-diethylamino-1, 1-dimethylbut-2-yn-1-yl 2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetate monohydrochloride monohydrate (NS-21), a new drug for the treatment of urinary frequency and incontinence, was conducted in Crl:CD rats. Male rats were given NS-21 orally from 60 days before mating to the day of necropsy, and female rats were given NS-21 orally from 14 days before mating to day 7 of pregnancy. The dose levels for both males and females were 0 (control), 2, 30 and 500 mg/kg. On day 20 of pregnancy, the females were sacrificed and their fetuses examined. At the 500 mg/kg dosage level, one male and one female died. Salivation and dilated pupils occurred at the 30 and 500 mg/kg dosage levels, and rales occurred at 500 mg/kg. Body weights and food consumption were decreased, and water consumption was increased in both males and females at the 500 mg/kg dosage level. Decreases in the numbers of corpora lutea and implantations per litter and a lower number of live fetuses per litter were found at the 500 mg/kg dosage level. However, the incidence and number of postimplantation loss per litter were comparable among the treatment and control groups. These results demonstrate that the NOAEL (no observed adverse effect level) of NS-21 is 2 mg/kg for general toxicity in parental animals, and 30 mg/kg for reproductive function of the parent animals and for embryo-fetal development.