Effects of Maternal Exposure to Polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) on F1 Generation Behavior in the Rat

Effects of Maternal Exposure to Polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) onFl Generation Behavior in the Rat.PANTALEONI, G., FANINI, D.,SPONNTA, A. M., PALUMBO, G., GIORGI, R., AND ADAMS, 5P. M. (1988).Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 11, 440-449. The effect of Fenclor 42(PCB) exposure of female rats (Fischer 344 strain) was studiedthrough assessment of the behavioral development of their Flprogeny. Female rats were exposed to PCB according to the followingtreatment schedule: (A) (5 days) 2 weeks prior to mating, (B)during gestation (Days 6-15 of pregnancy), (C) during lactation(Days 1-21 after delivery). Behavioral endpoints of motor reflexes,motor coordination, activity (preweaning behaviors), and learning(postweaning behavior) were evaluated for PCB ip dosages of5-10 mg/kg/day for 5 days (preconception exposure), and PCBoral 3 dosages of 2-4 mg/kg/day for 10 days (in mero exposure)and of 1-2 mg/kg/day for 20 days (during lactation exposure).Dosage-dependentdifferences in the evaluated behaviors were found in the offspringof the PCB-exposed females when compared to the offspring ofcorn-oil (vehicle)-exposed females. Significant differencesin the development of cliffavoidance reflexive behavior, swimmingability, and open field activity were particularly evident.Furthermore the PCB exposure of female rats during gestationand lactation resulted in impaired acquisition of the activeavoidance behavior while preconceptional PCB exposure significantlyaffected active avoidance performance as reflected in increasednumber of avoidance responses to reach criterion for extinction.These results show that Fenclor 42 does possess a significantrisk to the offspring of exposed females, and further illustratethe sensitivity of progeny behavioral assessment in detectingsuspected functional teratogenesis.