Effect of maternal dietary hexachlorocyclohexane exposure on pup survival and growth in albino rats

Abstract

In adult albino rats, maternal dietary beta- and gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) intake during gestation upto 400 ppm level did not affect the number of litters produced. But about 50 and 100% pup mortality was found in 200 and 400 ppm beta-HCH group within 5 days of birth. Maternal mortality was observed in 800 ppm beta-HCH group during third week of gestation. The effect of maternal dietary intake of HCH isomers at 50 and 250 ppm level during gestation and/or lactation on perinatal development was also studied. The body weights and sizes of the newborn litters of mother rats exposed to dietary HCH isomers did not differ from controls. Similarly, the growth and development of the litters of HCH exposed mother rats that survived 28 day lactation period were found to be comparable to controls as evidenced by the body weight and weight of vital organs. However, liver weight increases were found in the 28 days weaned litters wherever the mothers had been exposed to HCH isomers during lactation. Lowered kidney weight was seen in litters of mother rats fed 250 ppm gamma-HCH during gestation and lactation. The brain and testis weights were not affected in the litters of any experimental groups.

Wildlife Toxicity Assessment for Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)

“…Maternal mortality was observed in animals from the 40 mg/kg/day b-HCH dose group [43]. Concentrations of 0, 50, 200, 400, and 800 are equivalent to doses of 0, 2.5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg/day, assuming a default food consumption rate of 0.05 kg food/kg bw/day.…”

“…The LOAELs for liver effects are 5 mg/kg/day for a-HCH, 0.5 mg/kg/day for b-HCH, 5 mg/kg/day for g-HCH, and 5 mg/ kg/day for tech-HCH. In one study, Srinivasan et al found a NOAEL and LOAEL of 5 mg/kg/day and 10 mg/kg/day for b-HCH, respectively [43]. A beagle study conducted with g-HCH and lasting 104 weeks also seemed promising for TRV derivation; however, standard deviation values were not listed, and the number of animals dosed for the results pertaining to 50 weeks was not stated [34].…”

Sustained inhibition of rat myometrial gap junctions and contractions by lindane

“…A dose of 20 mg lindane/kg body weight increased the incidence of fetuses with an extra rib in rats exposed during gestation days 6–15 and in rabbits exposed during gestation days 6–18 [24]. However, developmental anomalies or malformations were not observed in studies of mice exposed to 30 and 45 mg lindane/kg/day during gestation days 6–12 [20], in mice exposed to a single oral dose of 25 mg technical-grade hexachlorocyclohexane/kg [22]and in rats exposed during gestation to 25 and 50 mg technical-grade hexachlorocyclohexane/kg/day [25]. A recent study found that male mice exposed prenatally to 25 mg lindane/kg body weight during gestation days 9–16 exhibited postnatal changes in spermatogenesis that reversed with age [26].…”