title: Neurobehavioral toxicity of triethyltin in rats as a function of age at postnatal exposure.
abstract: Triethyltin (TET) has been shown to be neurotoxic when injected on postnatal day (PND) 5. In the present experiment we examined the toxicity of a single exposure to TET at several postnatal ages. Rat pups were injected ip with 0 (saline), 1.5, 3.0, or 6.0 mg/kg TET bromide on PND 1, 5, 10 or 15. In agreement with our previous data, PND-5 exposure to 6 mg/kg TET produced behavioral toxicity and decreased adult brain weight. High dose pups were less successful in descending on a rope at 20 and 21 days of age, and were hyperactive in figure-eight mazes at 29-30 and 57-58 days of age. The spatial distribution of activity was also altered: photocell counts were increased primarily in the figure-eight area of the maze. The size of the milk bands was reduced in 6 mg/kg pups injected on either PND 1 or PND 5. Preweaning growth was decreased following all injection ages; this reduction was most pronounced for pups exposed to TET on PND 1 and PND 5. Mating behavior was disrupted in 6 mg/kg males irrespective of age at exposure. These data demonstrate a differential sensitivity to the toxicity of TET during postnatal life, with maximal susceptibility on PND 5.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D051381:Rats; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000187:drug effects; D012737:Sex Factors; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000139:chemically induced; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D014267:Triethyltin Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; D014267:Triethyltin Compounds; C026405:bromotriethylstannane