title: The rat as a model in developmental immunotoxicology.
abstract: Evidence is presented to demonstrate that the rat is a sensitive rodent species for developmental immunotoxicity testing of chemicals. A battery of immune function assays was performed in adult rats, which were exposed perinatally (i.e., during gestational, lactational, and/or juvenile development) to three different classes of environmental chemicals. The chemicals employed were the following: the organotins di-n-octyltindichloride (DOTC) and tributyltin oxide (TBTO); the polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbon 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD); and the organochlorine pesticides methoxychlor (MXC) and heptachlor (HEP). Suppression of immune function was observed in adult rats exposed to each of these chemicals during immune system development. The duration of immune function suppression in the rats so exposed ranged from three weeks (i.e., DOTC and MXC) to 19 months (i.e., TCDD) after the last exposure to the chemical.
authors.affiliation: Immunotoxicology Branch, Experimental Toxicology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA. smialowicz.ralph@epa.gov
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Smialowicz
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D009947:Organotin Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014116:Toxicology / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007306:Insecticides; D009947:Organotin Compounds; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins