Effects of exposure period and dose of diethylstilbestrol on pregnancy in rats.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of exposure period and dose of diethylstilbestrol (DES), which has strong estrogenic activity, on pregnancy in rats. All rats with observed vaginal plugs or sperm in vaginal smear tests after mating were divided into 3 groups: those fed a normal diet, a diet mixed with DES throughout pregnancy and a diet mixed with DES from day 13 of pregnancy. DES was mixed into the diet at 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 ppm. All bred rats fed the normal diet and 0.1 ppm DES from day 13 of pregnancy delivered pups, while none of the rats treated with 1-100 ppm DES during pregnancy and 100 ppm DES from day 13 of pregnancy delivered any pups. The number of male and female pups born decreased in rats treated with 10 ppm DES from day 13 of pregnancy. These results suggest that DES could affect pregnancy and that the exposure period and dose may result in sterility, abortion, poor fetal growth and reduced number of pups born.
Kawaguchi
Hiroaki
H
Department of Veterinary Experimental Animal Science, Kagoshima University, Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
Miyoshi
Noriaki
N
Miyamoto
Yoko
Y
Souda
Masakazu
M
Umekita
Yoshihisa
Y
Yasuda
Nobuhiro
N
Yoshida
Hiroki
H
D000818:Animals; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol