Effects of prenatal exposure to a low dose atrazine metabolite mixture on pubertal timing and prostate development of male Long-Evans rats.
The present study examines the postnatal reproductive development of male rats following prenatal exposure to an atrazine metabolite mixture (AMM) consisting of the herbicide atrazine and its environmental metabolites diaminochlorotriazine, hydroxyatrazine, deethylatrazine, and deisopropylatrazine. Pregnant Long-Evans rats were treated by gavage with 0.09, 0.87, or 8.73mg AMM/kg body weight (BW), vehicle, or 100mg ATR/kg BW positive control, on gestation days 15-19. Preputial separation was significantly delayed in 0.87 mg and 8.73mg AMM-exposed males. AMM-exposed males demonstrated a significant treatment-related increase in incidence and severity of inflammation in the prostate on postnatal day (PND) 120. A dose-dependent increase in epididymal fat masses and prostate foci were grossly visible in AMM-exposed offspring. These results indicate that a short, late prenatal exposure to mixture of chlorotriazine metabolites can cause chronic prostatitis in male LE rats. The mode of action for these effects is presently unclear.
Stanko
Jason P
JP
Reproductive Toxicology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), ORD/NHEERL, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA.
Enoch
Rolondo R
RR
Rayner
Jennifer L
JL
Davis
Christine C
CC
Wolf
Douglas C
DC
Malarkey
David E
DE
Fenton
Suzanne E
SE
D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D050154:Adiposity / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001280:Atrazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004822:Epididymis; D005260:Female; D052816:Foreskin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D005865:Gestational Age; D006540:Herbicides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D019055:No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000633:toxicity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011467:Prostate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects*; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute
D006540:Herbicides; D010573:Pesticide Residues; D001280:Atrazine