title: An oral developmental neurotoxicity study of decabromodiphenyl ether (DecaBDE) in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Decabromodiphenyl ether (DecaBDE; CASRN 1163-19-5) is a flame retardant used in a variety of manufactured products. A single oral dose of 20.1 mg/kg administered to mice on postnatal day 3 has been reported to alter motor activity at 2, 4, and 6 months of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  To further evaluate these results, a developmental neurotoxicity study was conducted in the most commonly used species for studies of this type, the rat, according to international validated testing guidelines and Good Laboratory Practice Standards. DecaBDE was administered orally via gavage in corn oil to dams from gestation day 6 to weaning at doses of 0, 1, 10, 100, or 1,000 mg/kg/day. Standard measures of growth, development, and neurological endpoints were evaluated in the offspring. Motor activity was assessed at 2 months of age. Additional motor activity assessments were conducted at 4 and 6 months of age. Neuropathology and morphometry evaluations of the offspring were performed at weaning and adulthood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No treatment-related neurobehavioral changes were observed in detailed clinical observations, startle response, or learning and memory tests. No test substance-related changes were noted in motor activity assessments performed at 2, 4, or 6 months of age. Finally, no treatment-related neuropathological or morphometric alterations were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Under the conditions of this study, the no-observed-adverse-effect level for developmental neurotoxicity of DecaBDE was 1,000 mg/kg/day, the highest dose tested.
authors.affiliation: Chemtura Corporation, West Lafayette, Indiana 47906, USA. john.biesemeier@chemtura.com
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Biesemeier
authors.forename: Melissa J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Silberberg
authors.forename: Nicole R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ariano
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Radovsky
authors.forename: Les
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Freshwater
authors.forename: Daniel W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Sved
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jacobi
authors.forename: Donald G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Stump
authors.forename: Marcia L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stedeford
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000187:drug effects; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013550:Swimming; D018675:Toxicity Tests
chemical_list: D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D009498:Neurotoxins; C010902:decabromobiphenyl ether