The effect of maternal exposure to dioxolane on prenatal and postnatal development in rats.

Abstract

Female rats were given by gavage every other day from days 8-20 of gestation an aqueous solution of dioxolane at daily doses equal to 0.025, 0.1 and 0.2 LD50 (first series--prenatal development) or from days 2-20 of gestation at daily doses equal to 0.025, 0.075 and 0.15 LD50 (second series--postnatal development). At doses toxic or subtoxic to maternal rats (0.1 and 0.2 LD50) dioxolane did not cause increased embryo or fetus intrauterine death rates or congenital defects, it did cause, however, dose-related delays in fetal development. Dioxolane does not cause impairment of physical development or behavioral disturbances. Exposure to higher doses of the compound (0.2 LD50) leads to increased perinatal death rates in the offspring, without causing, however, disturbances in the maternal instinct. The exposure of pregnant rats to dioxolane decreased haemoglobin levels in 5-week-old offspring. At a dose 1.15 g/kg (0.2 LD50) the chemical significantly increased exploratory motor activity of female offspring at the age of 8 weeks, but did not affect significantly locomotor activity of males and the active avoidance acquisition of adult offspring.