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The objective of this study was to evaluate the developmental toxicity of phthalic acid (PA), which is one of the metabolites of phthalic acid esters (PAEs). Pregnant rats were given PA at a dose of 0 (control), 1.25, 2.5, or 5.0% in the diet on day 7 through day 16 of pregnancy. Average daily intakes of PA were 1021 mg/kg for the 1.25% group, 1763 mg/kg for the 2.5% group, and 2981 mg/kg for the 5.0% group. Maternal toxicity occurred in the 2.5 and 5.0% groups as can be seen by significant decreases in the maternal body weight gain and food consumption during the administration period. No significant changes in maternal parameters were found in the 1.25% group. Neither deaths nor clinical signs of toxicity were noted in any groups. No significant changes induced by PA were detected in the incidence of postimplantation loss and number and sex ratio of live fetuses. Significant decreases in the weight of male fetuses and number of ossification center of the caudal vertebrae were found in the 5.0% group. Morphological examinations of fetuses revealed no evidence of teratogenesis. Thus it appears unlikely that PA may be responsible for the production of the developmental toxicity of PAEs.

The objective of this study was to characterize the adverse effects of triphenyltin chloride (TPTCl) during early pregnancy. Following successful mating, female rats were given TPTCl by gastric intubation at 3.1, 4.7, or 6.3 mg/kg on days 0 to 3 of pregnancy or at 6.3, 12.5, or 25.0 mg/kg on days 4 to 6 of pregnancy and were sacrificed on day 20 of pregnancy. In successfully mated females, TPTCl totally prevented implantation in a dose-dependent manner. The pregnancy rate was significantly decreased after administration of TPTCl on days 0 to 3 at 4.7 and 6.3 mg/kg and on days 4 to 6 at 12.5 and 25.0 mg/kg. In females having implantations, the numbers of implantations and live fetuses and the incidences of pre- and postimplantation loss and fetal malformations in the TPTCl-treated groups were comparable to the controls. It could be concluded that TPTCl during early pregnancy causes failure in implantation and TPTCl has greater antiimplantation effects when administered during earlier than later stages of blastogenesis.

The effect of tributyltin chloride (TBTC1) administered during early pregnancy on pregnancy maintenance was evaluated in rats. Inseminated females were orally administered TBTC1 at a dose of 0, 8.1, 12.2 or 16.3 mg/kg on day 0 through day 7 of pregnancy. Females were sacrificed on day 20 of pregnancy and pregnancy outcome was determined. Pregnancy failure, which was evidenced by absence of implantation sites, was found in 0 of the 10, in 2 of the 11, in 10 of the 14 and in 10 of the 13 females at 0, 8.1, 12.2 and 16.3 mg/kg, respectively. The rate of pregnancy failure was significantly higher in the 12.2 and 16.3 mg/kg groups than that in the control group. In females with successful pregnancy, the numbers of corpora lutea, implantations and post-implantation loss per litter were comparable across all groups. No increase in the incidence of malformed fetuses was found in any TBTC1-treated groups. Thus it appears that TBTCl causes pregnancy failure after administration during very early pregnancy.

Mono-n-benzyl phthalate (MBeP), one of the major metabolites of the plasticizer n-butyl benzyl phthalate, was evaluated for developmental toxicity in Wistar rats. Rats were given MBeP by gastric intubation at 0, 250, 313, 375, 438 or 500 mg/kg from day 7 through day 15 of pregnancy. Significant decreases in the maternal body weight gains and food consumption during administration period were observed at 313 mg/kg and above and at 250 mg/kg and above, respectively. Significant increase in the incidence of postimplantation loss per litter was found at 438 and 500 mg/kg. The incidences of fetuses with external malformations at 438 mg/kg, of fetuses with skeletal malformations at 313 mg/kg and above and of fetuses with internal malformations at 375 mg/kg and above were higher than those in the control group. Defects in the cervical and thoracic vertebrae, ribs and kidney were frequently observed.

We have previously described the site-specific glycosylation analysis of rat brain Thy-1 by LC/multistage tandem mass spectrometry (MS(n)) using proteinase-digested Thy-1. In the present study, detailed structures of oligosaccharides released from Thy-1 were elucidated by mass spectrometric oligosaccharide profiling using LC/MS with a graphitized carbon column (GCC-LC/MS). First, using model oligosaccharides, we improved the oligosaccharide profiling by ion trap mass spectrometry (IT-MS) coupled with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS). Sequential scanning of a full MS(1) scan with FT-ICR-MS followed by data-dependent MS(n) with IT-MS in positive ion mode, and a subsequent full MS(1) scan with FT-ICR-MS followed by data-dependent MS(n) with IT-MS in negative ion mode enabled the monosaccharide composition analysis as well as profiling and sequencing of both neutral and acidic oligosaccharides in a single analysis. The improved oligosaccharide profiling was applied to elucidation of N-linked oligosaccharides from Thy-1 isolated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It was demonstrated that Thy-1 possesses a significant variety of N-linked oligosaccharides, including Lewis a/x, Lewis b/y, and disialylated structure as a partial structure. Our method could be applicable to analysis of a small abundance of glycoproteins, and could become a powerful tool for glycoproteomics.

We developed an efficient and convenient strategy for protein identification and glycosylation analysis of a small amount of unknown glycoprotein in a biological sample. The procedure involves isolation of proteins by electrophoresis and mass spectrometric peptide/glycopeptide mapping by LC/ion trap mass spectrometer. For the complete glycosylation analysis, proteins were extracted in intact form from the gel, and proteinase-digested glycoproteins were then subjected to LC/multistage tandem MS (MSn) incorporating a full mass scan, in-source collision-induced dissociation (CID), and data-dependent MSn. The glycopeptides were localized in the peptide/glycopeptide map by using oxonium ions such as HexNAc+ and NeuAc+, generated by in-source CID, and neutral loss by CID-MS/MS. We conducted the search analysis for the glycopeptide identification using search parameters containing a possible glycosylation at the Asn residue with N-acetylglucosamine (203 Da). We were able to identify the glycopeptides resulting from predictable digestion with proteinase. The glycopeptides caused by irregular cleavages were not identified by the database search analysis, but their elution positions were localized using oxonium ions produced by in-source CID, and neutral loss by the data-dependent MSn. Then, all glycopeptides could be identified based on the product ion spectra which were sorted from data-dependent CID-MSn spectra acquired around localized positions. Using this strategy, we successfully elucidated site-specific glycosylation of Thy-1, glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins glycosylated at Asn23, 74, and 98, and at Cys111. High-mannose-type, complex-type, and hybrid-type oligosaccharides were all found to be attached to Asn23, 74 and 98, and four GPI structures could be characterized. Our method is simple, rapid and useful for the characterization of unknown glycoproteins in a complex mixture of proteins.

In our previous study, dibutyltin dichloride (DBTCl) caused preimplantation embryonic loss and postimplantation embryonic loss in rats following administration at 7.6 mg/kg and above on Days 0–3 and at 3.8 mg/kg and above on Days 4–7 of pregnancy, respectively. This study was designed to assess the effects of DBTCl on uterine function as a cause of early embryonic loss using pseudopregnant rats. DBTCl was given orally to pseudopregnant rats at 3.8, 7.6 or 15.2 mg/kg on pseudopregnant day (PPD) 0–3 or on PPD 4–7. The decidual cell response was induced by bilateral uterine scratch on PPD 4. The uterine weight on PPD 9 served as an index of uterine decidualization. Uterine weight and serum progesterone levels on PPD 9 were significantly decreased after administration of DBTCl at 7.6 mg/kg and above on PPD 0–3 and PPD 4–7. DBTCl had no effect on the serum estradiol levels and number of corpora lutea. Administration of progesterone reversed the suppression of uterine decidualization in rats given DBTCl on PPD 0–3. It can be concluded that DBTCl suppresses the uterine decidual cell response and decreases progesterone levels, and these effects are responsible for early embryonic loss due to DBTCl exposure.

We previously showed that dibutyltin dichloride (DBTCl) at 7.6 mg/kg and higher on days 0–3 of pregnancy caused implantation failure and a decline in serum progesterone levels in rats and hypothesized that the decline is responsible for the implantation failure. This study was conducted to determine the protective effects of progesterone on the DBTCl-induced implantation failure in rats. Rats were given oral DBTCl at 0, 7.6, or 15.2 mg/kg on days 0–3 of pregnancy and/or subcutaneous progesterone at 2 mg/rat on days 0–8 of pregnancy. The reproductive outcome was determined on day 9 of pregnancy. No effects of administration of progesterone alone on the pregnancy rate and number of implantations were found. The pregnancy rate and number of implantations were significantly decreased after administration of DBTCl alone. The pregnancy rate and number of implantations were higher in the groups given DBTCl and progesterone than the groups given DBTCl alone. The present data indicate that progesterone protects, at least in part, against the DBTCl-induced implantation failure and support our hypothesis that the decline in progesterone levels is a primary mechanism for the implantation failure due to DBTCl.

This study was conducted to determine the low-dose effects of bisphenol A (BPA) in a rat two-generation reproduction study. Groups of 25 male and 25 female Crj: CD (SD) IGS rats were given BPA at 0.2, 2, 20, or 200 microg/kg/day by gastric intubation throughout the study beginning at the onset of a 10- and 2-week premating period, in F0 males and females, respectively, and continuing through the mating, gestation, and lactation periods, for two generations. There were adult (F0, F1, F2) and postnatal day (PND) 22 (F1, F2) necropsies: the oldest F2 males and females being killed at postnatal weeks 7 and 14, respectively. No compound-related clinical signs or effects on body weight or food consumption were observed in any generation. There were no compound-related changes in surface righting reflex, negative geotaxis reflex, mid-air righting reflex, pinna detachment, incisor eruption, eye opening, testes descent, preputial separation, or vaginal opening in F1 and F2 generations, or behavior in the open field or water filled multiple T-maze in the F1 generation. No test compound-related changes in estrous cyclicity, copulation index, fertility index, number of implantations, gestation length, litter size, pup weight, pup sex ratio, pup viability, or other functional reproductive measures were noted in any generation. A few significant changes in the anogenital distance (AGD) per cube root of body weight ratio were found at 0.2 and 20 microg/kg in F1 males, at 2, 20, and 200 microg/kg in F1 females, and at 20 and 200 microg/kg in F2 females. However, the changes in the AGD were consistently small (within 5% of control values), and no continuous changes in the AGD or AGD/cube root of body weight ratio were detected. There were no compound-related changes in epididymal sperm counts or motility in F0 and F1 males. No compound-related necropsy findings or effects on organ weight including the reproductive organs were found in any generation. Histopathologic examinations revealed no evidence of compound-related changes in any organs including the reproductive organs of both sexes. The data indicate that oral doses of BPA of between 0.2 and 200 microg/kg over 2 generations did not cause significant compound-related changes in reproductive or developmental parameters in rats.

The objective of this study was to determine the toxic effects of butyltin trichloride (BTCl) during early pregnancy. Following successful mating, female rats were given BTCl by gastric intubation at 0, 56, 226, or 903 mg/kg on days 0–3 or 4–7 of pregnancy. Female rats were sacrificed on day 20 of pregnancy and fetuses were examined for number, abnormality, mortality, and weight. The maternal body weight gain and food consumption during the administration period was significantly decreased after administration of BTCl at 903 mg/kg on days 0–3 or 4–7 of pregnancy. The pregnancy rate in the BTCl-treated groups was comparable to the control value, regardless of the days on which BTCl was given. The incidence of pre-implantation embryonic loss was not significantly affected after administration of BTCl on days 0–3 or 4–7. In females having implantations, the numbers of corpora lutea, implantations, and live fetuses and the incidences of pre- and postimplantation loss in the groups given BTCl on days 0–3 were comparable to the controls. Although a significant increase in the incidence of postimplantation loss was observed after administration of BTCl on days 4–7 at 56 mg/kg, this change was small and inconsistent across doses and seems unlikely to be toxicologically significant. A significant decrease in weight of female fetuses was found after administration of BTCl at 903 mg/kg on days 0–3 or 4–7. It could be concluded that BTCl treatment during early pregnancy is maternal and developmental toxic at 903 mg/kg.

4-tert-Octylphenol (OP) is an alkylphenol that is an intermediate in the production of alkylphenol ethoxylates. OP has been reported to be the most potent estrogenic alkylphenol in vitro. In the present study, the effects of OP on initiation and maintenance of pregnancy were investigated in rats. Inseminated female rats were orally given OP at 0, 15.6, 31.3, 62.5 and 125 mg/kg on day 0 through day 8 of pregnancy. Female rats were sacrificed on day 20 of pregnancy, and pregnancy outcome was determined. Decreases in body weight gain and food consumption on days 0–9 were found at 31.3 mg/kg and above, and at 15.6 mg/kg and above, respectively. The pregnancy rate was not adversely affected by OP administration during early pregnancy even at 125 mg/kg. The incidence of post-implantation loss per litter at 31.3 mg/kg and above was significantly higher than that in the control group. The body weights of live fetuses in the OP-treated groups were not significantly different from those in the control group. No increase in the incidence of fetuses with external malformations was found in any OP-treated group. We concluded that OP during early pregnancy caused post-implantation embryonic loss at doses that showed maternal toxicity.

In our previous studies, tributyltin chloride (TBTCl) at doses of 16.3 mg/kg and above caused implantation failure (preimplantation embryonic loss) and postimplantation embryonic loss in rats following administration on gestational day (GD) 0 through GD 3 and GD 4 through GD 7, respectively. This study was designed to assess the effects of TBTCl on uterine function as a cause of early embryonic loss in pseudopregnant rats. TBTCl was given orally to pseudopregnant rats at doses of 4.1, 8.1, 16.3 and 32.5 mg/kg on pseudopregnant day (PPD) 0 to PPD 3 or 8.1, 16.3, 32.5 and 65.1 mg/kg on PPD 4 to PPD 7. The decidual cell response was induced by bilateral scratch trauma on PPD 4. The uterine weight on PPD 9 served as an index of uterine decidualization. Uterine weight and serum progesterone levels on PPD 9 were significantly decreased after administration of TBTCl at doses of 16.3 mg/kg and above on PPD 0 to PPD 3 or PPD 4 to PPD 7. Administration of TBTCl at doses of 8.1 mg/kg and above on PPD 0 to 3 also significantly decreased serum progesterone levels on PPD 4. TBTCl had no effect on ovarian weight and number of corpora lutea. It can be concluded that TBTCl suppresses the uterine decidual cell response and decreases progesterone levels, and these effects are responsible for early embryonic loss due to TBTCl exposure.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the adverse effects of dibutyltin dichloride (DBTCl) on initiation and maintenance of pregnancy after maternal exposure during early pregnancy in rats. After successful mating, female rats were given DBTCl by gastric intubation on Days 0 to 3 or on Days 4 to 7 of pregnancy at 0, 3.8, 7.6, or 15.2 mg/kg. Food-restricted pregnant rats were given an amount of feed equal to the feed intake of female rats treated with DBTCl at 15.2 mg/kg on Days 0 to 3 or on Days 4 to 7 of pregnancy. Female rats were sacrificed on Day 20 of pregnancy and pregnancy outcome was determined. After administration of DBTCl on Days 0 to 3, the rate of nonpregnant females and the incidence of preimplantation embryonic loss in the 7.6 mg/kg group were significantly higher than those in the control group, and those in the 15.2 mg/kg group were significantly higher than those in the control and pair-fed groups. In females with implantations, the numbers of implantations and live fetuses and the incidence of postimplantation embryonic loss in the groups given DBTCl on Days 0 to 3 were not significantly different from those in the control group. The incidence of postimplantation embryonic loss in the groups given DBTCl on Days 4 to 7 at 7.6 and 15.2 mg/kg was significantly higher than that in the control and pair-fed groups. It can be concluded that DBTCl adversely affects initiation and maintenance of pregnancy when administered during early pregnancy and that the manifestations of the adverse effects of DBTCl vary with the gestational stage at the time of maternal exposure.

The objective of this study was to determine the susceptible day for the developmental toxicity of di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP). Pregnant rats were given a single dose of DBP by gastric intubation at 1500 mg kg−1 on one of days 6–16 of pregnancy. A significant increase in the incidence of postimplantation loss was found in pregnant rats given DBP on one of days 6–16, except for days 7 and 11. Significant increases in the incidences of fetuses with skeletal malformations, of fetuses with skeletal and internal malformations and of fetuses with external and skeletal malformations were noted after a single dosing of DBP on day 8, on day 9 and on day 15, respectively. Deformity of the cervical vertebrae was frequently observed after administration of DBP on day 8. Deformity of the cervical and thoracic vertebrae and ribs and dilatation of the renal pelvis were predominantly found in fetuses of dams treated with DBP on day 9. Cleft palate and fusion of the sternebrae were exclusively detected after administration of DBP on day 15. It could be concluded that the manifestation of deviant development induced by DBP varies with the developmental stage at the time of administration and that DBP induces two discrete responses from embryos to teratogenicity on days 8 and 9 and on day 15 of pregnancy. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The objective of this study was to characterize the developmental toxicity of mono- n -benzyl phthalate (MBeP), which is one of the major metabolites of n -butyl benzyl phthalate. Pregnant rats were given MBeP by gastric intubation at 250,375,500, or 625 mg/kg on days 7 to 9,10 to 12, or 13 to 15 of pregnancy. A significantly increased incidence of postimplantation loss was found at 500 mg/kg and above regardless of the days of administration. While administration of MBeP on days 7 to 9 or 13 to 15 at 375 mg/kg and above was significantly teratogenic, no evidence of teratogenicity was detected when MBeP was given on days 10 to 12. Deformity of the vertebral column and ribs and dilatation of the renal pelvis were frequently observed after administration on days 7 to 9. Cleft palate and fused sternebrae were exclusively found after administration on days 13 to 15. These findings indicate that the susceptibility and spectrum of the developmental toxicity of MBeP vary with the developmental stages at the time of administration.