Developmental Toxicity of NN1-Bis(Dichloroacetyl)-1,8-Octamethylene Diamine: Effects of in utero Exposure on the Postnatal Murine Immune System

Oral gavage of pregnant C57BL/6J mice with N, N¹-bis(dichloroacetyl)-1,8-octa-methylene diamine on day 10 of gestation alters the morphology of a primary lymphoid organ, i.e., thymus, of the offspring when observed at 36 days of postnatal life. Thymuses obtained from the experimental offspring exhibited an overall reduction in size and cortical hypoplasia. Morphology of the spleen, a secondary lymphoid organ, is also affected in the offspring obtained from dams treated with this compound on day 10 of gestation. Spleens exhibited diffusely distributed white pulp areas compared to the distinctly nodular appearance in control spleens. Furthermore, it has been shown for the first time that prenatal administration of N, N¹-bis(dichloroacetyl)-1,8-octamethylene diamine on day 12 of gestation alters the functional responsiveness of splenocytes obtained from the offspring of treated dams to a variety of mitogens when examined at 3, 5, 9 and 16 weeks of postnatal life. Administration of the compound prenatally on day 12 of gestation did not alter the postnatal morphological appearance of either thymus or spleen.