Title
Potentially increased sensitivity of pregnant and lactating female rats to immunotoxic agents
Author
Menke, A.
Wolterbeek, A.
Snel, C.
Bruijntjes, J.
Groot, D.D.
Oostrum, L.V.
Waalkens, I.
Kuper, C.F.
Publication year
2012
Abstract
Characteristic susceptibility to environmental and pharmaceutical exposure may occur during periods in life of marked histophysiological changes of the immune system. Perinatal development is such a period; pregnancy followed by lactation is potentially another one. Here, we explored the influence of pregnancy and lactation on the model immunotoxic compound di-n-octyltin dichloride (DOTC) in rats using clinical and histopathological parameters. Female rats were exposed to 0, 3, 10, or 30 mg DOTC/kg feed during pregnancy and up to 20 (at weaning) or 56 days after delivery. Age-matched nonmated females were exposed during the same time periods. DOTC at the level of 10 and 30 mg/kg decreased thymus weight and affected thymus morphology in the lactating rats. In addition, DOTC decreased the numbers of neutrophils in the lactating rats. These effects were no longer apparent at day 56 despite continuous exposure to DOTC. This explorative study indicates that the innate and adaptive immune system may be especially sensitive to immunotoxicants during pregnancy and lactation. © 2012 Society of Toxicologic Pathology.
Subject
Life Triskelion
QS - Quality & Safety
EELS - Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences TNO Bedrijven
Healthy for Life
Biology
Healthy Living
DOTC
immunotoxicity
lactation
pregnancy
sensitive periods
thymus
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http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:9c693aa4-b8e3-4614-b462-b65c98c99d60
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/0192623311428476
TNO identifier
447346
ISSN
0192-6233
Source
Toxicologic Pathology, 40 (2), 255-260
Document type
article