COMPARATIVE DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY OF DIBUTYLTIN, TRIBUTYLTIN AND TETRABUTYLTIN COMPOUNDS AFTER ADMINISTRATION DURING LATE ORGANOGENESIS INRATS

Dibutyltin dichloride (DBT), tributyltin chloride (TrBT) and tetrabuty ltin (TeBT) were compared for their developmental toxicity and teratog enic potential following administration during the susceptible period for teratogenesis of TrBT, Pregnant rats were given either DBT or TrBT at a dose of 165 or 330 mu mol kg(-1) or TrBT at a dose of 330, 660, 1320, 2640 or 5280 mu mol kg(-1) on days 13-15 of pregnancy. Treatment with DBT at 165 and 330 mu mol kg(-1) caused a significant decrease i n the maternal body weight gain, A significant decrease in the fetal w eight occurred at 165 and 330 mu mol kg(-1). No significantly increase d incidences of postimplantation loss or of fetuses with malformations were found following treatment with DBT. Treatment with TrBT at 165 a nd 330 mu mol kg(-1) resulted in a significant decrease in the materna l weight gain, A significant decrease in the fetal weight was found at 330 mu ml kg(-1). A significantly and markedly increased incidence of fetuses with cleft palate was noted in both groups treated with TrBT, Treatment with TeBT caused a significantly decreased maternal body we ight gain at doses of 660 mu mol kg(-)1 and above. A significantly inc reased incidence of fetuses with cleft palate was observed at a dose o f 5280 mu mol kg(-1). It could be concluded that there is a difference in the manifestation and degree of developmental toxicity between DBT , TrBT and TeBT.