G. Mccoy et al., CHRONIC POLYCHLORINATED-BIPHENYLS EXPOSURE ON 3 GENERATIONS OF OLDFIELD MICE (PEROMYSCUS-POLIONOTUS) - EFFECTS ON REPRODUCTION, GROWTH, ANDBODY RESIDUES, Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology, 28(4), 1995, pp. 431-435
Effects of chronic dietary exposure to low levels of PCBs (polychlorin
ated biphenyls) on reproduction, growth and whole body burdens were in
vestigated in three generations of Peromyscus polionotus. Mated pairs
were maintained on a diet containing 5 mg/kg PCBs (Aroclor 1254(R)) fo
r 12 months, beginning exposure as young adults; matched controls rece
ived a similar diet without PCBs. Offspring were maintained on the par
ental regime and paired at maturity with non-siblings in the same grou
p. In first and second generation offspring, birth and weaning weights
were significantly lower in PCB-exposed animals; in the second genera
tion, there were also significantly fewer mice born/month, longer inte
rvals prior to birth of the first litter, and decreased survival to we
aning (25 days) among exposed mice. Whole body residue of PCBs increas
ed significantly with each generation of exposure. This study clearly
shows that chronic exposure to PCBs at a dosage of 5 mg/kg depressed f
ertility, growth and survival in Peromyscus, and that these effects we
re amplified through multigenerational exposure.