P. Palanza et al., Prenatal exposure to low doses of the estrogenic chemicals diethylstilbestrol and o,p '-DDT alters aggressive behavior of male and female house mice, PHARM BIO B, 64(4), 1999, pp. 665-672
Exposure to estrogenic chemicals during critical periods in fetal life can
alter the development of reproductive organs, the neuroendocrine system, an
d subsequent behavior. We examined the effects of prenatal exposure to the
estrogenic chemicals, o,p'-DDT (the estrogenic contaminant in commercial DD
T) and the drug diethystilbestrol (DES), as a positive control, on differen
t forms of aggressive behavior in both male and female house mice. We also
examined effects of these chemicals on male reproductive organs. From gesta
tion days 11-17 female mice were fed an average concentration (dissolved in
oil) 0.018 and 0.18 ng/g body weight of DES. Doses of o,p'-DDT were 18 and
180 ng/g body weight, based on the prediction that the in vivo potency of
o,p'-DDT would be approximately 1000-times lower than DES. We found that pr
enatal exposure to DES increased the frequency of both males and females th
at responded aggressively to a same-sex conspecific. Preputial glands in ma
les exposed to the 0.018 ng/g dose of DES were significantly enlarged relat
ive to controls. Males exposed to the 18 ng/g dose of DDT bad smaller teste
s than controls. The possible implications of perturbing the development of
social behaviors, such as aggression, on individuals reproductive success
and social structure of the population are discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sci
ence Inc.