Embryotoxicity and teratogenicity of trichlorphon on wistar rats

The effects of trichlorphon on the fertility and embryotoxicity/teratogenicity of male and female rats treated during spermatogenesis and ovogenesis with water solutions of technical grade trichlorphon (10, 95, or 165 mg/kg/day) were studied. All animals were fed a commercial diet and water ad libitum, and sacrificed at the 21st day of pregnancy. Half the fetuses were examined macroscopically [1] and the remaining fetuses prepared for skeletal examination [2, 3]. High embryotoxic effects were found at doses of 165 mg/kg, but not at 95 or 10 mg/kg. The fertility index (F.I.) at 95 and 165 mg/kg was 25% lower than the F.I. for the control animals which were treated with water only. For animals dosed at 10 mg/kg, the F.I. was 10% lower than the control animals. The embryotoxic and fetus toxic effects of trichlorphon increased with dose.