Reproductive and peri- and postnatal studies with hexachlorophene

Abstract

Hexachlorophene (HCP) was evaluated for its effects on reproductive performance and perinatal and postnatal development in rats. To evaluate the effects on fertility and general reproductive performance, 5 or 10 mg HCP/kg/day was given to males for 63 and females for 14 days prior to mating. Dosing was continued until day 14 of gestation for half of the females and until after weaning for the other half. Mating and fertility were not affected, and progeny were delivered in normal numbers, were free of structural abnormalities and developed normally throughout lactation. A slight reduction in pup survival was observed at the 10mg/kg dose level. Treatment of females with either 15 or 30 mg HCP/kg/day during the last third of gestation and until weaning caused reductions in the body weights and survival of the progeny. Reduced body-weight gain and some deaths were encountered among the maternal animals treated with 30 mg HCP/kg. At this level, an increase in stillbirths was noted, although all progeny, both stillborn and viable, were structurally normal.