Embryotoxicity and neurotoxicity in rats associated with prenatal exposure to DURSBAN.

DURSBAN (DB; active ingredient chlorpyrifos) is a widely-used organophosphate insecticide. The teratogenic and neurotoxic potential of DB was evaluated in rats in utero by exposing embryos on days 0-7 or days 7-21 of development. These prenatal exposures to DB (0.03, 0.1 or 0.3 mg chlorpyrifos/kg, ip) induced physical abnormalities and embryotoxicity. Rat pups which had been exposed to 0.3 mg chlorpyrifos/kg prenatally demonstrated significant behavioral neurotoxicity on postnatal day 16 in the rotorod test compared to time-matched saline-infused litters. Exposure to DB on postnatal day 3, 10 or 12 also caused neurotoxicity as evaluated by the rotorod test. Our studies suggest prenatal exposure to relatively low concentrations of DB may be associated with embryotoxicity, fetal lethality and behavioral neurotoxicity.