Reproductive and developmental toxicity screening study of 2,4-dinitrophenol in rats

• Published in: Environmental toxicology 2009-02, Vol.24 (1), p.74-81
• Main Authors: Takahashi, Mika, Sunaga, Masao, Hirata-Koizumi, Mutsuko, Hirose, Akihiko, Kamata, Eiichi, Ema, Makoto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 2,4-Dinitrophenol - toxicity; 2,4‐dinitrophenol; 4-dinitrophenol; Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Animals, Newborn - growth & development; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Body Weight; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Liver - abnormalities; Liver - drug effects; Male; Organ Size; Pregnancy; rat; Rats; Reproduction - drug effects; reproductive/developmental toxicity
• ISSN: 1520-4081; 1522-7278
• DOI: 10.1002/tox.20398

Rats were treated by gavage once daily with 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) at 0 (control), 3, 10, or 30 mg/kg bw. Males were dosed for 46 days, beginning 14 days before mating, and females were dosed for 40-47 days, from 14 days before mating to day 3 of lactation. No deaths were observed in males and females of any group. A significant decrease in body weight gain and significant increase in liver weight were found in males and females at 30 mg/kg bw/day. The number of live pups on postnatal days (PNDs) 0 and 4, live birth index, and body weight of live male and female pups on PNDs 0 and 1 were significantly lowered at 30 mg/kg bw/day. External and internal examinations of pups revealed no increased incidence of malformations in DNP-treated groups. On the basis of these findings, we concluded that DNP has general and reproductive/developmental toxicity, but not teratogenicity, under the present conditions. The NOAEL of DNP is considered to be 10 mg/kg bw/day in rats.