CLINICAL AND REPRODUCTIVE EFFECTS OF CLOPHEN-A50 (PCB) ADMINISTERED DURING GESTATION ON PREGNANT GUINEA-PIGS AND THEIR OFFSPRING

Female and male guinea pigs exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in utero and via mother's milk showed growth retardation and signs of delayed of sexual onset maturation. In female young exposed to PCBs first vaginal opening occured at a significantly older age and was of shorter duration compared with control females. The age at the first ovulation did not differ significantly between PCB-exposed females and control females. Male young exposed to PCBs had significantly lower absolute and relative testis weights at 3 months of age compared with control males. No differences in plasma testosterone concentrations were observed. © 1990.