Gestational and lactational exposure to TCDD or coplanar PCBs alters adult expression of saccharin preference behavior in female rats

Previous studies have shown that maternal doses of 1 mug/kg or less of 2,3,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in late gestation can demasculinize and feminize reproductive behavior in male rats. However, it was not known whether coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) had similar effects, or whether non-reproductive sexually dimorphic behaviors such as saccharin preference behavior were also altered. We determined the effects of TCDD or coplanar PCBs on saccharin consumption and saccharin preference in male and female rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were dosed with 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB 77; 2 or 8 mg/kg/day), 3,3',4,3',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 126; 0.25 or 1.0 mug/kg/day), TCDD (0.025 or 0.10 mug/kg/day), or corn oil vehicle on days 10-16 of gestation. Maternal exposure to TCDD or coplanar PCBs did not change saccharin consumption or saccharin preference in male rats. However, TCDD and coplanar PCB-exposed females showed decreased saccharin consumption and saccharin preference. The results indicate that saccharin consumption is masculinized in female rats exposed to TCDD or coplanar PCBs during perinatal development. This effect could be related to the anti-estrogenic actions of these chemicals. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.