TRANSFER OF VARIOUS POLYCHLORINATED-BIPHENYLS TO THE FETUSES AND OFFSPRING OF MICE

Seven polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) 2,4,4''-trichlorobiphenyl (2,4,4''-tri-CB), 2,5,3'',4''-tetra-CB, 2,4,5,2'',5''-penta-CB, 2,4,5,2'',4'',5''-hexa-CB, 2,3,4,2'',4'',5''-hexa-CB, 2,3,4,5,6,2'',5''-hepta-CB and 2,3,4,5,2'',3'',4'',5''-octa-CB were administered together in the diet to female adult mice for 18 days either before or after mating. Dams, fetuses and offspring were analyzed for the individual PCB. All the PCB given to the dams were transferred to their fetuses and offspring through the placenta and milk. The amount of each compound transferred through milk was much larger than the amount transplacentally transferred. The 2,5,3'',4''-tetra-CB and 2,3,4,5,6,2'',5''-hepta-CB were rapidly eliminated by dams and offspring. Small amounts (1-3%) of 2,4,4''-tri-CB and 2,4,5,2'',5''-penta-CB, administered during pregnancy, were transferred to the offspring. Larger quantities (15-53%) of the 2,4,5,2'',4'',5''-hexa-CB, 2,3,4,2'',4'',5''-hexa-CB and 2,3,4,5,2'',3'',4'',5''-octa-CB were transferred to the offspring when they had been administered either before or during pregnancy.