Methylmercury speciation influences brain gene expression and behavior in gestationally-exposed mice pups.

The greatest source of human exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) is the diet, in particular the consumption of seafood. To investigate the importance of dietary MeHg speciation on neurotoxicity, balb/c mice dams were exposed to MeHgCys (the naturally-occurring salt) and MeHgCl (the laboratory salt), at concentrations up to 4.5 mg/kg, for 11 weeks (inclusive of 3 weeks gestational and 2 weeks post-partum exposure).

Effects of perinatal octylphenol on ultrasound vocalization, behavior and reproductive physiology in rats.

A rodent diet containing paraffin wax was designed to administer the environmental estrogen octylphenol (OP) to nonpregnant, pregnant and lactating rats. The estrogenic activity of OP via this diet was first confirmed in ovariectomized adult animals: 20 mg OP/kg/day increased the mitoses in the vaginal epithelium, and 60 mg OP/kg/day stimulated mitoses in the uterine luminal epithelium. The effects on a variety of reproductive and nonreproductive parameters were then investigated in the offspring of dams fed OP (100-250 mg/kg/day during gestation and lactation).