Embryotoxic effects of prenatal T-2 toxin exposure in mice

Pregnant CD-1 mice were administered T-2 toxin by gastric intubation on day 11 of gestation at dosages of 0, 0.75 and 1.5 mg/kg. The T-lymphocyte dependent antibody response against sheep red blood cells which was evaluated in the offspring at six weeks of age was not affected by T-2 toxin exposure. Individual birth and weaning weights were not influenced by T-2 toxin, but the litter size was reduced in the high dose group, without affecting the number of implantation sites per dam. The number of female offspring produced by dams exposed to 1.5 mg/kg T-2 toxin was less compared to other treatment groups, suggesting that the female fetus was more susceptible to embryolethal effects of prenatal T-2 toxin exposure. These results suggest that prenatal T-2 toxin exposure is unlikely to be a significant health problem with respect to primary humoral immunity. At the dosages given, T-2 toxin produced substantial embryotoxicity without alteration in antibody production. The embryolethal effects are a primary limiting factor which may preclude the expression of any immunoteratological manifestations associated with humoral immunity under natural field conditions.