Effect of atrazine ingested prior to mating on rat females and their offspring

The influence of the herbicide atrazine on the Fischer rat and their offspring was investigated. Six 120 mg doses of atrazine in paraffin oil per kg body weight were applied every 48 hours to the females in Group A. The females in the control group, Group C, received paraffin oil only. By the end of the intubation period the rats in Group A weighed less than those in Group C. Atrazine did not affect the estrus cycle, gestation and delivery, litter size and pup survival. Adult female offspring of Group A displayed increased activity in the activity cage and the male offspring avoided more electric shocks during the shuttle box acquisition trials. In addition Group A offspring had shorter latency time during extinction trials than Group C offspring.