Three generation toxicity study of butylated hydroxytoluene administered to mice

Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) was administered to mice, from 5 weeks of age of the F0 generation to the weaning of the F2 generation, in the diet at levels of 0 (control), 0.015, 0.045, 0.135, and 0.405%, and some reproductive and neurobehavioural parameters were measured. There was no consistent significant effect on number of litters, litter size, and litter weight at birth for each generation. The body weight of the pups of the 0.015% BHT group was increased at birth and during the lactation period for each generation. In the F2 generation, the body weights of the pups of other treatment groups were increased during the lactation period, particularly at postnatal day (PND) 21. In the neurobehavioural parameters, a few parameters were increased in treatment groups; i.e., surface righting at PND 7 in the F1 generation, surface righting at PND 4 and negative geotaxis at PND 7 in the F2 generation. The dose levels of BHT in this study showed little adverse effect on reproductive and neurobehavioural parameters on mice.