Pre-implantation embryonic loss induced by tributyltin chloride in rats

The effect of tributyltin chloride (TBTCl) administered during early pregnancy on pregnancy maintenance was evaluated in rats. Inseminated females were orally administered TBTCl at a dose of 0, 8.1, 12.2 or 16.3 mg/kg on day 0 through day 7 of pregnancy. Females were sacrificed on day 20 of pregnancy and pregnancy outcome was determined. Pregnancy failure, which was evidenced by absence of implantation sites, was found in 0 of the 10, in 2 of the 11, in 10 of the 14 and in 10 of the 13 females at 0, 8.1, 12.2 and 16.3 mg/kg, respectively. The rate of pregnancy failure was significantly higher in the 12.2 and 16.3 mg/kg groups than that in the control group. In females with successful pregnancy, the numbers of corpora lutea, implantations and post-implantation loss per litter were comparable across all groups. No increase in the incidence of malformed fetuses was found in any TBTCl-treated groups. Thus it appears that TBTCl causes pregnancy failure after administration during very early pregnancy.