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DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY OF TCDD AND RELATED COMPOUNDS: SENSITIVITIES AND DIFFERENCES
Citation:
Birnbaum, L. DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY OF TCDD AND RELATED COMPOUNDS: SENSITIVITIES AND DIFFERENCES. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-91/308 (NTIS PB92124643).
Description:
The issue of the developmental toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and related compounds has been the subject of two recent reviews (Morrissey and Schwetz, 1989; Couture et al., 1990a). here is little doubt that TCDD is one of the most potent developmental toxins known, yet its production of frank structural malformations in species other than in the mouse are poorly described. he objective of this review is to critically address the role which TCDD and its approximate isostereomers have in causing a wide array of developmental effects in various species, including some very recent results. he bias of this author is that the teratogenic response of the mouse is a reflection of extreme sensitivity of this species to the induction of frank teratogenic responses in two epithelial tissues. hat is, that the mouse is an outlier in the field of developmental toxicity, possibly in parallel to the exquisite sensitivity of the guinea pig vs the resistance of the hamster to the lethal effects of TCDD, or in the resistance of haired rodents to the induction of chloracne. he crucial point to be stressed is that most species respond similarly to TCDD; for any given endpoint, outliers will exist. owever, no species is an outlier for all responses. n terms of developmental toxicity, essentially all species critically examined to date demonstrate potent developmentally toxic effects following exposure to TCDD and related chemicals. elatively low doses to the dam (varying within an order of magnitude) result in embryo/fetal toxicity. he actual induction of terata is an extremely rare response.