Sub-chronic exposure of adult male rats to diphenyl ditelluride did not affect the development of their progeny

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the toxicity of diphenyl ditelluride [(PhTe)(2)] exposure on the progeny of Wistar male rats. Male rats were exposed to (PhTe)2 subcutaneously for 4 weeks (wk) at the dose of 0.006 mg/kg and 8-wk at the dose of 0.003 mg/kg, prior to mating with unexposed females. The body and sex organ weights of male rats were not affected in both 4- and 8-wk (PhTe)(2)-exposed groups. The gravid uterus weight and the body weight gain (overall or corrected) during the pregnancy were not statistically different to those obtained from females mated with control males. The number of implantation sites, resorptions and live and dead fetuses were not affected by male exposure to (PhTe)(2). Fetal body weight and crown-rump length were not affected, as well. Examination of the fetuses from both exposed groups for external and skeletal changes did not reveal any male-mediated effect of (PhTe)2. The current study indicated that (PhTe)2 given sub-chronically (4- or 8-wk) to male rats had no adverse effects on their progeny. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.