Polychlorinated biphenyl toxicity in the pregnant cynomolgus monkey: A pilot study

Three pregnant cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) were dosed with 100 or 400 μg/kg/day of Aroclor® 1254 from approximately 60 days of gestation. One additional pregnant monkey was given dose vehicle only. The two monkeys dosed with 100 μg/kg/day delivered stillborn infants and the 400 μg/kg/day dosed monkey delivered a term infant that had impaired immunologic function compared with the control infant, and died at 139 days post partum. The three dams also had impaired immunologic capacity assessed at approximately 50 days post partum (148 days treatment). With the exception of loss of fingernails in two monkeys, no overt clinical signs of toxicity were observed in the adults. Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations and peak ratios in breast milk and tissues are reported.