Reproductive and neurobehavioural effects of piperonyl butoxide administered to mice in the diet.

Piperonyl butoxide was given in the diet to mice to provide levels of 0 (control), 0.01, 0.03 and 0.09% from 5 weeks of age of the F(0) generation to 9 weeks of age of the F(1) generation, and selected reproductive and neurobehavioural parameters were measured. There were no adverse effects of piperonyl butoxide on either litter size, litter weight or sex ratio at birth. The average body weight of male offspring was significantly increased in the middle-dose group at post-natal days 4 and 7 during lactation. That of female offspring was significantly increased in the middle-dose group at post-natal days 7 and 14 during lactation. In behavioural developmental parameters, surface righting at post-natal day 7 was significantly delayed in the higher-dose groups in male offspring, and those effects were significantly dose related (p < 0.01). Olfactory orientation at post-natal day 14 was significantly depressed in the higher-dose groups in male offspring, and those effects were significantly dose related (p < 0.01). For movement activity of exploratory behaviour at 9 weeks of age of the F(1) generation, the total distance of males was significantly increased in the higher-dose groups, and those effects showed a dose-related manner (p < 0.01). Average distance and speed were significantly increased in the high-dose group, and those effects showed a dose-related manner (p < 0.01 in each). The dose levels of piperonyl butoxide in the present study produced some adverse effects in reproductive and neurobehavioural parameters in mice.