Effects of chlordane isomers administered to female mice during the neonatal period.

In consideration of the influence that chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides may exert on mammalian physiology, the present study was performed to investigate the effects of neonatal chlordane administration on body growth and endocrine development in female mice. Mice receiving 0.075 or 0.15 mg of alpha or gamma chlordane on day 2, 3, and 4 of life were observed to have growth rates depressed to varying extents depending on the concentration or the type of isomer that was utilized. Eye and vaginal opening in the neonatally treated mice were observed to be delayed to varying degrees, which were dependent on which isomer was used. The total effects observed in the neonatally treated mice were not found to reflect a dose-related response.