Behavioral effects of methyl parathion and toxaphene exposure in rats.

The behavior of rats exposed peri- and postnatally to methyl parathion (MP) and toxaphene (T) was examined with a variety of maturational and learning tests. Females received daily oral doses of 1.0 mg/kg MP or 1.0 mg/kg MP + 2.0 mg/kg T between Days 7-15 of pregnancy. With T alone, rats of the postnatal group were dosed daily with 6 mg/kg for 21 days, while in the perinatal study females received 6 mg/kg daily from Day 7 of pregnancy until parturition. Rat pups exposed to sublethal doses of MP and T in combination or alone demonstrated few significant changes in learning ability as measured by a simple two-choice maze, motor skills, or behavior.