Prenatal effects of technical hexachlorocyclohexane in mice.

Technical hexachlorocyclohexane (5, 25, and 50 mg/kg/d) was orally administered to mice during the pre- and postimplantation period. While mice exposed to HCH during the preimplantation period did not show fetolethality, exposure during the postimplantation period showed dose-dependent effects on fetuses as evidenced by increase in percentage resorption, higher level of HCH residue, and decreased serum progesterone level. The absence of anomalies in fetal gross morphology and skeleton suggests technical HCH is nonteratogenic in mice.