Comparative developmental toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)

In mature animals, the acute toxic potency of TCDD exhibits up to a 5000-fold interspecies variability in the Hartley guinea pig, Sprague-Dawley rat, and Golden Syrian hamster. The embryotoxic and teratogenic potential of TCDD was evaluated in these species to assess whether there is a similar interspecies variability in the developmental toxicity of TCDD. TCDD was a potent developmental toxicant in all three species. Teratogenic activity, consisting of hydronephrosis, was only observed in the hamster. The results indicate that although there are species and tissue specific responses associated with the developmental toxicity and teratogenicity of TCDD, the toxic potency of TCDD is similar (within 10-fold) during prenatal development in these species.