Evaluation of the developmental toxicity of diallyl phthalate administered orally to rats

The objective of this study was to evaluate the developmental toxic potential of diallyl phthalate (DAP) in rats. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were given DAP at doses of 0 (olive oil), 100, 150, 200, and 250 mg/kg/day, by gavage (5 ml/kg), on Gestational Days (GD) 6 through 20. Gross examination at necropsy revealed liver lesions in dams given 150 mg/kg/day or higher doses. In addition, maternal weight gain and food consumption were significantly reduced at 200 and 250 mg/kg/day. There was no significant increase in the incidence of resorptions, or malformations, at any dose. Fetal body weight was significantly reduced at 200 and 250 mg/kg/day. There was a significant increase in the incidence of fetuses with skeletal variations at 250 mg/kg/day. Retarded ossification of certain bones (i.e. forelimb and hindlimb phalanges, metatarsals, and caudal vertebrae) was also observed. There was no sign of developmental toxicity at 100 and 150 mg/kg/day. DAP caused fetal toxicity at doses which also produced maternal effects, but no embryolethality or teratogenicity.