Behavioral effects of low-level perinatal exposure to toluene in mice.

The effects of toluene on several behavioral measures were examined in mice exposed pre- and postnatally and continuously through behavioral testing. The test animals were the offspring of dams given solutions of toluene in drinking water (16,80 or 400 ppm) during pregnancy and lactation. After weaning, the test mice were maintained at the same toluene exposure concentrations. At 35 days of age decreased habituation of open-field activity was seen in the 400-ppm group. This effect was not found in mice which received a single intraperitoneal injection of toluene (14.4 or 72 mg/kg) in sesame seed oil. Rotorod performance, measured at 45-55 days of age, was depressed in all exposed groups. No effects of toluene exposure were seen on maternal fluid consumption, offspring mortality rate, development of eye or ear openings, or surface-righting response.