Effects of triclosan on pregnancy outcome in pregnant rats and its mechanism

Abstract:

Objective：To determine the influences of triclosan on pregnancy outcome in pregnant rats，to preliminarily study its related mechanism and to provide scientific references for rational use of washing supplies containing triclosan，especially for pregnant wom－en. Methods：Totally 32 pregnant Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups（control group，low dose group，middle dose group and high dose group）and received triclosan by oral gavage（0，30，100，300） mg/（kg·d） in peanut oil for 15 d consecutively from ges－tational day（GD） 6 to GD 20 until necropsy on GD 20. Coefficient of each body organ，number of live fetus，dead fetus and absorbed fetus，biochemistry indicators and blood glucose were recoded. Results：Body weight，food intake and food utilization rate were increased along with the increase of pregnancy. But the increases were higher in high dose group than in control group in the second trimester of pregnancy（P<0.05）. ANOVA for repeated measurement demonstrated that body weight，food intake and food utilization rate were different at different periods of pregnancy among four groups（P<0.05），meanwhile，time factor and processing factor of body weight were interacted（P<0.01）. Fasting plasma glucose levels in high dose group were different within groups（P<0.05）. ANOVA for repeated measurement demonstrated blood glucose levels were different at different periods of pregnancy among groups（P<0.05），meanwhile，time factor and processing factor of body weight were not interacted. Levels of serum methane dicarboxylic aldehyde and total protein were significantly different between high dose group and control group（P<0.05）. Live fetus was more in control group than in high dose group；absorbed fetus was more in high dose group than in control group，without statistical differences. Conclusions：Using a large number of triclosan products may change blood glucose and biochemistry indexes，therefore people should be cautious when choosing personal care products，especially pregnancy women. Triclosan may affect the digestion and energy metabolism of pregnancy women，further influence normal development of fetal brains and bones，so pregnancy women should use triclosan products carefully.