OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of rat maternal exposure to fenvalerate during lactation on behaviors development in rat pubertal female offspring.

METHODSTwelve ICR maternal mice were randomly divided into 7.5 and 30.0 mg/kg fenvalerate exposure groups and control group (four dams each group, ten pups each dam, half male half female, twenty female pups each group). The exposure groups were orally exposed to fenvalerate at the doses of 7.5 and 30 mg/kg a day from postnatal day 1 (PND1) to PND21. The control group was exposed to corn oil. The effects of maternal fenvalerate exposure during lactation on motor and species-typical behaviors in female offspring were observed on the PND 35.

RESULTSThe peripheral time and standing frequency of 30.0 mg/kg exposure group were (263.4 ± 54.8) s and (47.3 ± 16.2) times, which were significantly higher than those [(203.4 ± 53.0) s and (30.9 ± 17.3) times] of control group (P < 0.05). The scores in 7.5 mg/kg and 30.0 mg/kg exposure groups were 56.50 ± 50.79 and 54.73 ± 53.91, respectively, which were significantly lower than that (114.53 ± 53.87) in control group (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences in beam walking scores, food hoarding quantity, food digging quantity, and nest construction scores between two exposure groups were found (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe rat maternal exposure to fenvalerate during lactation could decrease the ability of exploration and motor condition and increase the anxiety but not affect life habit in rat pubertal female offspring.