Triclosan exposure reduces thyroxine levels in pregnant and lactating rat dams and in directly exposed offspring

- Triclosan exposure reduces T4 levels in rat dams during gestation and lactation.
- Triclosan exposure via maternal milk does not reduce offspring T4 levels on PND 16.
- Rat pups exposed to triclosan directly from PND 3-16 show reduced T4 levels.
- Recommendation of direct pup exposure when investigating behavioural effects of developmental triclosan exposure.

Thyroid disrupting chemicals can potentially disrupt brain development. Two studies investigating the effect of the antibacterial compound triclosan on thyroxine (T4) levels in rats are reported. In the first, Wistar rat dams were gavaged with 75, 150 or 300 mg triclosan/kg bw/day throughout gestation and lactation. Total T4 serum levels were measured in dams and offspring, and all doses of triclosan significantly lowered T4 in dams, but no significant effects on T4 levels were seen in the offspring at the end of the lactation period. Since this lack of effect could be due to minimal exposure through maternal milk, a second study using direct per oral pup exposure from postnatal day 3-16 to 50 or 150 mg triclosan/kg bw/day was performed. This exposure pointed to significant T4 reductions in 16 day old offspring in both dose groups. These results corroborate previous studies showing that in rats lactational transfer of triclosan seems limited. Since an optimal study design for testing potential developmental neurotoxicants in rats, should include exposure during both the pre- and postnatal periods of brain development, we suggest that in the case of triclosan, direct dosing of pups may be the best way to obtain that goal.