Table 1 Overview of animal studies with maternal inhalation exposure to whole diesel exhaust
Diesel particulate in air (mg/m 3 ) | Particle size | Study type | Animal species | Exposure period (GD) | Maternal measures (n) | Offspring endpoints (n) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0.3 1.0 3.0 | MMAD 0.4 | T(13) | M | 2–13 12 h/day | (23–30) Implantations Litter size Sex ratio Placentas: -weight [↑1.0] -congestion -abnormal -inflammatory cytokines [↑0.3, 3.0] | Fetal weight [↓3.0] Rate of abnormal fetuses | [5] |
0.3 1.0 3.0 | MMAD 0.4 | P | M | From four months before gestation to mating 12 h/day | (10–12) Abnormal delivery Nest construction [↓all] Weights: -ovaries -vagina -uterus [↓1.0] | (4–22) Weight, PND11 [♂↑0.3], 14, 21 [♀↓3.0], 28 [↓3.0], 35 [↓3.0], 42 [↓0.1, 3.0], 49 [↓0.1♂, 3.0], 56 [↓1.0, 3.0], 63 [↓1.0♀, 3.0], 70 [↓3.0] Vaginal opening [↓0.3, 1.0] Anogenital distance PND28 [♂↓0.3], 70 [♂↓3.0] ♀ Weights, PND28 -thymus [↓3.0] -ovary [↓3.0] ♀ Weights, PND70 -adrenals [↓1.0] -liver [↓1.0] -thymus [↓0.3, 1.0] ♂ Weights, PND 70 -adrenals [↓1.0] -testes [↓1.0] -seminal vesicles [↓1.0] External malformations | [4] |
0.1 |  | T(13) | M | 2-3+6-10+13 8 h/day | (15–16) Body weight Implantations Total placental weight | (22) Litter size Gender ratio Total fetal weight Bone morphogenetic protein 15[↓] | [20] |
1.71 or 0.17 (Filtered, pore size estimated to 0.1–0.2 μm) |  | P | R | 7–20 6 h/day | (7–8) | (7–14) Gender ratio Weight, PND 96: -body -testis -epididymis Daily sperm production [↓] Spermatids [↓] Sertoli cells [↓] Spermatids/Sertoli cell [↓] FSH [↓] LH Testosterone | [11] |
5.6 or Filtered (pore size 0.05 μm) | 90% < 0.5 μm | T(20) | R | 7–20 6 h/day | (22–24) Body weight Implantations Weights: -placenta [↓, non-filtered] -adrenal gland [↓, filtered] -thymus [↓] -ovary [↓] Corpora lutea [smaller] Testosterone [↑] Progesterone Estradiol [↓, filtered] LH [↓, filtered] FSH ACTH Hydroxycorticosteroids, urinary | (6–24) Fetal weight [females↑] Litter size Gender ratio External malformations Anogenital distance [↑] Thymus weight [↓] Testis differentiation [↓] Ovary differentation [↓] Thymus differentiation [↓] | [7] |
1.73 or Filtered (pore size 0.05 μm) | 90% < 0.5 μm | P | R | 7-20+ PND 1–3 6 h/day | (6–7) | (6–20, males only) Weight PND 4, 49 Organ weights, PND 4, 49, 82: -thymus [↓] -Testosterone, PND 4, 23 [↑] -Estrogen, PND 4, 23 IgE pollen: -three immunizations -four immunizations [↑] | [9] |
6 | ~90% < 1 μ ~50% < 0.3 μ | T(20) | R | 5–16 8 h/day | Resorptions Implantations Corpora luetea [↓] Gross pathology | Fetal weight Litter size Viability Gender distribution Malformations | [6] |
6 | ~90% < 1 μ ~50% < 0.3 μ | T(20) | Rabbit | 5–16 8 h/day | (20) Resorptions Implantations Corpora lutea Gross pathology | Fetal weight Litter size Viability Gender distribution Malformations | [6] |
0.3 1.0 3.0 |  | P | M | 2–16 12 h/day | (20) Deaths | (7–14, males only) Weight, PND 28 [↑1.0, 3.0] Gender ratio Organ weights, PND 28 -testes [↑1.0, 3.0] -epididymis -accessory glands [↑1.0, 3.0] LH Testosterone [↑1.0] | [8] |
1.0 |  | P | M | 2–16 24 h/day | (10) | (7–10) Weight, PND 8 [↓], 16(↓), 21(↓), 35 [↓], 84: -testis -epididymis -seminal vesicle [↑, PND8+16] Sperm counts [↓PND35+84] Testis morphology [↑Multinucl. cells PND84] Testosterone [↓PND21,(↓)PND35, ↑PND84] mRNA, testes: -androgen receptor -estrogen receptor -LH receptor -FSH receptor -steroidogen acute regul protein [↑PND84] -cytochrome P-450 side-chain cleavage -3βHSD -17βHSD -P450c17 -cytochrome P-450 aromatase | [19] |