Two-Generation Reproduction Study and Immunotoxicity Screen in Rats Dosed with Phenol via the Drinking Water

This study evaluated the potential reproductive toxicity of phe-nol in a rat two-generation reproduction study, which included ad-ditional study endpoints, suchas spermcount andmotility,develop-mental landmarks, histological evaluation of suspect target organs (liver, kidneys, spleen, and thymus), weanling reproductive organ weights, and an immunotoxicity screening plaque assay. Phenol was administered to 30 Sprague-Dawley rats/sex/group in the drinking water at concentrations of 0, 200, 1000, or 5000 ppm. Parental (P1) animals were treated for 10 weeks prior to mating, during mating, gestation, lactation, and until sacri ce. The F1 gen-eration (P1 offspring) was treated using a similar regimen, while the F2 generation was not treated. After mating, 10 P1 males/group were evaluated using standard clinical pathology parameters and an immunotoxicity screening plaque assay. Signi cant reductions in water and food consumption were observed in the 5000-pp