Effects of in utero and lactational exposure to low-dose neonicotinoid clothianidin on the gene expression profiles of the ovary in 3 weeks old mice

Neonicotinoid pesticides which were developed newly since the 1980s are chemically similar to nicotine. Prenatal and lactational exposure to neonicotinoid pesticides has been shown to cause reproductive toxicity in males, but not yet in female mice. We investigated effects of in utero and lactational exposure to a neonicotinoid pesticide, clothianidin (CLO) on gene expression profiles of the ovary in 3 weeks old mice. Pregnant mice were administrated 65 mg/kg/day of CLO or vehicle (1%DMSO) from gestational day 1.5 to postnatal day 21 of age of the litter.