GENDER SENSITIVITY OF XENOBIOTICS Summary of the Literature In order to conserve animals in acute toxicity testing, OECD experts have recommended the use test animals of a single sex. Sex as a cause of differences

In order to conserve animals in acute toxicity testing, OECD experts have recommended the use test animals of a single sex. Sex as a cause of differences in metabolism, transformation, and toxicity, have been reviewed by a number of authors. These authors have compiled available data on gender sensitivity to toxicants in rats, mice and humans. See, for example, Reviews by Salem, Trimbell, Sipes and Gandolpho, DeBethizy and Hayes, and Moser (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). However, we are not aware of systematic investigations into differences in sensitivity for lethality of xenobiotics of males and females across chemicals.