In this study, we evaluated the effects of prenatal exposure to triphenyltin hydroxide (TPTH) on the postnatal development of Swiss Webster mice. Females were treated by gavage (0, 7.5 15 and 30 mg TPTH/kg/day) on days 6-17 of gestation. After birth, the progeny was examined for deaths, body weight gain and appearance of developmental landmarks. On postnatal day 50, one male and one female of each litter were inoculated with Plasmodium yoelii and the time-course of infection was monitored. TPTH was embryolethal at doses > or =15 mg/kg/day. Body weight at birth was decreased, but no alteration of pup body weight was observed after postnatal day 5. Except for an advancement of incisor eruption in the group treated with 15 mg/kg/day, no alteration of somatic development was noted. A shorter latency to peak parasitemia and a reduced malaria-induced spleen enlargement were observed in mice prenatally exposed to TPTH. In conclusion, prenatal exposure to TPTH at doses > or =15 mg/kg enhanced neonatal lethality, reduced pup birth weight and interfered with the response to infection with P. yoelii in adulthood.