PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R G York

Publications and source records attributed to R G York.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Teratogenicity of paraxanthine (1,7-dimethylxanthine) in C57BL/6J mice.

The teratogenicity of caffeine, as well as two of its three dimethylated metabolites (theobromine and theophylline), has been established in animal studies. The third metabolite, paraxanthine, has not been reported as being tested for teratogenicity even though it is actually the major demethylated metabolite of caffeine metabolism in man. Pregnant C57BL/6J mice were treated i.p. with 175 or 300 mg/kg/day paraxanthine (1,7-dimethylxanthine) dissolved in deionized water at 4 p.m. on day 11 and 9 a.m. on day 12 of gestation. All dams were sacrificed on day 18, and fetuses were fixed for Wilson's razor blade sectioning or double-staining skeletal examination. A dose-related increase in total malformations, primarily cleft palate and limb malformations, was found. The pattern of malformations was similar to that reported for caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline, i.e., an asymmetric response with the left forelimb most often affected. A 21% resorption and a 46% malformation rate was observed at 300 mg/kg/day of paraxanthine, indicating that paraxanthine was slightly less toxic to the embryo than caffeine. Therefore, the parent compound, caffeine, as well as all three of its dimethylated metabolites--paraxanthine, theophylline, and theobromine--are teratogenic.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Reduction of caffeine teratogenicity in mice by inducing maternal drug metabolism with beta-naphthoflavone.

The effect of stimulating maternal drug metabolism on caffeine teratogenicity was investigated in C57BL/6J (cytochrome P1-450 inducible) and AKR/J (cytochrome P1-450 noninducible) mice. The inducing agent, beta-naphthoflavone (beta-NF) in corn oil, was administered intraperitoneally (IP) to dams at 20 or 80 mg/kg/d on days 9 and 10 of gestation. Teratogenic injections of 175 mg/kg/d caffeine in deionized water were administered IP on days 11 and 12 of gestation. All dams were sacrificed on day 18 of gestation, and fetuses were fixed for razor blade sectioning and skeletal examination. Caffeine, without maternal metabolism stimulation, caused similar types and rates of malformations in both strains of mice. Inducing drug metabolism during pregnancy with beta-NF protected the embryos from the congenital toxicities of large injections of caffeine. Reductions in embryolethality, limb malformations, and hematoma formation were evident in the inducible strain but not in the strain incapable of being induced. A dosage of eighty mg/kg/d was more effective than 20 mg/kg/d beta-NF in decreasing malformations, suggesting that stimulation of metabolism and caffeine-induced teratogenicity are inversely related. Rapid elimination of caffeine resulting from increasing drug metabolism with the concomitant decrease in toxicity would indicate that caffeine, and not a metabolite, is the toxicant.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

The amino acid sequence of boar H1t, a testis-specific H1 histone variant.

H1t is a testis-specific H1 variant found in spermatocytes and spermatids of mammals. The complete amino acid sequence has been determined for H1t isolated from boar testes. The protein is composed of 211 amino acids with the composition 3 aspartic acids, 6 asparagines, 13 threonines, 21 serines, 7 glutamic acids, 7 glutamines, 15 prolines, 14 glycines, 37 alanines, 11 valines, 1 methionine, 3 isoleucines, 14 leucines, 1 tyrosine, 1 phenylalanine, 42 lysines, 15 arginines and a calculated molecular weight of 22,059 disregarding the post-translational acetylation of the amino-terminal alanine. The protein shows typical H1 domains with basic amino- and carboxyl-terminal regions separated by a conserved, presumably globular, core sequence. The core region is very homologous to the highly conserved core sequence found in somatic mammalian H1 histones but does differ from this sequence in 15 places. Accordingly, it may be appropriate to consider H1t as new variant category. The carboxyl-terminal half of H1t is distinguished from the standard somatic family by being somewhat shorter and by the presence of 10 arginine residues. In contrast to many H1 proteins, the carboxyl-terminal region of H1t does not show an obvious pattern of peptide repeats.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Neonatal toxicity in mice associated with the Ahb allele following transplacental exposure to 3-methylcholanthrene.

This study was conducted to determine if the Ah genotype in mice could influence the incidence of neonatal mortality following maternal exposure to 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC). Male F1 hybrids (Ahb/Ahd) produced from a cross of C57BL/6J and DBA/2J were backcrossed to DBA/2J females. This backcross mating resulted in noninducible pregnant mice (Ahd/Ahd) containing litters with a 1:1 ratio of AHH-inducible (Ahb/Ahd) and noninducible (Ahd/Ahd) fetuses. Dams were exposed by the oral route to 3-MC in corn oil at doses of 7, 21, or 63 mg/kg/day on Days 15, 16, and 17 of pregnancy, or to the positive control agent urethane at 1 mg/g ip on Day 17. The phenotype of surviving offspring was determined by zoxazolamine paralysis time and hepatic aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity measurements. Dose-related responses in all 3-MC treatment groups were obtained in measures of neonatal toxicity, i.e., number of litters surviving to term, litter size at birth, survival to weaning, and weight gain to 13 weeks of age. Correlation of the Ah phenotype with the neonatal toxicity data indicated that genetically responsive offspring had higher levels of neonatal toxicity than nonresponsive offspring within the same exposure groups. Thus, when fetuses are exposed in the same maternal environment to 3-MC, genetic differences in Ah genotype may influence the susceptibility to neonatal toxicity.

Administration, Oral↗

Lung tumorigenesis and hyperplasia in offspring associated with the Ahd allele following in utero exposure to 3-methylcholanthrene.

This study was conducted to determine if the Ah genotype could influence the incidence of tumorigenesis in offspring exposed to 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) during the fetal period. Male F1 hybrids (Ahb/Ahd) were backcrossed to Ahd/Ahd females, resulting in pregnant mice containing litters with a 1:1 ratio of Ahb/Ahd (AHH-inducible) and Ahd/Ahd (AHH-noninducible) fetuses. Dams were exposed by gavage to corn oil or to 3-MC at 7, 21, or 63 mg/kg on Days 15, 16, and 17 of gestation, or to the positive control urethane at 1 mg/g ip on Day 17. The phenotype of surviving offspring was determined by hepatic aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity. The lung was the major site of neoplastic involvement in adult offspring 6 months after in utero exposure to 3-MC. Dose-related responses in all 3-MC treatment groups were obtained for percent nodule-bearing animals, percentage adenoma-bearing animals, mean number of nodules per animal, mean nodular size per animal, and diffuse bronchiolar hyperplasia. Correlation of Ah phenotype with adult tumorigenesis indicated that genetically nonresponsive (Ahd/Ahd) offspring had a higher incidence of nodules, adenomas, and diffuse bronchiolar hyperplasia than responsive offspring within the same treatment group. Thus, when fetuses are exposed in the same maternal environment to 3-MC, genetic differences in Ah genotype may influence susceptibility to transplacental carcinogenesis.

Alleles↗

The eighth component of human complement. Purification and physicochemical characterization of its unusual subunit structure.

The eighth component of human complement (C8) has been purified in high yield from Cohn Fraction III and characterized with regard to its physicochemical properties and subunit structure. The purified product was found to be similar to functional C8 isolated from plasma or serum. Human C8 possesses a molecular weight of 151,000 and is composed of a 1:1:1 ratio of three nonidentical subunits: alpha (Mr = 64,000), beta (Mr = 64,000), and gamma (Mr = 22,000). These subunits occur as a covalently linked alpha-gamma dimer which is noncovalently associated with beta. After purification and characterization of alpha, beta, and gamma, each was found to possess different amino acid compositions and NH2-terminal sequences. Both alpha and beta subunits contain similar but exceptionally high percentages of hydrophobic aromatic amino acids. As measured by circular dichroism, the secondary structure of C8 contains 12% alpha-helix, 24% beta structure, and 64% unordered structure, values typical of globular proteins. Complete secondary structure, as well as hemolytic activity, can be recovered after exposure to 6 M guanidinium hydrochloride or 8 M urea. The alpha-gamma and beta subunits were dissociated and isolated in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and after removal of detergent, neither was found to possess independent hemolytic activity. Significantly, activity equivalent to that of native C8 was generated when alpha-gamma and beta were recombined in an equimolar ratio. These results indicate that C8 is an atypical serum protein with regard to both its subunit structure and denaturation characteristics.

Amino Acids↗

Evaluation of teratogenicity and behavioral toxicity with inhalation exposure of maternal rats to trichloroethylene.

Female rats were exposed by inhalation to trichloroethylene (TCE) vapors at a concentration of 1800 +/- 200 ppm to determine whether exposure before mating and during pregnancy is more detrimental to reproductive outcome than exposure either before mating alone or during pregnancy alone. Four treatment groups were utilized in a two by two factorial design: exposure to TCE for 2 weeks before mating and during the first 20 days of pregnancy; TCE before mating and filtered air during pregnancy; filtered air before mating and TCE during pregnancy; and filtered air before and during pregnancy. Significant elevations in skeletal and soft tissue anomalies, indicative of developmental delay in maturation rather than teratogenesis, were observed in the group exposed during pregnancy alone. The mixed function oxidase enzymes, ethoxycoumarin and ethoxyresorufin, indicative of cytochrome P-450 and P-448 activities, respectively, were measured in maternal and fetal livers, as well as livers of non-pregnant females, and showed variable levels of activity not uniformly related to treatment or pregnancy. Behavioral evaluation of offspring indicated a lack of treatment effect in tests of general activity levels at 10, 20 and 100 days of age. However, a reduction in postnatal body weights was seen in offspring from mothers with pregestational exposure. No results indicative of treatment-related maternal toxicity, embryotoxicity, severe teratogenicity or significant behavioral deficits were obtained in any of the treatment groups.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Rat and rabbit oral developmental toxicology studies with two perfluorinated compounds.

Developmental toxicology (teratology) studies were done on two perfluorinated compounds-perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and 2-(N-ethylperfluorooctanesulfonamido)ethyl alcohol (N-EtFOSE) in rats and rabbits. Dose selection for these oral developmental toxicity studies were based upon dose-range study results. Dose levels of 0, 1, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg/day were used for the rat N-EtFOSE study, and dose levels of 0, 0.1, 1.0, 2.5, and 3.75 mg/kg/day were used for both the PFOS and the N-EtFOSE rabbit studies. Although no compound-related deaths occurred in the dosed pregnant females on the developmental toxicity studies, maternal toxicity (reduced body weight gain and feed consumption) was present at higher dose levels in all three studies. At high maternally toxic doses, associated effects occurred in the conceptuses--increased abortions in PFOS and N-EtFOSE rabbits, reduced fetal weights in N-EtFOSE rats and PFOS rabbits, and increased late resorptions in N-EtFOSE rabbits. Detailed external gross, soft tissue, and skeletal fetal examinations failed to reveal any compound-related malformations in either species. Similar results, that is, only effects associated with maternal toxicity, had been found in previously conducted PFOS rat developmental toxicity studies. It was concluded that these perfluorinated compounds were not selective developmental toxicants in either rats or rabbits.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Two-generation reproduction study of ammonium perchlorate in drinking water in rats evaluates thyroid toxicity.

Perchlorate is an inorganic ion that has recently been detected in drinking water supplies throughout the country, but little is known about its effects on reproductive function. This two-generation reproductive study examines the effects of ammonium perchlorate on the male and female reproductive systems in rats, and on the growth and development of offspring. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats (30/sex/group) were given continuous access to ammonium perchlorate in their drinking water at doses of 0, 0.3, 3.0, and 30.0 mg/kg-day. F1 generation rats were given the same ammonium perchlorate doses as their respective P1 generation sires and dams beginning at weaning and continuing through the day of sacrifice. Standard reproductive parameters were evaluated; blood was collected for determination of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) levels. Histopathological examination was conducted on major tissues, including the thyroid. No significant changes in developmental parameters were observed. In the F1 generation adult rats, relative thyroid weights were significantly increased in all dose groups for female rats and in the 3.0 and 30.0 mg/kg-day dose groups for male rats. Histopathologic changes in the thyroid consisted of hypertrophy and hyperplasia that increased in incidence and severity in a dose-related manner. Dose-related, statistically significant changes in TSH and T4 or T3 occurred at doses higher than those that resulted in changes in thyroid weight and thyroid histopathology, 30 mg/kg-day. Thus, perchlorate is not a reproductive toxicant in rats when administered in the drinking water at doses up to 30 mg/kg-day, but it can affect the thyroid at doses > or =3 mg/kg-day. Based on these findings, 0.3 mg/kg-day is identified to be the no-observable-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for this study.

Animals↗

Oral (drinking water) developmental toxicity study of ammonium perchlorate in New Zealand White rabbits.

This developmental toxicity study was conducted to evaluate the embryo-fetal toxicity and teratogenic potential of ammonium perchlorate in New Zealand White [Hra:(NZW)SPF] rabbits. Pregnant rabbits were given continual access to ammonium perchlorate in drinking water at target doses of 0, 0.1, 1.0, 10.0, 30.0, and 100.0 mg/kg-day on gestation days 6 through 28. The actual consumed doses in the study were 0, 0.1, 0.9, 10.4, 30.3, and 102.3 mg/kg-day. The rabbits were sacrificed on gestation day 29, and fetuses were examined for developmental alterations. In addition, blood was collected from does for determination of serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) levels and the thyroid was subjected to histopathologic examination. No maternal deaths were attributed to perchlorate exposure. Ammonium perchlorate as high as 100.0 mg/kg-day did not affect caesarean sectioning or litter parameters studied, and all values were found to be within the historical ranges of the laboratory. The litter averages for corpora lutea, implantations, litter sizes, live and dead fetuses, percent dead or resorbed conceptuses, and fetal body weights were comparable and also did not differ significantly in the six dose groups. All placentae appeared normal and no dam had a litter consisting of only resorbed conceptuses. The maternal thyroid was the target organ for ammonium perchlorate in this study. Increased incidence of thyroid follicular hypertrophy was observed in does treated with > or =10 mg/kg-day perchlorate and significantly decreased T4 was observed in does treated with > or =30 mg/kg-day. Based on these data, the maternal no-observable-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for ammonium perchlorate was 1.0 mg/kg-day. The developmental NOAEL for ammonium perchlorate was found to be 100.0 mg/kg-day for rabbits.

Animals↗

Oral (drinking water) developmental toxicity studies of bromodichloromethane (BDCM) in rats and rabbits.

Crl:CD(SD)IGS BR VAF/Plus (Crl SD) rats and Hra(NZW) SPF rabbits were tested for potential developmental toxicity from bromodichloromethane (BDCM) provided continuously in the drinking water during gestation (gestation days [GDs] 6 to 21 in rats and GDs 6 to 29 in rabbits). Concentrations of 0, 50, 150, 450, or 900 ppm of BDCM were used for rats; 0, 15, 150, 450, or 900 ppm were used for rabbits (in dose range-finding studies, 1350 ppm was excessively maternotoxic to both species). Investigated maternal parameters included viability, clinical signs, water and feed consumption, and body weights. Maternal gross lesions, gravid uterine weights, abnormal placentas, and numbers of corpora lutea, implantation sites, live and dead fetuses, and early and late resorptions were observed at time of Caesarean sectioning (GD 21 in rats; GD 29 in rabbits). Body weights, sex ratios, and morphological abnormalities (external, soft tissue, and skeletal) were noted in the fetuses. Mean consumed doses of BDCM were calculated to be 0, 2.2, 18.4, 45.0, or 82.0 mg/kg/day for the rats, and 0, 1.4, 13.4, 35.6, or 55.3 mg/kg/day for the rabbits (approximate human intake is 0.8 microg/kg/day [0.0008 mg/kg/day] in adults). In pregnant rats, toxicologically important, statistically significant effects included reduced absolute (g/day) and relative (g/kg/day) water consumption values at > or =50 ppm (2.2 mg/kg/day) and reduced body weight gains (also when corrected for gravid uterine weight) and absolute (g/day) and relative (g/kg/day) feed consumption values at >450 ppm (45.0 mg/kg/day). These parameters were also significantly reduced at > or =450 ppm (35.6 mg/kg/day) in pregnant rabbits (significant weight loss occurred in the rabbits at 900 ppm, i.e., 55.3 mg/kg/day). Thus, the maternal no-observable-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for BDCM was 150 ppm, i.e., 18.4 and 13.4 mg/kg/day in rats and rabbits, respectively. No adverse effects on embryofetal viability, growth, sex ratio, gross external, soft tissue, or skeletal morphology occurred at 900 ppm in rats or rabbits. Minimal delays in the ossification of forepaw phalanges and hindpaw metatarsals and phalanges occurred in rat fetuses at 900 ppm; delays were considered marginal, reversible, and associated with severely reduced maternal weight gain. Therefore, the developmental NOAEL for rats was 450 ppm (45.0 mg/kg/day), whereas in rabbits it was 900 ppm (55.3 mg/kg/day). These NOAELs are 56,250 and 69,120 times the human adult exposure level of 0.0008 mg/kg/day, respectively. Based on the results of these studies, BDCM should not be identified as a risk to development of human conceptuses.

Administration, Oral↗

Biodisposition of dibromoacetic acid (DBA) and bromodichloromethane (BDCM) administered to rats and rabbits in drinking water during range-finding reproduction and developmental toxicity studies.

Dibromoacetic acid (DBA) and bromodichloromethane (BDCM), by-products of chlorine disinfection of water, were provided in drinking water in range-finding reproductive/developmental toxicity studies (rats) and a developmental toxicity study (BDCM) in rabbits. Studies included absorption and biodisposition of DBA and BDCM, including passage into placentas, amniotic fluid, fetuses (rats and rabbits), or milk (rats). The DBA and BDCM range-finding reproductive/developmental toxicity studies each included 50 Sprague-Dawley rats/sex/group. DBA (0, 125, 250, 500, or 1000 ppm) or BDCM (0, 50, 150, 450, or 1350 ppm) was provided in drinking water 14 days premating through gestation and lactation (63 to 70 days). The developmental toxicity range-finding study included 25 time-mated New Zealand white rabbits/group given 0, 50, 150, 450, or 1350 ppm BDCM in drinking water on gestation days (GDs) 6 through 29. Satellite groups (6 male, 17 female rats/group/study and 4 rabbits/group) were used for bioanalytical sampling. Rats and rabbits had exposure-related reduced water consumption caused by apparent taste aversion to DBA or BDCM, especially in the parental animals at the two highest exposure levels (500 and 1000 ppm DBA; 450 and 1350 ppm BDCM). Female rats consumed slightly higher mg/kg/day doses of DBA than male rats, especially during gestation and lactation; weanling rats consumed the highest mg/kg/day doses. DBA produced detectable and quantifiable concentrations in plasma, placentas, amniotic fluid, and milk. Plasma samples confirmed that rats drink predominately during the dark; this drinking pattern, not accumulation, produced detectable plasma concentrations for 18 to 24 hours/day. No quantifiable concentrations of BDCM occurred in plasma, placentas, amniotic fluid, or milk, suggesting that BDCM is rapidly degraded or metabolized in vivo. DBA (500 and 1000 ppm, rats) and BDCM (450 and 1350 ppm, rats and rabbits) produced secondary toxicity in the parental generation by reducing water consumption, which caused severe exposure-related apparent dehydration, reduced feed intake and weight gain. Reproductive and developmental parameters were essentially unaffected (mating possibly reduced [DBA at 1000 ppm]; exposure-related decreases in body weights of pups secondary to reduced water and feed consumption [DBA at 250, 500, and 1000 ppm; BDCM at 150, 450, and 1350 ppm]). No effects on development of rabbit fetuses occurred at BDCM concentrations as high as 1350 ppm. Results from these preliminary studies, in which DBA and BDCM were provided in the drinking water at concentrations thousands of times higher than those to which humans are exposed, suggest that neither DBA nor BDCM are reproductive/developmental risks for humans.

Acetates↗

Oral (drinking water) two-generation reproductive toxicity study of bromodichloromethane (BDCM) in rats.

Bromodichloromethane (BDCM) was tested for reproductive toxicity in a two-generation study in CRL SD rats. Thirty rats/sex/ group/generation were continuously provided BDCM in drinking water at 0 (control carrier, reverse osmosis membrane-processed water), 50,150, and 450 ppm (0, 4.1 to 12.6, 11.6 to 40.2, and 29.5 to 109.0 mg/kg/day, respectively). Adult human intake approximates 0.8 microg/kg/day (0.0008 mg/kg/day). P and F1 rats were observed for general toxicity (viability, clinical signs, water and feed consumption, body weights, organ weights [also three weanling Fl and F2 pups/sex/litter], histopathology [10/sex, 0- and 450-ppm exposure groups]) and reproduction (mating, fertility, abortions, premature deliveries, durations of gestation, litter sizes, sex ratios, viabilities, maternal behaviors, reproductive organ weights [also three weanling Fl and F2 pups/sex/ litter], sperm parameters, and implantations. F1 rats were evaluated for age at vaginal patency or preputial separation. Ten P and F1 rats/sex from the 0- and 450-ppm exposure groups and rats at 50 and 150 ppm with reduced fertility were evaluated for histopathology (gross lesions, testes, intact epididymis, all F1 dams for number of primordial follicles). Developmental parameters in offspring included implantation and pup numbers, sexes, viabilities, body weights, gross external alterations, and reproductive parameters (Fl adults). Toxicologically important, statistically significant effects at 150 and/or 450 ppm included mortality and clinical signs associated with reduced absolute and relative water consumption, reduced body weights and weight gains, and reduced absolute and relative feed consumption (P and F1 rats). Significantly reduced body weights at 150 and 450 ppm were associated with reduced organ weights and increased organ weight ratios (% body and/or brain weight). Histopathology did not identify abnormalities. Small delays in sexual maturation (preputial separation, vaginal patency) and more Fl rats with prolonged diestrus were also attributable to severely reduced pup body weights. Mating, fertility, sperm parameters, and primordial ovarian follicular counts were unaffected. The no-observable-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) and the reproductive and developmental NOAELs for BDCM were at least 50 ppm (4.1 to 12.6 mg/kg/day), 5125 to 15,750 times the human adult exposure level, if delayed sexual maturational associated with severely reduced body weights is considered reproductive toxicity. If considered general toxicity, reproductive and developmental NOAELs for BDCM are greater than 450 ppm (29.5 to 109.0 mg/kg/day), or 36,875 to 136,250 times the human adult exposure level. Regardless, these data indicate that BDCM should not be identified as a risk to human reproductive performance or development of human conceptuses.

Administration, Oral↗

Oral (drinking water) two-generation reproductive toxicity study of dibromoacetic acid (DBA) in rats.

In a two-generation study of dibromoacetic acid (DBA), Crl SD rats (30 rats/sex/group/generation) were provided DBA in drinking water at 0 (reverse osmosis-deionized water), 50, 250, and 650 ppm (0, 4.4 to 11.6, 22.4 to 55.6, and 52.4 to 132.0 mg/kg/day, respectively; human intake approximates 0.1 microg/kg/day [0.0001 mg/kg/day]). Observations included viability, clinical signs, water and feed consumption, body and organ weights, histopathology, and reproductive parameters (mating, fertility, abortions, premature deliveries, durations of gestation, litter sizes, sex ratios and viabilities, maternal behaviors, reproductive organ weights, sperm parameters and implantation sites, sexual maturation). Histopathological evaluations were performed on at least 10 P and F1 rats/sex at 0 and 650 ppm (gross lesions, testes, intact epididymis; 10 F1 dams at 0, 250, and 650 ppm for primordial follicles). Developmental observations included implantations, pup numbers, sexes, viabilities, body weights, morphology, and reproductive performance. At 50 ppm and higher, both sexes and generations had increased absolute and relative liver and kidneys weights, and female rats in both generations had reduced absolute and relative adrenal weights; adrenal changes were probably associated with physiological changes in water balance. The livers and kidneys (10/sex/group/generation) had no histopathological changes. Other minimal effects at 50 ppm were reduced water consumption and a transient reduction in body weight. At 250 and 650 ppm, DBA reduced parental water consumption, body weight gains, body weights, feed consumption, and pup body weights. P and F1 generation male rats at 250 and 650 ppm had altered sperm production (retained step 19 spermatids in stages IX and X tubules sometimes associated with residual bodies) and some epididymal tubule changes (increased amounts of exfoliated spermatogenic cells/residual bodies in epididymal tubules, atrophy, and hypospermia), although inconsistently and at much lower incidences. Unilateral abnormalities of the epididymis (small or absent epididymis) at 650 ppm in four F1 generation male rats were considered reproductive tract malformations. The no-observable-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) and reproductive and developmental NOAELs for DBA were at least 50 ppm (4.5 to 11.6 mg/kg/day), 45,000 to 116,000 times the human adult exposure level. Reproductive and developmental effects did not occur in female rats exposed to DBA concentrations as high as 650 ppm. Based on the high multiples of human exposure required to produce effects in male rats, DBA should not be identified as a human reproductive or developmental risk.

Acetates↗