Reaction products of N-methyldiethanolamine and Boric Acid (1:1.5)

Toxicity to reproduction

Administrative data

Endpoint:

screening for reproductive / developmental toxicity

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

19 April to 24 June, 2018

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Data source

Reference

Reference 1

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

2018

Reference 2

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

2018

Report date:

2018

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 422 (Combined Repeated Dose Toxicity Study with the Reproduction / Developmental Toxicity Screening Test)

Version / remarks:

2016

Deviations:

yes

Remarks:

4 weeks acclimation instead of 2; chemical analysis and prothrombin analysis software were different; vaginal smear not taken from 1 control female sacrificed early; 3 females with total litter loss were killed after 6-14 days not immediately

GLP compliance:

yes

Limit test:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Reaction products of N-methyldiethanolamine and Boric Acid (1:1.5)

EC Number:

947-350-9

Molecular formula:

N.A. (UVCB)

IUPAC Name:

Reaction products of N-methyldiethanolamine and Boric Acid (1:1.5)

Test material form:

liquid: viscous

Test animals

Species:

rat

Strain:

Sprague-Dawley

Details on species / strain selection:

The Sprague Dawley rat was the species and strain of choice because it is accepted by many regulatory authorities and because there are ample experience and background data on this species and strain.

Sex:

male/female

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

TEST ANIMALS
- Source: Charles River Italia S.p.A., Calco, Lecco, Italy
- Females: nulliparous, virgin and non-pregnant at study commencement
- Age at study initiation: 7 to 8 weeks old
- Weight at study initiation: males: 217 to 238 g; females: 220 to 234 g
- Fasting period before study: no
- Housing, pre-mating period: groups of 5 animals of one sex in clear polysulfone solid bottomed cages measuring 59.5 × 38.0 × 20.0 cm (Techniplast Gazzada S.a.r.l., Buguggiate (VA), Italy); nesting material was provided inside suitable bedding bags and changed at least twice a week
- Housing, during mating: one male and one female in clear polysulfone cages measuring 42.5 × 26.6 × 18.5 cm with a stainless steel mesh lid and floor (Techniplast – Gazzada S.a.r.l., Buguggiate (VA), Italy); each cage tray held absorbent material which was inspected and changed daily
- Housing, after mating: males: recaged as they were prior to mating; females: individual solid bottomed cages for the gestation period, birth and lactation periods (measuring 42.5 × 26.6 × 18.5 cm); nesting material was provided inside suitable bedding bags; suitable nesting material (Scobis 0 Mucedola) was provided as necessary and changed at least 2 times a week
- Diet: ad libitum; a commercially available laboratory rodent diet (4 RF 21, Mucedola S.r.l., Via G. Galilei, 4, 20019 Settimo Milane2se (MI), Italy); certificates and quality analysis included in report
- Water: ad libitum , via water bottles, except in the case of urinalysis investigations
- Acclimation period: four weeks, from time of arrival until beginning of treatment

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
- Temperature: 22 °C ± 2 °C
- Humidity: 55 % ± 15 %
- Air changes: 15 to 20 per hour
- Photoperiod (hrs dark / hrs light): 12/12

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:

oral: gavage

Vehicle:

water

Remarks:

softened

Details on exposure:

PREPARATION OF DOSING SOLUTIONS
- The required amount of test item was dissolved in the vehicle (softened water) in order to create concentrations of 10, 30 and 80 mg/ml. The formulations were prepared daily. Concentrations were calculated and expressed in terms of test item as supplied.

VEHICLE
- Volume of vehicle/test item: 10 ml/kg of body weight based on most recently recorded body weight

Details on mating procedure:

- M/F ratio per cage: monogamous (1 male and 1 female per cage) during mating period
- Length of cohabitation: vaginal smears were taken from the day after the start of pairing until positive identification of copulation; the female was paired with the same male until positive identification of copulation occurred
- Proof of pregnancy: spermidentification, vaginal plug in situ or copulation plug found on the cage tray; referred to as day 0 of pregnancy
- Further matings after two unsuccessful attempts: no; pairs were maintained together until successful copulation observed
- After successful mating each pregnant female was caged: individually in solid bottomed cages measuring 42.5 × 26.6 × 18.5 cm during the gestation period; then together with pups during birth and lactation periods

Analytical verification of doses or concentrations:

yes

Details on analytical verification of doses or concentrations:

Analysis was performed in a separate study in order to validate the analytical method and the formulation procedure and to verify the stability of the formulations (RTC Study no. A3095). Samples of the formulations prepared during the current study (the first and the last week of treatment) were analysed to check the concentrations. Chemical analysis was carried out by the Analytical Chemistry Department at RTC. The software used for this activity was Analyst 1.6.2. Results of formulation analyses were within the acceptability limits (90-110%), with the exception of Group 2 during the last week. Analysis was successfully repeated and results were within the acceptability limits.

Duration of treatment / exposure:

- males: 34 days in total, from two weeks prior to pairing until day before necropsy, after the mating of all females
- females: between 50 and 60 days in total; from two weeks prior to pairing until day 13 post-partum

Frequency of treatment:

daily

Details on study schedule:

- 6 weeks prior to mating: animals arrived at testing facility, commenced acclimation period (4 weeks)
- 2 weeks prior to mating: dosing began in male and female animals
- mating period: usually 2 to 3 days
- gestation period: from day of successful mating (day 0 post coitum) until day of parturition (day 0 post partum), usually 22 days; females which did not give birth after 25 days post coitum were sacrificed shortly after
- post partum period: from day of parturition (day 0 post partum) until sacrifice (day 14 post partum)

Doses / concentrations

Doses / concentrations 1

Dose / conc.:

0 mg/kg bw/day (nominal)

Remarks:

negative control group

Doses / concentrations 2

Dose / conc.:

100 mg/kg bw/day (nominal)

Remarks:

low dose group

Doses / concentrations 3

Dose / conc.:

300 mg/kg bw/day (nominal)

Remarks:

intermediate dose group

Doses / concentrations 4

Dose / conc.:

800 mg/kg bw/day (nominal)

Remarks:

high dose group

No. of animals per sex per dose:

10 males and 10 females per dose group and control group

Control animals:

yes, concurrent vehicle

Details on study design:

- Dose selection rationale: dose levels were selected in consultation with the Sponsor, based on information from a preliminary, non-GLP compliant study (RTC no. E0244).
- Rationale for animal assignment: on the day of allocation all animals were weighed. Animals at the extremes of the weight distribution and animals showing irregular cycle were excluded to leave the required number of animals. The rats were allocated to groups by computerised stratified randomisation to give approximately equal initial group mean body weights. Individuals were uniquely identified within the study by sex, tattoo on the hind feet and ear notch and housed 5 animals of one sex per cage. The cages were identified by a label recording the study number, animal numbers and details of treatment. The arrangement of cages in batteries was such that cages from each group were distributed to minimise possible environmental effects. No replacements occurred after the first dose was administered.
- Route of exposure: the test item was administered orally, by gavage. The oral route was selected as it is a possible route of exposure of the test item in man.

Examinations

Parental animals: Observations and examinations:

MORTALITY AND CAGE SIDE OBSERVATIONS
- Time schedule: daily; all animals were checked early in each working day and again in the afternoon; at weekends and Public Holidays a similar procedure was followed except that the final check was carried out at approximately mid-day
- Severely debilitated animals were observed carefully; animals judged to be in extremis were killed
- A complete necropsy was performed as detailed below

DETAILED CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS
- Time schedule: once before commencement of treatment and at least once daily during the study, each animal was observed and any clinical signs recorded. Observations were performed approximately at the same time interval each day, the interval was selected taking into consideration the presence of post-dose reactions. All observations were recorded for individual animals.
- Once before commencement of treatment and once a week thereafter, each animal was given a detailed clinical examination. Each animal was removed from the home cage and observed in an open arena. The tests included observation of changes in gait and posture, reactivity to handling, presence of clonic or tonic movements, stereotypies or bizarre behaviour and effects on the autonomic nervous system (e.g. lachrymation, piloerection, pupil size, unusual respiratory pattern). All observations were recorded for individual animals.
- Clinical observations checked in Table 1: Clinical observations according to the Functional Observation Battery Tests, in "Other information on materials and methods" were performed. All observed parameters, with the exception of the pre-dose observations, are reported in a group incidence table (Table 2: Clinical signs of females - group incidence, in "Other information on results"). Individual data were not included in the report. Data were reported until Week 5 of study for males and Week 7 of study for females. All other data were not tabulated in the report but archived together with all raw data.

BODY WEIGHT
- Time schedule for examinations: males: weighed weekly from allocation to termination; females: weighed weekly from allocation to positive identification of mating and on gestation days 0, 7, 14 and 20. Females which did not give birth were also weighed just prior to necropsy (data not presented in the report but archived with study raw data). Dams were also weighed on Days 1, 4, 7 and 13 post partum and just prior to necropsy.

FOOD CONSUMPTION
- The weight of food consumed by each cage of males and females was recorded weekly during the pre-mating period starting from Day 1 of dosing. Individual food consumption for the females was measured on gestation Days 7, 14 and 20 post coitum starting from Day 0 post coitum and on Days 7 and 13 post partum starting from Day 1 post partum.

CLINICAL PATHOLOGY INVESTIGATIONS
- Blood collection was performed for hormone determination fromall animals at termination under conditions of food deprivation.
- Blood samples for haematology, clinical chemistry and coagulation were collected by random selection from 5 males and 5 females (females with viable litters if possible) under condition of food deprivation. No samples were taken for animals sacrificed for humane reasons.

- Males: blood samples for haematological and biochemical investigations and hormone determination were collected under isofluorane anaesthesia from the retro-orbital sinus. Blood samples for coagulation test (food available) were collected at necropsy from the vena cava under isofluorane anaesthesia. The order of collection was equalised between groups. Blood samples taken from male nos. X0930026 and X0930078 were unsuitable for haematological investigations (clotting blood).
- Females: as a part of the sacrificial procedure, blood samples for all determinations were withdrawn from the abdominal vena cava under isofluorane anaesthesia. The order of collection was equalised between groups.

The blood samples collected were divided into tubes as follows:
- EDTA anticoagulant for haematological investigations
- Heparin anticoagulant for biochemical tests
- Citrate anticoagulant for coagulation tests
- No anticoagulant for hormone assay

HAEMATOLOGY
- Analysed by Siemens Advia 120: haematocrit, haemoglobin, red blood cell count, reticulocyte count, mean red blood cell volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, white blood cell count, differential leucocyte count (neutrophils, lymphocites, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, large unstained cells), and platelets

COAGULATION
- Using Instrumentation Laboratory ACL Elite Pro: prothrombin time

CLINICAL CHEMISTRY
- Using Siemens Advia 1200: alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, urea, creatinine, glucose, triglycerides, bile acids, total bilirubin, total cholesterol, total protein, albumin, globulin, A/G Ratio, sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride and inorganic phosphorus

URINALYSIS
- Urinalyses was performed only randomly selected males, using Menarini AUTION MAX 4280
- During the last week of treatment, individual overnight urine samples were also collected from the same animals selected for clinical pathology investigations (5 males/group), randomly selected. Before starting urine collection water bottles were removed from each cage and each animal received approximately 10 ml/kg of drinking water by gavage, in order to obtain urine samples suitable for analysis.
- The measurements performed on urine samples are: appearance, volume, specific gravity, pH, protein, glucose, ketones, bilirubin, urobilinogen, and blood.
- The sediment, obtained from centrifugation at approximately 3000 rpm for 10 minutes, was examined microscopically for: epithelial cells, leucocytes, erythrocytes, crystals, spermatozoa and precursors, and other abnormal components.

BLOOD COLLECTION AND THYROID HORMONE DETERMINATION (T3, T4 AND TSH)
- Samples were taken from all parental males from all groups
- Samples were transferred into tubes containing no anticoagulant and centrifuged at room temperature. The serum obtained was divided in two aliquots and stored at -80°C pending analysis
- Samples were assayed to determine the serum levels of Total triiodothyronine (total T3), Total thyroxine (total T4) and Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) by a multiplex assay, using LuminexMagpix system and the MILLIPLEX MAP Rat ThyroidMagnetic Bead Panel kit (MerkMillipore, cat. no. RTHYMAG-30K)

Oestrous cyclicity (parental animals):

VAGINAL SMEARS AND OESTROUS CYCLE
- Stock females:
Oestrous cycle was monitored by vaginal smears in all stock females for at least 2 weeks before allocation, in order to exclude from the study females with irregular cycles. These data are not tabulated in this report but will be archived with the raw data.
- Females allocated to groups:
Vaginal smears were taken in the morning from Day 1 of dosing up to positive identification of mating. The vaginal smear data were examined to determine a) anomalies of the oestrous cycle and b) the pre-coital interval (i.e., the number of nights paired prior to the detection of mating). Vaginal smears were also taken from all females, with the exception of female no. X0930037, before despatch to necropsy. No vaginal smears were taken from female no. X0930013 sacrificed for humane reasons.

Litter observations:

PUP IDENTIFICATION, WEIGHT AND OBSERVATIONS
- As soon as possible after parturition was considered complete (Day 0 post partum), all pups (live and dead) were counted, sex was determined and live pups were identified.
- Live pups were individually weighed on Days 1, 4 and 13 post partum.
- Observations were performed once daily for all litters.
- Pups killed or dying during the lactation period were weighed before despatch to necropsy.
- After culling, all pups were sacrificed with the dams on Day 14 post partum.

CULLING AND PUP SELECTION FOR BLOOD COLLECTION (SERUM HORMONE) AT NECROPSY
- On Day 4 post partum, the size of each litter was adjusted by eliminating extra pups by random selection to yield, as nearly as possible, four pups per sex per litter; partial adjustment (for example, 5 males and 3 females) was acceptable
- At least one culled male and one culled female were selected for hormone determination
- If litters did not have extra pups to be culled (ie: litters with 8 pups or less), at least 1 female pup was sacrificed for hormone determination in order to retain more male pups for nipple retention on Day 14 post partum; however, retained female pups in each litter were not below 2; this means that for litters with 6 males and 2 females, no pups were selected for hormone determination

ANOGENITAL DISTANCE (AGD) OF PUPS
- The AGD of each pup was measured on Day 1 post partum; the AGD was normalised to the cube root of body weight collected on Day 1 post partum

NIPPLE COUNT
- On Day 13 post partum all live male pups were observed for the presence of nipple areolas: no nipple areolas were seen

BLOOD COLLECTION AND THYROID HORMONE DETERMINATION (T3, T4 AND TSH)
- Blood collection from pups on days 4 and 14 post partum: on Day 4 post partum, as part of the necropsy procedure, blood samples of approximately 0.2 ml were taken from 2 pups (1 male and 1 female, where possible)
- On Day 14 post partum, as part of the necropsy procedure, blood samples of approximately 0.5 ml were taken from 2 pups (1 male and 1 female, where possible)
- Blood samples were withdrawn under light ether anaesthesia from the heart (intracardiac puncture)
- Blood samples from different pups were pooled where necessarynecessary. The order of collection was equalised between groups
- Samples were transferred into tubes containing no anticoagulant and centrifuged at room temperature. The serum obtained was divided in two aliquots and stored at -80 °C, pending analysis
- Samples were assayed to determine the serum levels of Total triiodothyronine (total T3), Total thyroxine (total T4) and Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) by a multiplex assay, using LuminexMagpix system and the MILLIPLEX MAP Rat ThyroidMagnetic Bead Panel kit (MerkMillipore, cat. no. RTHYMAG-30K)

Postmortem examinations (parental animals):

SACRIFICE
- Parental animals and those that had completed the scheduled test period were killed by exsanguination under isofluorane anaesthesia; one animal sacrificed for humane reasons was killed with carbon dioxide
- Parental males: males were killed after the mating of all females or after at least 28 days of treatment period
- Parental females: females with live pups were killed on Day 14 post partum; the females with total litter loss were killed on the day of the occurrence of total litter loss or shortly after (within 3 days), with the exception of 3 females which were sacrificed between 6 to 14 days from the total litter loss occurrence
- The females which did not give birth were killed on post coitum Days 27-28

GROSS NECROPSY
- The clinical history of the males and females of the parental generation was studied and a detailed post mortem examination was conducted (including examination of the external surface and orifices); changes were noted, the requisite organs weighed (excluding animals sacrificed for humane reasons or found dead) and the required tissue samples preserved in fixative and processed for histopathological examination
- Parental females: all females were examined also for number of visible implantation sites (pregnant animals) and number of corpora lutea (pregnant animals); uteri of females with no visible implantations were immersed in a 20% solution of ammonium sulphide to reveal evidence of implantation

ORGAN WEIGHTS
- All parental animals completing the scheduled test period: organs indicated in Table 2: Tissue processing, in "Any other information on materials and methods", were dissected free of fat and weighed; the ratios of organ weight to body weight were calculated for each animal
- Samples of all the tissues listed in Table 2 were fixed and preserved in 10% neutral buffered formalin, except eyes, optic nerves, testes and epididymides which were fixed in Modified Davidson’s fluid and preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol

HISTOPATHOLOGY
- After dehydration and embedding in paraffin wax, sections of the tissues listed in Table 2 were cut at 5 micrometer thickness and stained with haematoxylin and eosin; in addition, the testes and epididymides were cut at 2-3 micrometer thickness and stained with Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS); the morphological evaluation of the seminiferous epithelium (staging of spermatogenic cycle) was also performed
- Clinical pathology investigations were performed on the tissues (Table 2) of the following animals:
- 5 males and 5 females randomly selected from the control group (killed at term);
- 5 high-dose group males (killed at term);
- 1 high-dose group female (one surviving female with live pups was killed at term on Day 14 post partum and subjected to clinical pathology investigations; the others as follows: one not pregnant killed on Day 28 of gestation, the other three females with total litter loss sacrificed between Day 3 and 14 post partum);
- one female (no. X0930013) killed for humane reasons during the treatment period; and
- all abnormalities in all groups

Postmortem examinations (offspring):

SACRIFICE
- Pups killed for humane reasons or those that had completed the scheduled test period (Day 4 or Day 14 post partum) were euthanised by intraperitoneal injection of Thiopenthal

GROSS NECROPSY
- Pups on Day 4 post partum: all pups found dead in the cage or sacrificed for humane reasons were examined for external and internal abnormalities; all culled pups sacrificed at Day 4 post partum were subjected to an external examination; sex was determined by internal gonads inspection
- Pups on Day 14 post partum: all live pups sacrificed at Day 14 post partum were killed and examined for external abnormalities and sex confirmation by gonads inspection; all pups with abnormalities were retained in a 10% neutral buffered formalin
- Nipple retention at Day 14 post partum: no nipples/areolae were found in male pups

ORGAN WEIGTHS
- Thyroid was weighed from one male and one female from each litter (if possible the same pup selected for serum hormone determination) and preserved for possible histopathological examination; the thyroid weight was determined after fixation

Statistics:

- Standard deviations were calculated as appropriate. For variables such as body weight, food consumption, clinical pathology parameters and organ weight the significance of the differences amongst group means was assessed by Dunnett’s test or a modified t test, depending on the homogeneity of data.
- The non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance was used for the other parameters. Intergroup differences between the control and treated groups were assessed by the nonparametric version of the Williams test. The criterion for statistical significance was p < 0.05.

Reproductive indices:

Group mean values were calculated for all parameters. Data from females with total resorption or non-pregnant and from dams without live young were excluded from group mean calculations. Due to the high number (seven) of total litter loss in high dose females and considering the presence of total resorption (one) and not pregnant (one) females, this group was excluded from statistical evaluation when appropiate.

The following reproductive indices were calculated:

Males:
Copulation index* (%) = no. of males with confirmed mating / no. of males cohabitated × 100
Fertility index* (%) = no. of males which induced pregnancy / no. of males cohabitated × 100

Females:
Copulatory index* (%) = no. of females with confirmed mating / no. of females cohabitated × 100
Fertility index* (%) = no. of pregnant females / no. of females cohabitated × 100

Males and females:
Pre-coital interval = no. nights paired prior to detection of mating

Females:
Pre-implantation loss* (%): (no. of corpora lutea − no. of implantations) / no. of corpora lutea × 100
Pre-natal loss (%): (no. of visible implantations − live litter size at birth) / no. of visible implantations × 100
Pup loss at Day 0 post partum (%): (total litter size − live litter size) / total litter size × 100
Post natal loss at Day 4 post partum (before culling) (%): (live litter size at birth − live litter size at Day 4 (before culling)) / live litter size at birth × 100
Post natal loss at Day 13 post partum (after culling) (%): (live litter size on Day 4 (after culling) − live litter on Day 13) / live litter size on Day 4 (after culling) × 100
Sex ratios were calculated at birth, on Day 4 and Day 14 post partum and were presented as the percentage of males per litter.

* Developmental and reproductive toxicology: A practical Approach (second edition)

Results and discussion

Results: P0 (first parental generation)

General toxicity (P0)

Clinical signs:

effects observed, non-treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

- Males (Table 2 of "Any other information on results"): no toxicological significance was attributed to the signs seen in the few treated males with signs and symptoms: scabbing on the dorsum was occasionally seen in one male in the control group and one male in the low dose group (duration of one and two days, respectively), and swollen/damaged hindlimb was seen in one mid-dose male (five days)
- Females (Tables 3 and 4 of "Any other information on results"): no toxicologically relevant changes were seen at the daily observations in treated females. One control female showed signs of suffering, piloerection and pallor on Day 22 of gestation during delivery, so was sacrificed for humane reasons. Piloerection, pallor and staining (vagina) were seen in one female treated at 300 mg/kg/day within the first 2-5 days of the post-partum period, after that a complete recovery was observed. Few female animals from the control group and the low and mid dose groups experienced hairloss on the forelimb after mating.

Dermal irritation (if dermal study):

not examined

Mortality:

mortality observed, non-treatment-related

Description (incidence):

- Males: no male animals died before the end of the study period
- Females (Table 1 of "Any other information on results"): one control female was humanely sacrificed on Day 22 of gestation for difficulty in delivery: the dam had a total of 11 pups, of which 2 were found dead at birth and the remaining 9 were sacrificed with the dam. No milk in the stomach was recorded for pups and no macroscopic findings were seen at necropsy of the dam, whereas at histopathology inflammatory cell foci and extramedullary haemopoietis were observed in the liver.

Body weight and weight changes:

effects observed, treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

- Males (Tables 9 and 11 of "Any other information on results"): no differences were observed in treated males compared to controls during the study.
- Females (Tables 10 and 12 of "Any other information on results"): no differences were observed in treated females (all treated groups) compared to controls during the pre-mating and the gestation periods. No effects on body weight were observed during the post partum period in females in the low- and mid-dose groups compared to controls. A 24 % decrease in body weight (mean) was noted in females in the high-dose group compared to controls during the last week of the gestation period. This reduction was not attributed to maternal toxicity but considered due to foetal toxicity during the last period of pregnancy.
- A statistically significant increase in terminal body weight was observed in high-dose females only (approximately 9%) compared to controls.

Food consumption and compound intake (if feeding study):

effects observed, non-treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

- Males (Table 13 of "Any other information on results"): no effects on food consumption were observed in treated males during the pre-pairing phase
- Females (Table 14 of "Any other information on results"): no effects on food consumption were observed in treated females (all groups) during the pre-pairing and gestation phases. Slight decreases (up to 12 %) were seen in females of the low- and mid-dose groups, compared to controls, during the post partum phase.

Food efficiency:

not specified

Water consumption and compound intake (if drinking water study):

not examined

Ophthalmological findings:

not examined

Haematological findings:

effects observed, non-treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

- Males (Table 17 in "Any other information on results"): compared with controls, high-dose males showed a slight decrease in erythrocytes, haemoglobin and haematocrit (approximately 17% below controls). The severity of changes was insufficient in magnitude to represent an adverse anaemia. In addition, monocytes and eosinophils were lower than controls in many treated males. This was mostly due to the high values of some control males, therefore these differences were not considered to be of toxicological relevance.
- Females (Table 18 in "Any other information on results"): no significant differences were observed between the control group and any treatment group.
- Coagulation (Table 19 in "Any other information on results"): no changes in coagulation parameters were observed among either male or female animals.

Clinical biochemistry findings:

effects observed, treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

- Males: males in the high-dose group showed an increase in urea (42%), sodium, chloride and albumin to globulin ratio; and a decrease in cholesterol (47%) and triglycerides (36%).
- Females: the remaining female of the high-dose group showed increase of protein (15%), albumin (19%), calcium (10%) and bile acids (4.3 fold) above mean control values. A slight increase in protein and albumin was also recorded in some females of the other treated groups, showing minimal severity (2% to 7%).
- Compared with controls, fluctuations of some metabolic parameters were recorded in treated animals, mainly those receiving 800 mg/kg/day. The other statistically significant differences between control and treated animals (protein, albumin, chloride and sodium in males, alanine and aspartate aminotransferase in females) were not dose-related and/or of minimal severity, therefore they were considered to be of no toxicological relevance.

Urinalysis findings:

no effects observed

Description (incidence and severity):

No toxicologically relevant changes were observed.

Behaviour (functional findings):

no effects observed

Description (incidence and severity):

- Functional Observation Battery Tests (Tables 5 to 8 of "Any other information on results"): the evaluation of the functional observation battery tests did non indicate any relevant differences between treated groups and controls, in both sexes. Observation of treated animals at removal from the cage and in an open arena (neurotoxicity assessment) did not reveal changes attributable to the test item compared to controls. Rearing occurred in multiple male and female animals of each treatment and control group, between 4 and 30 times, for durations of betwen 1 and 5 days, however the incidence was not significant between any treatment group and the control group regarding number of times, number of animals or duration, and there was no dose-response relationship. Males and females were both found to defecate and urinate however no difference in number of times or number of animals was observed between control and treament groups and there was no dose-response relationship.

Immunological findings:

not specified

Organ weight findings including organ / body weight ratios:

effects observed, non-treatment-related

Histopathological findings: non-neoplastic:

effects observed, non-treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

- No treatment-related changes were noted in animals sacrificed at the end of the treatment period.
- The sporadic lesions such as epithelial vacuolation of the non-glandular stomach of one high-dose male, congestion of mesenteric lymph nodes in three high-dose males or hepatic vacuolation observed in control and high-dose treated females, were considered to be an expression of spontaneous and/or incidental pathology, commonly seen in this species and age.

Other effects:

effects observed, non-treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

- Motor activity, grip strength and sensory reactivity to stimuli (Tables 15 and 16 in "Any other information on results"): no relevant differences were observed in motor activity in treated animals compared to controls (both sexes). Slight decreases in grip strength were observed in treated males (second trial only), which were statistically significant in the mid- and high-dose groups and had a negative dose-response relationship. A slightly statistically significant decrease in landing foot splay (second trial only) was seen in high-dose males. These changes were not seen in treated female groups of the low- and mid-dose groups only (female high-dose group was not considered as it contained only one animal).

Reproductive function / performance (P0)

Reproductive function: oestrous cycle:

no effects observed

Description (incidence and severity):

Concerning the reproductive parameters, no treatment-related changes were found in mating performance including the pre-coital interval (number of days paired to sperm positive day) and the copulatory evidence (the positive identification of mating). The resulting copulatory index and fertility index did not show intergroup differences. (Table 25 in "Any other information on results")

Reproductive function: sperm measures:

no effects observed

Description (incidence and severity):

- Spermatogenic cycle: seminiferous tubules were evaluated with respect to their stage in the spermatogenic cycle and to the integrity of the various cell types within the different stages; regular layering in the germinal epithelium was noted.

Reproductive performance:

effects observed, treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

- Copulatory index (Table 26 in "Any other information on results"): 100 % for control group and all treatment groups for both males and females
- Fertility index (Table 26 in "Any other information on results"): 90 % for control group and all treatment groups
- Thyroid hormone determination (Table 23 in "Any other information on results"): triiodothyronine was increased in some males in the high-dose group. Mean group value was 54% above controls. Due to the absence of other related changes, this finding was considered to be of no toxicological relevance.
- Females (Table 27 in "Any other information on results"):
- Gestation period: similar in treated and control groups; all dams gave birth between Days 22 and 23 post coitum.
- Corpora lutea: similar in treated and control groups.
- Implantations: similar in treated and control groups.
- Pre-implantation loss percentage: increased in the low- and high-dose groups compared to controls (high-dose group increased by 3.5-fold).
- Live litter size: no treatment-related differences between dams in the low- and mid-dose group and controls. The high-dose group had a moderate reduction (52 %).
- Pre-natal loss percentage: a 35 % increase was seen in the mid-dose group; a 6-fold increase was seen in the high-dose group compared to controls.

Effect levels (P0)

Dose descriptor:

NOAEL

Effect level:

>= 800 mg/kg bw/day (nominal)

Based on:

test mat.

Sex:

male/female

Basis for effect level:

body weight and weight gain

clinical biochemistry

Target system / organ toxicity (P0)

Critical effects observed:

no

Results: F1 generation

General toxicity (F1)

Clinical signs:

effects observed, treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

- Pups smaller than others, cold to touch and with apparently no food intake were seen in all treated groups, with higher incidence in mid- and high-dose groups. Pups smaller than others were also seen in two control litters.
- Pallor was seen in few pups in one female each in control, low and mid-dose groups.
- No toxicological significance was attributed to hairloss (dorsum) which was seen in all pups of one low-dose and one high-dose dam, since the same sign was seen with the same incidence (one female, all pups) in the control group.

Mortality / viability:

mortality observed, treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

- Pup loss: a dose-related increase in percentage of pups lost was seen in all treatment groups. A significantly significant difference to control was seen in the high-dose group. Seven out of eight dams lost all litters within days 0 to 2 post partum.
- Total litter size and live litter size was decreased in the high-dose group at birth.
- Post natal loss of pups (%) continued to increase until day 13 post partum (after culling) in the low- and mid-dose groups (high-dose group had one surviving litter)

Body weight and weight changes:

effects observed, treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

- Statistically significant decreases in mean pup weights were observed in offspring of the mid-dose group on Days 1, 4 and/or 13 post partum.
- Decreases in mean pup weights were also seen in the 2 remaining high-dose litters on Day 1 post partum.
- A reduction in mean pup weight on Day 4 post partum, and consequently a decrease in litter weight, was also observed in offspring of the low-dose group, and was particularly evident in two litters of this group. The litter weight of one of these litters was found to be lower on Day 4 than on Day 1 post partum.

Organ weight findings including organ / body weight ratios:

no effects observed

Description (incidence and severity):

- Thyroid weight: no toxicologically relevant differences were observed in thyroid weights in pups of the low- and mid-dose groups compared to controls. High-dose group data was not available.

Gross pathological findings:

effects observed, treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

- No necropsy findings were seen in pups of the dam humanely killed, apart the fact that they had no milk in stomach.
- Autolysis of all organs in the abdominal and/or thoracic cavity was recorded in all () deceased pups in the high-dose group, almost all pups in the mid-dose group, in one pup in low dose group and in two pups in control group.
- No milk in stomach was seen in two deceased pups in low dose group.
- No findings were seen in pups sacrificed on Days 4 and 14 post partum, with the exception of hairloss (dorsum) in pups of one female from each group.

Description (incidence and severity):

- Thyroid hormone determination: a statistically significant decrease in Thyroxine was recorded in some male pups of the mid-dose group (23 % below controls). Since no changes were recorded in other hormones, this finding was considered not of toxicological relevance. The statistically significant difference of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, recorded between controls and pups of the low dose group, was not dose-related, therefore, it was considered incidental.
- Sex ratio: offspring of the high-dose group only had a marked reduction in the number of females and a corresponding higher male percentage compared to controls at birth.
- Anogenital distance: a statistically significant increase in anogenital distance measured on Day 1 post partum (up to 22%) was seen in male and female pups of the low- and mid-dose groups compared to controls. Even if these findings were statistically significant, they were not clearly dose-related and were not associated with other changes in male pups (e.g. no nipple/aerolae were recorded/retained); therefore a clear correlation of this finding with treatment could not be established.
- Nipple retention: no nipples were seen in male pups at the observation performed on Day 13 post partum, at any dose level.

Effect levels (F1)

Dose descriptor:

NOAEL

Generation:

F1

Effect level:

< 100 mg/kg bw/day (nominal)

Based on:

test mat.

Sex:

male/female

Basis for effect level:

clinical signs

mortality

body weight and weight gain

organ weights and organ / body weight ratios

gross pathology

Remarks on result:

not determinable

Remarks:

effects seen at all doses

Target system / organ toxicity (F1)

Critical effects observed:

yes

Lowest effective dose / conc.:

100 mg/kg bw/day (nominal)

System:

gastrointestinal tract

Organ:

abdominal cavity

Treatment related:

yes

Dose response relationship:

yes

Relevant for humans:

not specified

Overall reproductive toxicity

Reproductive effects observed:

yes

Lowest effective dose / conc.:

100 mg/kg bw/day (nominal)

Treatment related:

yes

Relation to other toxic effects:

reproductive effects in the absence of other toxic effects

Dose response relationship:

yes

Relevant for humans:

not specified

Any other information on results incl. tables

Table 1: Fate of females - group incidence.

Group number	1	2	3	4
Initial group size	10	10	10	10
Not pregnant	1	1	1	1
Humane kill	1	0	0	0
Total litter loss	0	0	1	7
Total resorption	0	0	0	1
With live pups on day 14 post partum	8	9	8	1

Table 2: Clinical signs of males - group incidence - day 1 pre-mating phase to day 21 after pairing.

Group number	1		2		3		4
No. animals observed	10		10		10		10
	no. animals	no. days	no. animals	no. days	no. animals	no. days	no. animals	no. days
No significant signs	10	34.9	10	34.8	10	34.0	10	35.0
Appearance
- scabs	1	1.0	1	2.0	0	0.0	0	0.0
- swelling	0	0.0	0	0.0	1	5.0	0	0.0
- damaged hindlimb	0	0.0	0	0.0	1	5.0	0	0.0

Table 3: Clinical signs of females - group incidence - days 1 to 15 pre-mating.

Group number	1		2		3		4
No. animals observed	10		10		10		10
	no. animals	no. days	no. animals	no. days	no. animals	no. days	no. animals	no. days
No significant signs	10	15.0	10	14.8	10	15.0	10	15.0
Eye/Ear/Mouth
- tooth/teeth cut	0	0.0	1	2.0	0	0.0	0	0.0

Table 4: Clinical signs of females post coitum and post partum periods - group incidence (day 0 gestation to day 14 post partum).

Group number	1		2		3		4
No. animals observed	10		10		10		10
	no. animals	no. days	no. animals	no. days	no. animals	no. days	no. animals	no. days
Appearance
- staining	0	0.0	0	0.0	1	10.0	0	0.0
- piloerection	1	10.0	0	0.0	1	10.0	0	0.0
- hair loss	2	20.0	1	10.0	1	10.0	0	0.0
Respiratory/Cardiovascular
- pale	1	10.0	0	0.0	1	10.0	0	0.0

Table 5: Clinical observations during treatment - behavioural examination - removal of animals from the home cage - group incidence - males.

Group number	1		2		3		4
No. animals observed	10		10		10		10
	no. animals	no. days	no. animals	no. days	no. animals	no. days	no. animals	no. days
Removal
- easy	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0
Handling Reactivity
- normal	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0
Lachrymation
- absent	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0
Palpebral Closure
- absent	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0
Salivation
- absent	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0
Piloerection
- absent	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0

Table 6: Clinical observations during treatment - behavioural examination - removal of animals from the home cage - group incidence - females.

Group number	1		2		3		4
No. animals observed	10		10		10		10
	no. animals	no. days	no. animals	no. days	no. animals	no. days	no. animals	no. days
Removal
- easy	10	6.7	10	6.9	10	7.0	10	6.6
Handling Reactivity
- normal	10	6.7	10	6.9	10	7.0	10	6.6
Lachrymation
- absent	10	6.7	10	6.9	10	7.0	10	6.6
Palpebral Closure
- absent	10	6.7	10	6.9	10	7.0	10	6.6
Salivation
- absent	10	6.7	10	6.9	10	7.0	10	6.6
Piloerection
- absent	10	6.7	10	6.9	10	7.0	10	6.6

Table 7: Clinical observations during treatment - behavioural examination - open arena - group incidence - males - 1 to 5 weeks.

Group number	1		2		3		4
No. animals observed	10		10		10		10
	no. animals	no. days	no. animals	no. days	no. animals	no. days	no. animals	no. days
Rearing
- rearing 4-7	0	0.0	0	0.0	1	2.0	0	0.0
- rearing 11-14	5	2.6	4	5.0	7	4.3	6	4.5
- rearing 15-20	9	4.0	6	5.0	5	3.6	5	4.6
- rearing 21-30	1	1.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0
Spasms
- absent	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0
Myclonia
- absent	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0
Gait
- normal	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0
Mobility Impairment
- absent	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0
Arousal
- normal	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0
Vocalisation
- absent	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0
Stereotypies
- absent	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0
Unusual Respiration
- absent	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0
Bizarre Behaviour
- absent	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0
Urination
- absent	10	4.9	10	4.8	10	4.9	10	4.7
- urination 1-3	1	1.0	2	1.0	1	1.0	2	1.5
Defecation
- absent	10	5.0	10	4.8	10	5.0	10	4.9
defecation 1-3	0	0.0	1	2.0	0	0.0	1	1.0
Tremors
- absent	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0	10	5.0

Table 8: Clinical observations during treatment - behavioural examination - open arena - group incidence - females - 1 to 7 weeks.

Group number	1		2		3		4
No. animals observed	10		10		10		10
	no. animals	no. days	no. animals	no. days	no. animals	no. days	no. animals	no. days
Rearing
- rearing 4-7	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	1	1.0
- rearing 8-10	7	2.7	2	2.0	6	2.0	4	3.0
- rearing 11-14	10	4.2	10	5.8	10	5.1	10	5.0
- rearing 15-20	4	1.5	4	1.8	4	1.8	3	1.0
Spasms
- absent	10	6.7	10	6.9	10	7.0	10	6.6
Myclonia
- absent	10	6.7	10	6.9	10	7.0	10	6.6
Gait
- normal	10	6.7	10	6.9	10	7.0	10	6.6
Mobility Impairment
- absent	10	6.7	10	6.9	10	7.0	10	6.6
Arousal
- normal	10	6.7	10	6.9	10	7.0	10	6.6
Vocalisation
- absent	10	6.7	10	6.9	10	7.0	10	6.6
Stereotypies
- absent	10	6.7	10	6.9	10	7.0	10	6.6
Unusual Respiration
- absent	10	6.7	10	6.9	10	7.0	10	6.6
Bizarre Behaviour
- absent	10	6.7	10	6.9	10	7.0	10	6.6
Urination
- absent	10	5.6	10	6.2	10	5.2	10	5.4
- urination 1-3	8	1.3	6	1.0	8	2.0	6	1.7
urination 4-6	1	1.0	1	1.0	1	2.0	1	2.0
Defecation
- absent	10	6.6	10	6.8	10	6.8	10	6.0
- defecation 1-3	1	1.0	1	1.0	1	2.0	0	0.0
Tremors
- absent	10	6.7	10	6.9	10	7.0	10	6.6

Table 9: Body weight of males - group mean data.

Group		Body weight (g)
		day 1 pre-test	day 1 pre-mating	day 8 pre-mating	day 15 pre-mating	day 8 after pairing	day 15 after pairing
1	no.	10	10	10	10	10	10
	mean	391.39	408.96	435.99	463.51	473.55	493.54
	s.d.	17.60	29.99	31.42	34.53	37.21	40.60
2	no.	10	10	10	10	10	10
	mean	393.03	407.50	438.51	462.46	465.16	489.03
	s.d.	20.72	35.75	36.71	36.21	43.97	49.02
3	no.	10	10	10	10	10	10
	mean	391.68	414.43	442.64	461.31	474.20	489.64
	s.d.	18.08	24.24	28.06	28.72	31.78	34.35
4	no.	10	10	10	10	10	10
	mean	391.45	416.93	445.27	467.57	474.86	496.98
	s.d.	19.71	23.02	23.87	23.27	21.72	22.37

Table 10: Body weight of females - group mean data.

Group		Body weight (g)
		day 1 pre-test	day 1 pre-mating	day 8 pre-mating	day 15 pre-mating	day 0 gestation	day 7 gestation	day 14 gestation	day 20 gestation	day 1 post partum	day 4 post partum	day 7 post partum	day 13 post partum
1	no.	10	10	10	10	9	9	9	9	8	8	8	8
	mean	281.33	289.12	285.46	299.99	305.19	350.76	384.91	471.52	366.18	378.83	382.13	399.00
	s.d.	9.17	11.50	11.21	16.80	24.03	20.42	21.39	30.83	28.00	24.12	25.27	23.64
2	no.	10	10	10	10	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9
	mean	282.15	285.59	280.43	292.80	296.67	344.17	377.76	460.35	361.94	373.41	377.87	397.59
	s.d.	8.66	15.51	20.44	24.32	18.19	14.89	23.89	27.63	23.78	19.26	18.98	22.92
3	no.	10	10	10	10	9	9	9	9	9	8	8	8
	mean	282.59	292.71	295.87	306.05	308.42	351.94	389.59	478.24	368.63	383.56	393.65	416.52
	s.d.	8.82	21.37	28.70	30.32	27.58	26.44	29.23	39.17	29.84	37.42	33.40	29.28
4	no.	10	10	10	10	9	9	9	9	8	-	-	-
	mean	281.71	287.30	296.61	309.00	315.62	354.77	390.42	456.43	378.86	-	-	-
	s.d.	7.34	11.16	12.00	12.03	15.85	13.49	12.50	25.34	16.78	-	-	-

Table 11: Body weight gain per day of males - group mean data.

Group		Body weight gain (g/day)
		day 1 pre-mating	day 8 pre-mating	day 15 pre-mating	day 8 after pairing	day 15 after pairing
1	no.	10	10	10	10	10
	mean	2.510	3.862	3.931	1.434	2.857
	s.d.	2.826	1.423	1.168	1.330	0.913
2	no.	10	10	10	10	10
	mean	2.067	4.429	3.423	0.385	3.409
	s.d.	3.007	1.236	1.220	2.460	1.378
3	no.	10	10	10	10	10
	mean	3.251	4.029	2.668*	1.840	2.207
	s.d.	1.272	0.818	0.698	1.942	1.862
4	no.	10	10	10	10	10
	mean	3.640	4.048	3.185	1.042	3.008
	s.d.	0.880	0.895	0.935	1.189	1.316

* = mean value of group is significantly different from control at p < 0.05

Table 12: Body weight gain per day of females - group mean data.

Group		Body weight gain (g/day)
		day 1 pre-mating	day 8 pre-mating	day 15 pre-mating	day 7 gestation	day 14 gestation	day 20 gestation	day 4 post partum	day 7 post partum	day 13 post partum
1	no.	10	10	10	9	9	9	8	8	8
	mean	1.112	-0.523	2.076	6.509	4.879	14.436	4.216	1.101	2.811
	s.d.	0.948	1.303	1.503	1.514	1.243	2.492	3.448	2.388	1.571
2	no.	10	10	10	9	9	9	9	9	9
	mean	0.491	-0.737	1.768	6.786	4.799	13.764	3.821	1.486	3.288
	s.d.	1.453	1.113	1.553	1.198	1.308	2.244	2.762	1.828	2.433
3	no.	10	10	10	9	9	9	8	8	8
	mean	1.447	0.451	1.454	6.217	5.379	14.774	3.811	3.363	3.811
	s.d.	2.275	1.345	0.703	1.772	1.430	2.857	6.126	4.144	1.398
4	no.	10	10	10	9	9	9	-	-	-
	mean	0.799	1.330**	1.769	5.593	5.093	11.002*	-	-	-
	s.d.	1.081	0.884	1.540	1.090	1.167	2.394	-	-	-

* = mean value of group is significantly different from control at p < 0.05

** = mean value of group is significantly different from control at p < 0.01

Table 13: Food consumption of males - group mean data, based on food consumed over the previous period starting from Day 1 of dosing.

Group		Food consumption (g/animal/day)
		day 8 pre-mating	day 15 pre-mating
1	no.	2	2
	mean	29.27	30.68
2	no.	2	2
	mean	28.41	29.49
3	no.	2	2
	mean	27.90	29.04
4	no.	2	2
	mean	28.40	28.41

Table 14: Food consumption of females - group mean data.

Group		Food consumption (g/animal/day)
		day 8 pre-mating*	day 15 pre-mating*	day 7 gestation**	day 14 gestation**	day 20 gestation**	day 7 post partum***	day 13 post partum***
1	no.	2	2	9	9	9	8	8
	mean	20.42	22.00	28.42	30.18	32.30	51.62	69.75
	s.d.	-	-	2.15	2.67	1.73	3.86	3.73
2	no.	2	2	9	9	9	9	9
	mean	19.08	21.74	27.65	27.89	30.32	45.98	65.03
	s.d.	-	-	1.70	2.54	3.57	6.77	9.26
3	no.	2	2	9	9	9	8	8
	mean	20.44	22.37	27.77	29.85	31.62	45.39	66.49
	s.d.	-	-	1.91	2.14	1.76	8.32	8.74
4	no.	2	2	9	9	9	-	-
	mean	20.31	22.38	27.43	28.94	32.88	-	-
	s.d.	-	-	2.07	2.19	1.54	-	-

* based on food consumed over the previous period starting from Day 1 of dosing.

** based on food consumed over the previous period starting from Day 1 of gesation.

*** based on food consumption over the previous period starting from Day 1 post partum.

Table 15: Motor activity - group mean data.

Males; mating phase	Control			Group 2			Group 3			Group 4
	mean	s.d.	number	mean	s.d.	number	mean	s.d.	number	mean	s.d.	number
counter display:	852.2	172.1	5	1022.2	84.2	5	942.0	92.1	5	976.0	155.1	5
Females; post partum phase	Control			Group 2			Group 3			-
	mean	s.d.	number	mean	s.d.	number	mean	s.d.	number
counter display:	945.2	184.7	5	809.2	277.2	5	1009.2	67.1	5

Table 16: Sensory reactivity to stimuli - group mean data.

Males; mating phase	Control			Group 2			Group 3			Group 4
	mean	s.d.	number	mean	s.d.	number	mean	s.d.	number	mean	s.d.	number
Grip strength 1 (g)	14.16	1.44	5	15.35	5.06	5	14.54	2.61	5	15.23	5.35	5
Grip strength 2 (g)	20.16	2.17	5	16.30	3.85	5	14.56*	2.35	5	13.64**	2.26	5
Mean grip strength (g)	17.160	1.099	5	15.830	4.249	5	14.550	2.244	5	14.480	3.430	5
Landing foot splay 1 (cm)	5.10	1.29	5	4.78	1.73	5	4.92	2.98	5	4.62	2.43	5
Landing foot splay 2 (cm)	5.82	1.32	5	5.84	1.38	5	4.36	2.35	5	3.26*	0.55	5
Mean landing foot splay (cm)	5.460	0.948	5	5.310	1.493	5	4.640	2.646	5	3.940	1.286	5
Females;   post partum phase	Control			Group 2			Group 3			-
	mean	s.d.	number	mean	s.d.	number	mean	s.d.	number
Grip strength 1 (g)	12.52	2.49	5	14.26	2.71	5	14.32	3.01	5
Grip strength 2 (g)	13.26	1.70	5	13.34	2.22	5	13.02	1.94	5
Mean grip strength (g)	12.890	2.020	5	13.800	2.369	5	13.670	2.017	5
Landing foot splay 1 (cm)	4.36	1.11	5	5.50	1.77	5	5.38	1.72	5
Landing foot splay 2 (cm)	4.88	0.59	5	5.10	1.47	5	5.50	1.62	5
Mean landing foot splay (cm)	4.620	0.720	5	5.300	1.575	5	5.440	1.604	5

* = mean value of group is significantly different from control at p < 0.05

** = mean value of group is significantly different from control at p < 0.01

Table 17: Haematology - males - group mean data.

Group		1	2	3	4
red blood cell count (10^6 µl)	mean	9.174	8.935	8.820	7.743**
	s.d.	0.421	0.307	0.241	0.225
	no.	5	4	5	4
haemaglobin (g/dl)	mean	16.16	15.90	15.44	13.48**
	s.d.	0.72	0.76	0.51	0.74
	no.	5	4	5	4
haematocrit (%)	mean	50.84	50.15	47.82	41.53**
	s.d.	2.74	2.82	1.88	1.77
	no.	5	4	5	4
mean red blood cell volume (fl)	mean	55.44	56.15	54.24	53.60
	s.d.	1.02	2.86	0.84	1.76
	no.	5	4	5	4
mean corpuscular haemaglobin (pg)	mean	17.62	17.78	17.48	17.40
	s.d.	0.41	0.63	0.18	0.68
	no.	5	4	5	4
mean corpuscular haemaglobin (g/dl)	mean	31.80	31.70	32.22	32.50
	s.d.	0.48	0.55	0.38	0.50
	no.	5	4	5	4
reticulocytes (%)	mean	1.934	1.773	1.912	2.575
	s.d.	0.729	0.381	0.335	0.214
	no.	5	4	5	4
reticulocytes (10^9/l)	mean	175.68	157.63	168.80	199.43
	s.d.	61.02	28.68	31.18	17.19
	no.	5	4	5	4
white blood cell count (10^3/µl)	mean	8.410	5.778	7.538	6.473
	s.d.	2.132	2.704	1.932	0.681
	no.	5	4	5	4
neutrophils (10^3/µl)	mean	1.044	0.775	0.748	0.788
	s.d.	0.203	0.083	0.256	0.168
	no.	5	4	5	4
lymphocytes (10^3/µl)	mean	6.946	4.748	6.526	5.533
	s.d.	1.866	2.690	1.785	0.704
	no.	5	4	5	4
monocytes (10^3/µl)	mean	0.204	0.110	0.120	0.073*
	s.d.	0.105	0.022	0.042	0.010
	no.	5	4	5	4
eosinophils (10^3/µl)	mean	0.114	0.085	0.078	0.040**
	s.d.	0.037	0.033	0.031	0.022
	no.	5	4	5	4
basophils (10^3/µl)	mean	0.066	0.040	0.044	0.025
	s.d.	0.044	0.029	0.018	0.006
	no.	5	4	5	4
large unstained cells (10^3/µl)	mean	0.036	0.015	0.024	0.018
	s.d.	0.027	0.010	0.013	0.010
	no.	5	4	5	4
neutrophils (%)	mean	12.76	18.10	10.32	12.25
	s.d.	3.05	14.14	3.82	3.18
	no.	5	4	5	4
lymphocytes (%)	mean	82.28	76.38	86.16	85.38
	s.d.	3.49	17.63	4.27	3.25
	no.	5	4	5	4
monocytes (%)	mean	2.44	2.33	1.64	1.15*
	s.d.	0.76	1.14	0.39	0.13
	no.	5	4	5	4
eosinophils (%)	mean	1.40	2.35	1.06	0.60*
	s.d.	0.45	2.64	0.36	0.27
	no.	5	4	5	4
basophils (%)	mean	0.76	0.60	0.54	0.35
	s.d.	0.38	0.23	0.11	0.06
	no.	5	4	5	4
large unstained cells (%)	mean	0.42	0.28	0.32	0.25
	s.d.	0.22	0.13	0.08	0.13
	no.	5	4	5	4
platelets (10^3/µl)	mean	968.8	956.3	923.0	837.8
	s.d.	187.1	96.0	58.9	102.0
	no.	5	4	5	4

* = mean value of group is significantly different from control at p < 0.05

** = mean value of group is significantly different from control at p < 0.01

Table 18: Haematology - females - group mean data.

Group:		1	2	3
red blood cell count (10^6/µl)	mean	7.590	7.574	7.114
	s.d.	0.339	0.283	0.467
	no.	5	5	5
haemaglobin (g/dl)	mean	14.80	14.58	14.14
	s.d.	0.63	0.43	0.29
	no.	5	5	5
haematocrit (%)	mean	44.66	44.54	43.00
	s.d.	1.31	2.35	1.58
	no.	5	5	5
mean red blood cell volume (fl)	mean	58.90	58.74	60.62
	s.d.	1.82	1.32	3.67
	no.	5	5	5
mean corpuscular Hb (pg)	mean	19.52	19.28	19.94
	s.d.	0.29	0.29	1.14
	no.	5	5	5
mean corpuscular Hb (g/dl)	mean	33.16	32.82	32.88
	s.d.	0.67	1.14	0.56
	no.	5	5	5
reticulocytes (%)	mean	2.150	2.466	3.008
	s.d.	0.519	0.499	0.772
	no.	5	5	5
reticulocytes (10^9/l)	mean	162.08	187.76	216.64
	s.d.	33.70	48.55	67.56
	no.	5	5	5
white blood cell count (10^3/µl)	mean	3.398	2.946	3.406
	s.d.	1.405	1.566	0.659
	no.	5	5	5
neutrophils (10^3/µl)	mean	0.656	0.554	0.464
	s.d.	0.219	0.172	0.134
	no.	5	5	5
lymphocytes (10^3/µl)	mean	2.550	2.246	2.810
	s.d.	1.132	1.411	0.657
	no.	5	5	5
monocytes (10^3/µl)	mean	0.116	0.082	0.074
	s.d.	0.054	0.069	0.041
	no.	5	5	5
eosinophils (10^3/µl)	mean	0.030	0.040	0.022
	s.d.	0.019	0.032	0.013
	no.	5	5	5
basophils (10^3/µl)	mean	0.022	0.012	0.012
	s.d.	0.019	0.008	0.008
	no.	5	5	5
large unstained cells (10^3/µl)	mean	0.020	0.012	0.022
	s.d.	0.014	0.008	0.011
	no.	5	5	5
neutrophils (%)	mean	20.88	21.24	13.94
	s.d.	6.65	6.54	4.27
	no.	5	5	5
lymphocytes (%)	mean	73.70	74.06	82.14
	s.d.	5.34	6.81	5.06
	no.	5	5	5
monocytes (%)	mean	3.40	2.62	2.26
	s.d.	1.36	1.48	1.10
	no.	5	5	5
eosinophils (%)	mean	0.82	1.26	0.64
	s.d.	0.38	0.34	0.41
	no.	5	5	5
basophils (%)	mean	0.62	0.32	0.42
	s.d.	0.31	0.19	0.16
	no.	5	5	5
large unstained cells (%)	mean	0.54	0.46	0.64
	s.d.	0.33	0.30	0.26
	no.	5	5	5
platelets (10^3/µl)	mean	987.0	1178.4	1158.6
	s.d.	123.6	134.5	142.0
	no.	5	5	5

* = mean value of group is significantly different from control at p < 0.05

** = mean value of group is significantly different from control at p < 0.01

Table 19: Coagulation - group mean data.

Males	Group 1			Group 2			Group 3			Group 4
	mean	s.d.	number	mean	s.d.	number	mean	s.d.	number	mean	s.d.	number
Prothrombin time (sec)	23.02	1.05	5	22.86	1.19	5	24.2	1.11	5	24.6	1.07	5
Females	Group 1			Group 2			Group 3			-
	mean	s.d.	number	mean	s.d.	number	mean	s.d.	number
Prothrombin time (sec)	22.52	0.65	5	22.46	1.27	5	22.7	0.69	5

Table 20: Clinical chemistry - males - group mean data.

Group:		1	2	3	4
alkaline phosphate (U/l)	mean	261.64	287.04	263.20	298.46
	s.d.	49.56	35.75	29.45	44.92
	no.	5	5	5	5
alanine amino-transferase (U/l)	mean	34.40	31.46	32.94	34.78
	s.d.	7.15	5.26	7.79	12.04
	no.	5	5	5	5
aspartate amino-transferase (U/l)	mean	87.88	83.36	91.82	96.36
	s.d.	5.04	7.29	16.97	21.69
	no.	5	5	5	5
gamma-glutamyl transferase (U/l)	mean	0.3	-	-	0.2
	s.d.	-	-	-	-
	no.	1	0	0	1
total bilirubin (mg/dl)	mean	0.050	0.040	0.064	0.074
	s.d.	0.012	0.023	0.022	0.035
	no.	5	5	5	5
total cholesterol (mg/dl)	mean	51.74	52.70	42.36	27.40**
	s.d.	9.80	9.91	9.57	7.45
	no.	5	5	5	5
triglycerides (mg/dl)	mean	61.08	46.76	63.08	39.26
	s.d.	26.76	14.07	24.20	11.18
	no.	5	5	5	5
glucose (mg/dl)	mean	91.12	94.56	98.68	102.10
	s.d.	13.51	13.75	11.48	11.51
	no.	5	5	5	5
bile acids (µmol/l)	mean	7.34	8.30	6.36	11.60
	s.d.	3.39	2.66	2.32	2.39
	no.	5	5	5	5
total protein (g/dl)	mean	6.58	6.72	6.82*	6.50
	s.d.	0.18	0.26	0.04	0.31
	no.	5	5	5	5
albumin (g/dl)	mean	3.96	4.08	4.16*	4.08
	s.d.	0.11	0.13	0.09	0.13
	no.	5	5	5	5
globulin (g/dl)	mean	2.62	2.64	2.66	2.42
	s.d.	0.15	0.15	0.09	0.18
	no.	5	5	5	5
albumin /globulin ratio	mean	1.50	1.56	1.56	1.68**
	s.d.	0.07	0.05	0.09	0.08
	no.	5	5	5	5
urea (mg/dl)	mean	23.90	24.54	26.74	34.02**
	s.d.	3.03	3.66	3.35	3.85
	no.	5	5	5	5
creatine (mg/dl)	mean	0.306	0.306	0.274	0.294
	s.d.	0.036	0.031	0.025	0.040
	no.	5	5	5	5
chloride (mmol/l)	mean	103.94	103.46	104.28	106.02**
	s.d.	0.59	0.77	1.29	0.79
	no.	5	5	5	5
inorganic phosphorus (mg/dl)	mean	6.658	6.428	6.592	6.970
	s.d.	0.226	0.447	0.352	0.238
	no.	5	5	5	5
calcium (mmol/l)	mean	2.728	2.770	2.808	2.796
	s.d.	0.054	0.089	0.038	0.073
	no.	5	5	5	5
sodium (mmol/l)	mean	146.96	147.30	147.72	149.38**
	s.d.	0.53	1.08	0.86	0.31
	no.	5	5	5	5
potassium (mmol/l)	mean	3.866	3.806	3.986	3.786
	s.d.	0.228	0.248	0.192	0.238
	no.	5	5	5	5

* = mean value of group is significantly different from control at p < 0.05

** = mean value of group is significantly different from control at p < 0.01

Table 21: Clinical chemistry - females - group mean data.

Group:		1	2	3
alkaline phosphate (U/l)	mean	186.98	160.04	244.26
	s.d.	91.17	34.27	56.36
	no.	5	5	5
alanine amino-transferase (U/l)	mean	66.62	60.98	49.34*
	s.d.	6.48	14.77	8.68
	no.	5	5	5
aspartate amino-transferase (U/l)	mean	92.48	86.06	73.48*
	s.d.	13.53	19.66	3.55
	no.	5	5	5
gamma-glutamyl transferase (U/l)	mean	0.60	0.95	0.47
	s.d.	0.26	0.35	0.25
	no.	5	5	5
total bilirubin (mg/dl)	mean	0.033	0.017	0.018
	s.d.	0.019	0.015	0.016
	no.	5	5	5
total cholesterol (mg/dl)	mean	69.60	85.3	80.38
	s.d.	11.35	17.42	13.86
	no.	5	5	5
triglycerides (mg/dl)	mean	74.72	59.74	55.02
	s.d.	34.43	40.01	15.45
	no.	5	5	5
glucose (mg/dl)	mean	107.50	104.04	110.28
	s.d.	31.68	24.04	35.23
	no.	5	5	5
bile acids (µmol/l)	mean	30.26	41.68	58.26
	s.d.	11.81	24.33	23.35
	no.	5	5	5
total protein (g/dl)	mean	5.98	6.38*	6.44*
	s.d.	0.27	0.18	0.23
	no.	5	5	5
albumin (g/dl)	mean	3.70	3.84	3.96**
	s.d.	0.07	0.13	0.09
	no.	5	5	5
globulin (g/dl)	mean	2.28	2.54	2.48
	s.d.	0.23	0.09	0.25
	no.	5	5	5
albumin /globulin ratio	mean	1.66	1.52	1.60
	s.d.	0.15	0.11	0.17
	no.	5	5	5
urea (mg/dl)	mean	44.58	44.78	52.28
	s.d.	12.31	4.96	8.77
	no.	5	5	5
creatine (mg/dl)	mean	0.422	0.412	0.414
	s.d.	0.036	0.027	0.036
	no.	5	5	5
chloride (mmol/l)	mean	96.90	97.02	97.34
	s.d.	2.21	1.97	3.68
	no.	5	5	5
inorganic phosphorus (mg/dl)	mean	6.140	5.429	5.782
	s.d.	1.291	0.810	0.756
	no.	5	5	5
calcium (mmol/l)	mean	2.454	2.474	2.582*
	s.d.	0.069	0.113	0.029
	no.	5	5	5
sodium (mmol/l)	mean	140.68	142.20	142.56
	s.d.	1.58	1.76	1.51
	no.	5	5	5
potassium (mmol/l)	mean	3.632	3.226	3.620
	s.d.	0.612	0.278	0.390
	no.	5	5	5

* = mean value of group is significantly different from control at p < 0.05

** = mean value of group is significantly different from control at p < 0.01

Table 22: Urinalysis - males - group mean data.

Group:		1	2	3	4
urine volume overnight (ml)	mean	9.6	9.3	8.4	8.7
	s.d.	2.84	1.89	2.19	3.65
	n.	5	5	5	5

Table 23: Thyroid hormone determination - parental males - group mean data.

Group:		1	2	3	4
triiodothyronine (ng/ml)	mean	4.675	5.025	5.568	7.208**
	s.d.	1.015	1.177	2.093	2.086
	n.	10	10	10	10
triiodothyronine (ng/ml)	mean	416.7	480.9	493.8	407.9
	s.d.	73.2	66.1	147.4	50.8
	n.	10	10	10	10
triiodothyronine (ng/ml)	mean	1.815	1.889	1.959	1.970
	s.d.	1.650	1.406	1.283	1.057
	n.	10	10	10	10

** = mean value of group is significantly different from control at p < 0.01

Table 24: Thyroid hormone determination - offspring - group mean data.

		Male pups			Female pups
Group:		1	2	3	1	2	3
triiodothyronine (ng/ml)	mean	1.671	6.147	2.091	1.191	5.032	2.237
	s.d.	1.222	10.516	1.594	0.369	9.294	1.716
	n.	6	5	6	7	6	6
triiodothyronine (ng/ml)	mean	162.8	139.6	125.1*	184.3	162.6	139.3
	s.d.	26.3	31.3	20.7	46.7	40.5	31.2
	n.	8	9	8	8	9	8
triiodothyronine (ng/ml)	mean	1.007	1.651*	1.228	1.230	1.541	1.247
	s.d.	0.259	0.516	0.661	0.458	0.570	0.600
	n.	8	9	8	8	9	8

* = mean value of group is significantly different from control at p < 0.05

Table 25: Oestrous cycle - before pairing - group summary data.

Group 1		Group 2		Group 3		Group 4
animal number	oestrous cycles	animal number	oestrous cycles	animal number	oestrous cycles	animal number	oestrous cycles
1	3	21	3	41	3	61	2
3	2	23	2	43	3	63	3
5	3	25	2	45	3	65	3
7	3	27	3	47	4	67	3
9	1	29	4	49	3	69	2
11	2	31	3	51	3	71	1
13	4	33	3	53	3	73	3
15	2	35	3	55	3	75	4
17	3	37	2	57	3	77	2
19	1	39	3	59	4	79	2
mean:	2.40	mean:	2.80	mean:	3.20	mean:	2.50
s.d.:	0.97	s.d.:	0.63	s.d.:	0.42	s.d.:	0.85

Table 26: Reproductive parameters - group summary data.

Males
Group	1	2	3	4
Copulatory index (%)	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0
Fertility index (%)	90.0	90.0	90.0	90.0
Females
Group	1	2	3	4
Copulatory index (%)	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0
Fertility index (%)	90.0	90.0	90.0	90.0

Copulatory index (%) = no. animals mated / no. animals paired × 100

Fertility index of males (%) = no. males inducing pregnancy / no. males paired × 100

Fertility index of females (%) = no. pregnant females / no. females paired × 100

Table 27: Implantation, pre-implantation loss, pre-natal loss and gestation length of females - group mean data. Statistical analysis: Kruskall Wallis test; Williams test if group mean differences are different from control at p < 0.05.

Group		Corpora lutea	Implantations	Pre-implantation loss (%)	Liver litter size at birth	Pre-natal loss (%)	Gestation length (days)
1	mean	16.89	16.78	0.62	14.88	10.15	22.75
	s.d.	1.45	1.39	1.87	2.36	10.08	0.46
	n.	9	9	9	8	8	8
2	mean	16.44	16.22	1.39	14.33	11.40	22.44
	s.d.	2.55	2.68	4.17	2.78	10.72	0.53
	n.	9	9	9	9	9	9
3	mean	17.67	17.56	0.62	15.11	13.74	22.67
	s.d.	2.40	2.40	1.87	2.57	9.78	0.50
	n.	9	9	9	9	9	9
4	mean	16.56	16.22	2.18	7.13*	56.66*	22.88
	s.d.	3.00	3.23	4.66	4.91	28.15	0.35
	n.	9	9	9	8	8	8

* mean value of group is significantly different from control

Table 28: Litter data at birth, on day 1, day 4 and day 13 post partum (before culling) of females with live pups at day 1 post partum - group mean data. Statistical analysis: Kruskall Wallis test; Williams test if group mean differences are different from control at p < 0.05.

		At birth			Day 1 post partum			Day 4 post partum				Day 13 post partum
Group		Total litter size	Live litter size	Pup loss (%)	Live litter size	Litter weight (g)	Mean pup weight (%)	Live litter size	Post natal loss (%)	Litter weight (g)	Mean pup weight (g)	Live litter size	Post natal loss (%)	Litter weight (g)	Mean pup weight (g)
1	mean	14.88	14.88	0.00	14.88	116.90	7.88	14.75	0.66	170.60	11.54	8.00	0.00	290.90	36.35
	s.d.	2.36	2.36	0.00	2.36	19.31	0.27	2.12	1.87	27.61	0.54	0.00	0.00	14.20	1.79
	n.	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8
2	mean	14.56	14.33	1.23	14.11	106.00	7.54	14.00	1.99	146.50	10.60	7.44	6.94	259.00	34.30
	s.d.	3	2.78	3.70	2.52	15.67	0.74	2.45	3.00	28.63	2.12	1.01	12.67	60.58	4.93
	n.	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9
3	mean	16.11	15.11	5.00	13.11	92.31	6.88*	13.88	9.60*	135.90	9.93*	7.63	4.69	246.8*	32.01
	s.d.	3.14	2.57	11.73	4.81	36.29	0.71	2.70	10.04	26.41	1.55	0.74	9.30	57.99	6.00
	n.	9	9	9	9	9	9	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8
4	mean	12.75	7.13*	41.20*	-			-				-
	s.d.	4.20	4.91	37.04
	n.	8	8	8

* mean value of group is significantly different from control

Table 29: Sex ratios of pups - group mean data. Statistical analysis: Kruskall Wallis test; Williams test if group mean differences are different from control at p < 0.05.

		At birth				Day 4 post partum				Day 13 post partum
Group		males	female	total	% males	males	female	total	% males	males	female	total	% males
1	mean	6.63	8.25	14.88	44.79	6.50	8.25	14.75	44.31	4.00	4.00	8.00	50.00
	s.d.	1.92	2.49	2.35	11.99	2.00	2.49	2.12	12.65	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
	n.	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8
2	mean	6.89	7.67	14.56	47.62	6.44	7.56	14.00	46.13	3.67	3.78	7.44	49.53
	s.d.	1.90	2.29	3.00	10.18	2.19	2.24	2.45	12.81	0.50	0.67	1.01	4.99
	n.	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9
3	mean	7.89	8.22	16.11	49.28	7.13	6.75	13.88	51.29	3.75	3.88	7.63	48.80
	s.d.	1.54	2.11	3.14	6.06	1.64	1.49	2.70	5.16	0.71	0.35	0.74	6.74
	n.	9	9	9	9	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8
4	mean	8.75	4.00*	12.75	70.73*
	s.d.	2.43	2.39	4.20	11.76
	n.	8	8	8	8

* mean value of group is significantly different from control

Table 30: Anogenital distance on day 1 post partum - group mean data. Statistical analysis: Kruskall Wallis test; Williams test if group mean differences are different from control at p < 0.05.

Males
Group		1	2	3
Anogenital distance (normalised) (mm/g^1/3)^	mean	1.87	2.28*	2.14*
	s.d.	0.36	0.38	0.49
	n.	53	59	61
Females
Group		1	2	3
Anogenital distance (normalised) (mm/g^1/3)^	mean	1.02	1.24*	1.22*
	s.d.	0.25	0.29	0.37
	n.	66	68	57

* mean value of group is significantly different from control

^ normalised for the cube root of the body weight collected on day 1 post partum (mm/g)

Table 31: Pup thyroid weight on day 14 post partum - group mean data.

	Males			Females
Group:	1	2	3	1	2	3
no.	8	9	8	8	9	8
mean	6.994	6.836	7.11	6.65	6.837	6.478
s.d.	0.68	1.735	1.428	0.821	1.587	1.63
group diff. at p < 0.05:		1.58	1.625		1.614	1.661
group diff. at p < 0.01:		2.067	2.127		2.112	2.174
Analysis of variance:	F ratio = 0.09; Df = 2/22; F probabality = 0.911			F ratio = 0.14; Df = 2/22; F probabality = 0.868

* group mean is significantly different from control at level of significance shown

Table 32: Terminal body weight (g) - final sacrifice - group mean data.

	Males				Females
Group:	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4
no.	10	10	10	10	9	10	10	10
mean	472.45	470.90	467.83	468.62	320.26	322.24	337.91	347.77
s.d.	38.88	42.56	33.05	24.90	24.15	20.57	27.84	19.95
group diff. at p < 0.05		38.90	38.90	38.90		26.30	26.30	26.30*
group diff. at p < 0.01		49.34	49.34	49.34		33.38	33.38	33.38
Analysis of variance:	F ratio = 0.04; Df = 3/36; F probabality = 0.986				F ratio = 3.08; Df = 3/35; F probabality = 0.039

* group mean is significantly different from control at level of significance shown

Table 33: Macroscopic observations - group incidence.

	Males				Females				Unscheduled death; females
Group	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1
No. in group	10	10	10	10	9	10	10	10	1
Adrenals
abnormal colour	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
abnormal size	0	0	0	2	1	0	1	1	0
Cervical Nodes
abnormal colour	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
Kidneys
abnormal area(s)	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
pelvic dilatation	3	1	0	1	0	0	1	0	0
Mesenteric Nodes
abnormal colour	0	1	0	3	1	0	0	0	0
Pituitary
abnormal colour	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
abnormal shape	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Seminal vesicles
abnormal size	0	0	0	1
Stomach
abnormal area(s)	0	0	0	0	5	5	1	0	0
Thymus
abnormal area(s)	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
abnormal size	0	0	0	0	3	0	1	0	0
Uterus
abnormal size					0	0	0	4	0
abnormal contents					0	0	0	3	0
mass(es)					0	0	1	0	0
cyst(s)					1	0	0	0	0
not pregnant					1	1	1	1	0
total resorption					0	0	0	0	0
Forelimbs
hairloss	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0
Hindlimbs
hairloss	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
Lymph Nodes
abnormal colour	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
Skin
abnormal area(s)	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Whole Animal
no abnormalities detected	6	7	10	4	2	3	5	4	1

Table 34: Microscopic observations - group incidence.

	Males				Females				Unscheduled death; females
Group	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1
Adrenals	5	0	0	7	5	0	1	5	0
vacuolisation	2	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0
Brain	5	0	0	5	5	0	0	5	0
haemorrhage	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Heart	5	0	0	5	5	0	0	5	0
inflammatory cell foci	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Kidneys	6	1	0	5	5	0	1	5	0
pelvic dilatation	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
mineralisation	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
nephropathy	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Liver	5	0	0	5	5	0	0	5	1
inflammatory cell foci	5	0	0	4	5	0	0	4	1
vacuolation	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	3	0
extramedullary haemopoiesis	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1
clear cell change	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Lungs	5	0	0	5	5	0	0	5	0
inflammatory cell foci	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
mineralisation	2	0	0	1	3	0	0	0	0
alveolar haemorrhage	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
Penis	5	0	0	5
inflammatory cell foci	0	0	0	1
Pituitary	5	0	0	5	5	0	0	4	0
congestion	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Prostate	5	0	0	5
inflammatory cell foci	2	0	0	1
Skin	5	1	0	5	5	1	0	5	0
scab formation	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
ulceration	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
chronic inflammation	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Stomach	5	0	0	5	7	5	0	5	0
epithelial vacuolation	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
mucosal erosion	0	0	0	0	5	3	0	0	0
glandular dilation	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0
Thymus	5	1	0	5	5	0	1	5	0
atrophy	0	1	0	0	4	0	1	3	0
congestion	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Thyroid	5	0	0	5	5	0	0	5	0
thyro-glossal duct remnant	0	0	0	1	2	0	0	0	0
Uterus					6	0	1	6	0
luminal dilatation					0	0	0	2	0
decidual formation					1	0	1	0	0
Mesenteric Nodes	5	0	0	7	4	0	0	5	0
congestion	0	0	0	3	1	0	0	0	0
Cervical Nodes	5	1	0	6	5	0	0	5	0
congestion	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
Lymph Nodes	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
congestion	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

The NOAEL for fertility toxicity was found to be at least 800 mg/kg bw/day; the NOAEL for developmental toxicity was not found

Executive summary:

The impact of the test item on reproductive/developmental performance was evaluated in a reproductive and developmental screening test, combined with a repeated dose test, according to the OECD Guideline 422 (2016). Groups comprising 10 male and 10 female Sprague-Dawley rats were administered 10 ml/kg bw test item in softened water daily by oral gavage, at concentrations of 0 (negative control), 100, 300 and 800 mg/kg bw/day. Males were treated for a total of 36 days including a two-week pre-pairing phase, a mating phase and a post coitum phase, after which they were sacrificed. Females were treated for between 50 and 60 days, including a pre-pairing phase (two weeks), mating phase (approximately 2 days), gestation (approximately 22 days) and post partum phase (14 days) after which all surviving dams were sacrificed along with their litter.

The following investigations were performed in all groups: body weight (all), clinical signs (including neurotoxicity assessment, motor activity and sensory reactivity to stimuli; all), food consumption (two males and two females per group; performed weekly), oestrous cycle (all females; from 2 weeks before dosing until mating), mating performance, haematology (5 animals/sex/group), clinical chemistry (5 animals/sex/group), urinalysis (males only; 5 animals/sex/group), litter data (size, survival, weight, loss, sex ratios), macroscopic observations, organ weights and histopathological examination (5 of each sex from the high-dose and control groups only). The offsprings were checked for clinical signs and anogenital distance on Day 1 post partum and body weight up to Day 13 post partum, presence or absence of nipples in male pups was also verified. Bleeding for thyroid hormone determination was performed on Days 4 and 14 post partum. The analysis was performed in serum samples collected on Day 14 post partum, only. At final sacrifice, all surviving pups were examined for external abonormalities and sex confirmation by gonad inspection. Internal and external examinations were carried out on unscheduled dead pups. Full histopathological examination, including the observation of the reproductive organs, and identification of the stages of the spermatogenic cycle was performed in control and high dose groups (5 animals/sex/group).

No mortality occurred among male animals, whereas one female from the control group was sacrificed for humane reasons for difficulties in delivery. Subsequent histopathologic examination showed inflammatory cell foci and extramedullary haematopoiesis in the liver, and no macroscopic findings. One female from each group did not fall pregnant. One animal from the mid-dose group and 7 animals from the high-dose group experienced total litter loss within 2 days after birth; and one animal from the high-dose group experienced total litter resorption. 8, 9, 8 and 1 animals from the control, low-, mid- and high-dose groups, respectively, had live pups on day 14 post partum. No toxicologically relevant clinical signs were observed among treated animals compared to controls including observations of neurotoxicity assessment, motor activity and sensory reactivity to stimuli; one mid-dose female experienced piloerection, pallor and staining (vagina) on days 2 - 5 post partum, and a slight yet dose-related decrease in grip strength and landing foot splay was observed in treated males in the second trial only. No significant changes in body weight were observed, except a decrease of 24 % body weight during the last week of gestation among high-dose females. Food consumption, urinalysis, oestrous cycle and reproductive parameters were unchanged between control and treatment groups. The following statistically significant organ weight findings were recorded but were not considered toxicologically relevant: increased absolute and relative male adrenals weight (approximately 23%), increased absolute and relative male and female liver weight (ca. 16% for males and 20% for females), increased absolute and relative prostate and seminal vesicle weight (approximately 29% for prostate weight and 38% for seminal vesicle weight), decreased relative female heart weight (ca. 10%) of the high-dose group and decreased absolute and/or relative male thymus weight (ca. 26% for high dose, 23% for mid-dose and 19% for low-dose group. Triiodothyronine was increased in the high-dose group of males by 54 % (group mean), although this finding was considered not toxicologically relevant due to absence of other related changes; Thyroxine was decreased in some male pups of the mid-dose group (23 %; group mean), and a non-dose-related but significant increased in thyroid stimulating hormone was observed among pups. No relevant spermatogenic, macroscopic and microscopic observations were recorded; the observations were considered not treatment related and common in this species and age.

At birth, a dose-related increase in pup loss (%) in treatment groups and a decrease in total and live litter size in the high-dose group was observed. Post natal losses continued until the end of the study period in the low- and mid-dose groups, compared with controls, whereas all but one dam lost all pups in the high-dose group. Statistically significant decreases in mean pup weights were observed in pups of mid-dose females, and in pups of the 2 remaining high-dose females. A reduction in mean pup weight, and consequently also in litter weight, was observed in the low-dose group, in particular, in two low-dose litters. Anogenital distance in male and female pups of the low- and mid-dose groups was significantly increased but not in the high-dose group. No nipple retention in male pups was observed. The following signs were seen in pups of all treated groups, with higher incidence in mid- and high dose groups: smaller than others, cold to touch and with apparently no food intake. Pups smaller than others were also seen in two control litters. Autolysis of all abdominal and thoracic organs was observed in almost all deceased pups of the mid- and high-dose groups.

In conclusion, treatment with the test item induced adverse effects on development toxicity: increases in pre-implantation and pre-natal loss were seen in the high- and low-dose groups compared to controls; at birth, a dose-related increase in pup loss was seen at all dose levels, accompained by a decrease in total and live litter size in the high-dose group; increases in post-natal loss on Days 4 and 13 post partum and decreases in mean pup weight were seen in the mid- and/or low-dose groups on Days 1, 4 and 13 post partum. Based on these findings, the NOAEL for reproductive toxicity was considered to be at least 800 mg/kg/day (males and females), while the NOAEL for development toxicity was not determined as adverse effects were seen in pups of all treated groups.