Acetic acid

Developmental toxicity / teratogenicity

Administrative data

Endpoint:

developmental toxicity

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: GLP status not known, near guideline study, published in peer reviewed literature, limitations in design and/or reporting but otherwise adequate for assessment.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

1974

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

equivalent or similar to guideline

Guideline:

EU Method B.31 (Prenatal Developmental Toxicity Study)

GLP compliance:

not specified

Limit test:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Acetic acid

EC Number:

200-580-7

EC Name:

Acetic acid

Cas Number:

64-19-7

Molecular formula:

C2H4O2

IUPAC Name:

acetic acid

Details on test material:

FDA 71-78 (Apple cider vinegar (acetic acid); table strength 5%)
Clear amber coloured liquid

Test animals

Species:

mouse

Strain:

CD-1

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

Virgin adult female albino CD-1 outbred mice were gang-housed in disposable plastic cages in temperature and humidity-controlled quarters with free access to food and fresh tap water.

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:

oral: gavage

Vehicle:

water

Details on exposure:

Dose volume 10 ml/kg body weight

Analytical verification of doses or concentrations:

not specified

Details on mating procedure:

The females were mated with young adult males, and observation of the vaginal sperm plug was considered Day 0 of gestation.

Duration of treatment / exposure:

Days 6 - 15 of gestation

Frequency of treatment:

Daily

Duration of test:

Days 0-17 of gestation

No. of animals per sex per dose:

25 mated females

Control animals:

yes, sham-exposed

Details on study design:

An additional group of mated females was dosed with 150 mg/kg aspirin and served as a positive control

Examinations

Maternal examinations:

Body weights were recorded on Days 0, 6, 11, 15, and 17 of gestation.
All animals were observed daily for appearance and behaviour with particular attention to food consumption and weight, in order to rule out any abnormalities which may have occurred as a result of anorexic effects in the pregnant female animal

Ovaries and uterine content:

On Day 17 all dams were subjected to Caesarean section under surgical anesthesia, and the numbers of implantation sites, resorption sites, and live and dead fetuses were recorded. The urogenital tract of each dam was examined in detail for anatomical normality.

Fetal examinations:

The body weights of the live pups were recorded. All fetuses were examined grossly for the presence of external congenital abnormalities. One-third of the fetuses of each litter underwent detailed visceral examinations employing the Wilson technique. The remaining two-thirds were cleared in potassium hydroxide, stained with alizarin red S dye and examined for skeletal defects.

Results and discussion

Results: maternal animals

Maternal developmental toxicity

Details on maternal toxic effects:

Details on maternal toxic effects:
The administration of up to 1600 mg/kg (body weight) of the test material to pregnant mice for 10 consecutive days had no clearly discernible effect on nidation or on maternal survival.

Effect levels (maternal animals)

1

Dose descriptor:

NOAEL

Effect level:

345 mg/kg bw/day

Based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect level:

other: developmental toxicity

2

Dose descriptor:

NOAEL

Effect level:

74.3 mg/kg bw/day (actual dose received)

Based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect level:

other: maternal toxicity

Results (fetuses)

Details on embryotoxic / teratogenic effects:

Embryotoxic / teratogenic effects:no effects

Details on embryotoxic / teratogenic effects:
The administration of up to 1600 mg/kg (body weight) of the test material to pregnant mice for 10 consecutive days had no clearly discernible effect on fetal survival. The number of abnormalities seen in either soft or skeletal tissues of the test groups did not differ from the number occurring spontaneously in the sham-treated controls.

Effect levels (fetuses)

Dose descriptor:

NOAEL

Effect level:

345 mg/kg bw/day

Basis for effect level:

other: developmental toxicity

Fetal abnormalities

Abnormalities:

not specified

Overall developmental toxicity

Developmental effects observed:

not specified

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

The administration of up to 1600 mg/kg (body weight) to pregnant rats for 10 consecutive days had no clearly discernible effect on nidation or on maternal or fetal survival. The number of abnormalities seen in either soft or skeletal tissues of the test groups did not differ from the number occurring spontaneously in the sham-treated controls.

Executive summary:

In a developmental toxicity study in mice, apple cider vinegar, that contains 5% acetic acid, was administered by gavage at dose levels of 0, 16, 74.3, 345 and 1600 mg/kg/day for 10m consecutive days. The authors reported that administration of up to 1600 mg/kg bodyweight of the test material to dams for 10 days revealed no discernible effect on maternal or foetal survival, or on soft of skeletal tissues.

There was no effect on the foetal development, in the presence of slight maternal toxicity (reduced bodyweight gain) at 345 mg/kg/day. At the highest dose tested, 1600 mg/kg/day, there was an increase in the number of litters containing a dead foetus and some reductions in ossification. The NOAEL for maternal and developmental toxicity in mice were 74.3 mg/kg/day and 345 mg/kg/day, respectively.