Chlorphenesin

Genetic toxicity: in vitro

Administrative data

Endpoint:

in vitro gene mutation study in bacteria

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

From April 7th to 24th, 2017

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

test procedure in accordance with generally accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient detail

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

2017

Report date:

2017

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Test guideline 1

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 471 (Bacterial Reverse Mutation Assay)

Version / remarks:

July, 1997

Test guideline 2

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EU Method B.13/14 (Mutagenicity - Reverse Mutation Test Using Bacteria)

GLP compliance:

yes

Type of assay:

bacterial reverse mutation assay

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Chlorphenesin

EC Number:

203-192-6

EC Name:

Chlorphenesin

Cas Number:

104-29-0

Molecular formula:

C9H11ClO3

IUPAC Name:

3-(4-chlorophenoxy)propane-1,2-diol

Test material form:

solid: particulate/powder

Method

Species / strain

Species / strain 1

Species / strain / cell type:

S. typhimurium TA 1535, TA 1537, TA 98 and TA 100

Species / strain 2

Species / strain / cell type:

E. coli WP2 uvr A

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Metabolic activation system:

liver S9 fraction from rats pre-treated with phenobarbital and 5,6-benzoflavone.

Test concentrations with justification for top dose:

DOSE FIRST MAIN ASSAY -PLATE INCORPORATION METHOD:
TA1535, TA98 (±S9): 5000, 2500, 1250, 625, 313 µg/plate
TA1537 (±S9): 5000, 2500, 1250, 625, 313, 156 µg/plate
WP2 uvrA (-S9): 5000, 2500, 1250, 625, 313, 156 µg/plate
WP2 uvrA (+S9): 5000, 2500, 1250, 625, 313 µg/plate
TA 100 (-S9): 5000, 2500, 1250, 625, 313 µg/plate
TA 100 (+S9): 5000, 2500, 1250, 625, 313, 156 µg/plate
The concentration used in Main Assay I was chosen on the basis of the results obtained in the preliminary toxicity test. In preliminary toxicity test Chlorphenesin was assayed at a maximum dose level of 5000 µg/plate and at four lower concentrations spaced at approximately half-log intervals: 1580, 500, 158 and 50.0 µg/plate: no precipitation of the test item was observed at the end of the incubation period at any concentration. A reduction in revertant numbers was observed at the highest dose level with TA1537 and TA100 tester strains both in the absence and presence of S9 metabolism and with WP2 uvrA in its absence.

DOSE SECOND MAIN ASSAY - PRE-INCUBATION METHOD:
TA 1535, TA98, WP2 uvrA (±S9): 5000, 2500, 1250, 625, 313 µg/plate
TA1537, TA100 (±S9): 5000, 2500, 1250, 625, 313, 156 µg/plate
The dose-range of Main Assay II was slightly modified to take into account the results of Main Assay I.

Vehicle / solvent:

- Solvent used: DMSO to dissolve the test item. DMSO or water for injection to dissolve positive controls.
- Justification for choice of solvent: solubility of the test item was evaluated in a preliminary trial using distilled water and DMSO. These solvents were selected since they are compatible with the survival of the bacteria and the S9 metabolic activity. The test item was found to be soluble in DMSO at 100 mg/ml. This result permitted a maximum concentration of 5000 µg/plate to be used in the toxicity test.

Controls

Controls 1

Untreated negative controls:

yes

Negative solvent / vehicle controls:

yes

Positive controls:

yes

Positive control substance:

9-aminoacridine

2-nitrofluorene

sodium azide

methylmethanesulfonate

Remarks:

without S9

Controls 2

Untreated negative controls:

yes

Negative solvent / vehicle controls:

yes

Positive controls:

yes

Positive control substance:

other: 2-aminoanthracene

Remarks:

with S9

Details on test system and experimental conditions:

BACTERIA STRAIN
Four strains of Salmonella typhimurium (TA1535, TA1537, TA98 and TA100) and a strain of Escherichia coli (WP2 uvrA) were used in this study. Permanent stocks of these strains are kept at -80 °C in the laboratory. Overnight subcultures of these stocks were prepared for each day’s work. Bacteria were taken from vials of frozen cultures, which had been checked for the presence of the appropriate genetic markers, as follows:
- Histidine requirement: No Growth on Minimal plates + Biotin and Growth on Minimal plates + Biotin + Histidine.
- Tryptophan requirement: No Growth on Minimal agar plates and Growth on Minimal plates + Tryptophan.
- uvrA, uvrB: Sensitivity to UV irradiation.
- rfa: Sensitivity to Crystal Violet.
- pKM101: Resistance to Ampicillin.

MEDIA
- Nutrient Broth: Oxoid Nutrient Broth No. 2 was prepared at a concentration of 2.5% in distilled water and autoclaved prior to use. This was used for the preparation of liquid cultures of the tester strains.
- Nutrient Agar: Oxoid Nutrient Broth No. 2 (25 g) and Difco Bacto-agar (15 g) were added to distilled water(1 litre) and autoclaved. The solutions were then poured into 9 cm plastic Petri dishes and allowed to solidify and dry before use. These plates were used for the non-selective growth of the tester strains.
- Minimal Agar: Minimal medium agar was prepared as 1.5% Difco Bacto-agar in Vogel-Bonner Medium E, with 2% Glucose, autoclaved and poured into 9 cm plastic Petri dishes.
- Top Agar: "Top Agar" (overlay agar) was prepared as 0.6% Difco Bacto-agar + 0.5% NaCl in distilled water and autoclaved. Prior to use, 10 ml of a sterile solution of 0.5 mM Biotin + 0.5 mMHistidine (or 0.5 mM tryptophan) was added to the top agar (100 ml).

S9 TISSUE
One batch of S9 tissue fraction was used in this study and had the following characteristics:
- Species: Rat
- Strain Sprague: Dawley
- Tissue: Liver
- Inducing Agents: Phenobarbital – 5,6-Benzoflavone
The mixture of S9 tissue fraction and cofactors (S9 mix) was prepared as follows (for each 10 ml): S9 tissue fraction 1.0 ml)+ NADP (100 mM) 0.4 ml+G-6-P (100 mM) 0.5 ml+ KCl (330 mM) 1.0 ml+ MgCl2 (100 mM) 0.8 ml+ Phosphate buffer (pH 7.4, 200 mM) 5.0 ml+ Distilled Water 1.3 ml

PRELIMINARY TOXICITY TEST
A preliminary toxicity test was undertaken in order to select the concentrations of the test item to be used in the Main Assays. In this test a wide range of dose levels of the test item, set at half-log intervals, were used. Treatments were performed both in the absence and presence of S9 metabolism using the plate incorporation method; a single plate was used at each test point and positive controls were not included. Toxicity was assessed on the basis of a decline in the number of spontaneous revertants, a thinning of the background lawn or a microcolony formation.

MAIN ASSAYS
Two Main Assays were performed including negative and positive controls in the absence and presence of an S9 metabolising system. Three replicate plates were used at each test point. In addition, plates were prepared to check the sterility of the test item solutions and the S9 mix and dilutions of the bacterial cultures were plated on nutrient agar plates to establish the number of bacteria in the cultures.
- FIRST MAIN ASSAY -PLATE INCORPORATION METHOD: the components of the assay (the tester strain bacteria, the test item and S9 mix or phosphate buffer) were added to molten overlay agar and vortexed. The mixture was then poured onto the surface of a minimal medium agar plate and allowed to solidify prior to incubation. The overlay mixture was composed as follows: overlay agar (held at 45 °C) 2.0 ml +test or control item solution 0.1 ml+ S9 mix or phosphate buffer (pH 7.4, 0.1 M) 0.5 ml+ Bacterial suspension 0.1 ml.
- SECOND MAIN ASSAY- PRE-INCUBATION METHOD: the components were added in turn to an empty test-tube: bacterial suspension 0.1 ml+ test item solution or control item solution 0.05 ml+ S9 mix or phosphate buffer (pH 7.4, 0.1 M) 0.5 ml. The incubate was vortexed and placed at 37°C for 30 minutes. Two ml of overlay agar was then added and the mixture vortexed again and poured onto the surface of a minimal medium agar plate and allowed to solidify.

INCUBATION AND SCORING
The prepared plates were inverted and incubated for approximately 72 hours at 37 °C. After this period of incubation, plates from the preliminary toxicity test and Main Assay II were immediately scored by counting the number of revertant colonies on each plate, while plates from Main Assay I were held at 4°C for approximately 24 hours before scoring.

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA:
The assay was considered valid if the following criteria were met:
- Mean plate counts for untreated and positive control plates should fall within 2 standard deviations of the current historical mean values.
- The estimated numbers of viable bacteria/plate should fall in the range of 100 – 500 millions for each strain.
- No more than 5% of the plates should be lost through contamination or other unforeseen event.

Evaluation criteria:

For the test item to be considered mutagenic, two-fold (or more) increases in mean revertant numbers must be observed at two consecutive dose levels or at the highest practicable dose level only. In addition, there must be evidence of a dose-response relationship showing increasing numbers of mutant colonies with increasing dose levels.

Statistics:

The regression analysis fits a regression line to the data by the least squares method, after square root transformation of the plate counts to satisfy normal distribution and homoscedasticity assumptions. The regression equation is expressed as:
y = a +bx
where:
y = transformed revertant numbers
a = intercept
b = slope value
x = dose level (in the units given).
The regression line does not include the untreated control data, but includes the solvent control data.
Regression lines are calculated using a minimum of the three lowest dose levels, and then including the further dose levels in turn. The correlation co-effi cient (r), the value of students "t" statistic, and the p-value for the regression lines are also given.

Results and discussion

Test results

Key result

Species / strain:

other: S. typhimurium TA 1535, TA 1537, TA 98, TA 100 and E. coli WP2

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

other: Severe to slight citotoxicity observed in preincubation method at was observed at the highest or two highest dose levels, both in the absence and presence of S9 metabolism.

Vehicle controls validity:

valid

Untreated negative controls validity:

valid

Positive controls validity:

valid

Additional information on results:

RESULTS OF PLATE INCORPORATION AND PRE-INCUBATION ASSAY.
No increase in the number of revertant colonies was observed in the plate incorporation or pre-incubation assay, at any dose level, with any tester strain, in the absence or presence of S9 metabolism.
In preincubation assay severe to slight toxicity, as indicated by microcolony formation, thinning of the background lawn and/or reduction in revertant numbers, was observed at the highest or two highest dose levels, both in the absence and presence of S9 metabolism. No precipitation of the test item was observed at the end of the incubation period at any concentration tested, in any experiment.
The sterility of the S9 mix and of the test item solutions was confirmed by the absence of colonies on additional agar plates spread separately with these solutions. Marked increases in revertant numbers were obtained in these tests following treatment with the positive control items, indicating that the assay system was functioning correctly.

TOXICITY PRELIMINARY TEST
The test item Chlorphenesin was assayed in the toxicity test at a maximum dose level of 5000 µg/plate and at four lower concentrations spaced at approximately half-log intervals: 1580, 500, 158 and 50.0 µg/plate. No precipitation of the test item was observed at the end of the incubation period at any concentration. A reduction in revertant numbers was observed at the highest dose level with TA1537 and TA100 tester strains both in the absence and presence of S9 metabolism and with WP2 uvrA in its absence.

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
All acceptance criteria were fulfilled.
- Results show that mean plate counts for untreated and positive control plates fell within the normal range based on historical control data.
- The estimated numbers of viable bacteria/plate (titre) fell in the range of 100 - 500 million for each strain.
- No plates were lost through contamination or cracking. The study was accepted as valid.

EVALUATION OF THE RESULTS
The test item did not induce two-fold increases in the number of revertant colonies, at any dose level, in any tester strain, in the absence or presence of S9 metabolism.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

The test item does not induce reverse mutation in Salmonella typhimurium or Escherichia coli in the absence or presence of S9 metabolism.

Executive summary:

The test item was examined for the ability to induce gene mutations in tester strains of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli, as measured by reversion of auxotrophic strains to prototrophy. The five tester strains TA1535, TA1537, TA98, TA100 and WP2 uvrA were used. Experiments were performed both in the absence and presence of metabolic activation, using liver S9 fraction from rats pre-treated with phenobarbital and 5,6-benzoflavone.

The test item was used as a solution in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO).

 

TOXICITY TEST

The test item was assayed in the toxicity test at a maximum concentration of 5000 µg/plate and at four lower concentrations spaced at approximately half-log intervals: 1580, 500, 158 and 50.0 µg/plate. No precipitation of the test item was observed at the end of the incubation period at any concentration. Reduction in revertant numbers was observed at the highest dose level with TA1537 and TA100 tester strains, both in the absence and presence of S9 metabolism and with WP2 uvrA in its absence .

 

MAIN TEST

On the basis of toxicity test results, in Main Assay I, using the plate incorporation method, the test item was assayed at the following dose levels:

TA1535, TA98 (±S9) 5000, 2500, 1250, 625, 313 μg/plate

TA1537 (±S9) 5000, 2500, 1250, 625, 313, 156 μg/plate

WP2 uvrA (−S9) 5000, 2500, 1250, 625, 313, 156 μg/plate

WP2 uvrA (+S9) 5000, 2500, 1250, 625, 313 μg/plate

TA100 (− S9) 5000, 2500, 1250, 625, 313 μg/plate

TA100 (+ S9) 5000, 2500, 1250, 625, 313, 156 μg/plate

As no relevant increase in revertant numbers was observed at any concentration tested, a pre-incubation step was included for all treatments of Main Assay II. The dose-range was slightly modified to take into account the results of Main Assay I. The test item was assayed at the following dose levels:

TA1535, TA98, WP2 uvrA (± S9) 5000, 2500, 1250, 625, 313 μg/plate

TA1537, TA100 (±S9)5000, 2500, 1250, 625, 313, 156 μg/plate

Toxicity was observed with all tester strains at the highest or two highest dose levels in the absence and presence of S9 metabolism. No precipitation of the test item was observed at the end of the incubation period at any concentration tested, in any experiment. The test item did not induce two-fold increases in the number of revertant colonies in the plate incorporation or pre-incubation assay, at any dose level, in any tester strain, in the absence or presence of S9 metabolism.

 

CONCLUSION

It is concluded that the test item does not induce reverse mutation in Salmonella typhimurium or Escherichia coli in the absence or presence of S9 metabolism, under the reported experimental conditions.