Fatty acids, tall-oil, reaction products with boric acid (H3BO3) and diethanolamine

Toxicity to reproduction

Administrative data

Endpoint:

screening for reproductive / developmental toxicity

Remarks:

one-generation reproductive toxicity

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

28 July 1998 to 22 December 1998

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Cross-reference

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

reference to same study

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

1999

Report date:

1999

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 415 [One-Generation Reproduction Toxicity Study (before 9 October 2017)]

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Limit test:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Fatty acids, tall-oil, reaction products with boric acid (H3BO3) and diethanolamine

EC Number:

294-785-9

EC Name:

Fatty acids, tall-oil, reaction products with boric acid (H3BO3) and diethanolamine

Cas Number:

91770-03-5

IUPAC Name:

Fatty acids, tall-oil, reaction products with boric acid (H3BO3) and diethanolamine

Details on test material:

- Order: 175840-001
- Physical state: amber viscous liquid
- Analytical purity: no data
- Storage condition of test material: room temperature in the dark

Test animals

Species:

rat

Strain:

Sprague-Dawley

Sex:

male/female

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

TEST ANIMALS
- Age at study initiation: 6 ~ 7 weeks old
- Weight at study initiation: At the start of treatment the males weighed 158 to 205g, the females weighed 170 to 210g.
- Fasting period before study: none.
- Housing: Upon arrival, the animals were housed in groups of four in polypropylene cages with stainless steel grid floors and tops, suspended over paper-lined polypropylene trays. During the mating period animals were transferred to a similar type cage on a one male to one female per cage basis.
- Water: tap-water was made available ad libitum.
- Acclimation period: at least 16 days.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
- Temperature (°C): 21± 2
- Humidity (%): 55 ± 15
- Air changes: at least 15 air changes per hour
- Photoperiod: 12h light/12h dark light cycle
IN-LIFE DATES: From 28/07/98 - 22/12/98

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:

oral: gavage

Vehicle:

arachis oil

Details on exposure:

PREPARATION OF DOSING SOLUTIONS:
For the purpose of this study the test material was prepared at the appropriate concentrations as a solution in Arachis oil BP. The stability of the test material formulations was determined by Safepharm Analytical Laboratory. Results show the formulations to be stable for at least fourteen days. Formulations were therefore prepared weekly and stored at approximately +4C in the dark.
Samples were taken of each test material formulation and were analysed for concentration of the test substance at Safepharm Analytical Laboratory. The results indicate that the prepared formulations were within 10% of the nominal concentration.

VEHICLE
- Justification for use and choice of vehicle (if other than water): NA.
- Concentration in vehicle: 0, 25, 125, 500 mg/mL
- Amount of vehicle (if gavage): 2mL/kg
- Lot/batch no. (if required): NA.
- Purity: NA.

Details on mating procedure:

- M/F ratio per cage: One to one
- Length of cohabitation: up to 16 days
- Proof of pregnancy: vaginal plug, referred to as day 1 of pregnancy:
- After successful mating each pregnant female was caged: individually
- Any other deviations from standard protocol: One female in 1000 mg/kg bw/day group not dosed for one day (Day 17) during gestation due to her clinical condition.

Analytical verification of doses or concentrations:

yes

Details on analytical verification of doses or concentrations:

HPLC using an external standard.

Samples and standards prepared in methanol to give a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL

HPLC system: Hewlett Packard 1050
Column: Hypersil C18 (150 x 4.6 id)
Mobile phase: Eluent A - water and Eluent B - methanol
At time 0 - 10% B; 14 mins - 100% B and 26 mins - 100% B
Flowrate: 1.5 mL/min
UV detector wavelength: 240 nm
Injection volume: 25 µL
Retention time: 14 to 15 mins

Stability determination: analysed initally and after 14 days in the dark at +4°C.
Stability: 92-96% of initial concentration after 14 days

Formulation concentrations: sampled and analysed within three days of preparation at weekly intervals throughout study period.
Formulation: 93 - 110% of nominal

Duration of treatment / exposure:

Males: 10 weeks pre-mating, 16 days mating and through post-mating until weaning (Day 21 of weaning) - Total 16 weeks
Females 2 weeks pre-mating, 16 days mating and through post-mating (23 days) until weaning (Day 21 of weaning) - Total 11 weeks

Frequency of treatment:

The test material was administered once daily

Details on study schedule:

Chronological Sequence of Study
- Male animals were dosed for seventy four days and female rats were dosed for eighteen days, at their appointed dose levels, prior to pairing.
- Parental males and females were paired within their respective dose groups for up to sixteen days.
- Following evidence of mating, the animals were separated and males returned to their holding cages.
- The pregnant females were allowed to deliver their offspring. The offspring were observed for growth and development during lactation.
- At weaning on Day 21 (or as near to this date as possible) post partum the surviving offspring were killed and examined macroscopically post mortem.
- The surviving adult Parental animals were killed and examined macroscopically post mortem. Selected reproductive tissues and organs together with potential target organs were retained in fixative. Reproducitve tissues and organs from the high dose and control animals were processed and subsequently examined microscopically by a pathologist.

Doses / concentrations

Doses / concentrations 1

Dose / conc.:

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

Doses / concentrations 2

Dose / conc.:

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

Doses / concentrations 3

Dose / conc.:

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

Doses / concentrations 4

Dose / conc.:

1 000 mg/kg bw/day (actual dose received)

No. of animals per sex per dose:

24 animals per sex per dose

Control animals:

yes, concurrent vehicle

Details on study design:

- Dose selection rationale: based on previous toxicological test (90day repeat dose oral study)
- Rationale for animal assignment: random

Positive control:

Not included

Examinations

Parental animals: Observations and examinations:

CAGE SIDE OBSERVATIONS: Yes
- Time schedule: All animals were checked twice daily during the normal working week and once daily on weekends and public holidays.

DETAILED CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS: Yes
- Time schedule: All animals were observed daily, immediately before, immediately after and one hour after dosing, for clinical signs of toxicity..

BODY WEIGHT: Yes
- Time schedule for examinations: During the maturation and mating period the parental generation animals were weighed weekly. Following mating the parental males were weighed weekly until termination. Parental generation females showing evidence of mating were weighed on Days 1, 4, 7, 14 and 21 post coitum. Parental generation females with a live litter were weighed on Days 1, 4, 7, 14 and 21 post partum.

FOOD CONSUMPTION AND COMPOUND INTAKE (if feeding study):
- Food consumption for each animal determined and mean daily diet consumption calculated as g food/kg body weight/day: Yes. During the maturation periods food consumption was recorded weekly for each cage of parental generation adults. For parental generation females showing evidence of mating, food consumption was recorded for the periods covering Days 1 to 7, 7 to 14 and 14 to 21 post coiturn. For parental generation females with live litters, food consumption was recorded for the periods covering Days 1 to 7 and 7 to 14 post parturn.

- Compound intake calculated as time-weighted averages from the consumption and body weight gain data: No.

FOOD EFFICIENCY: Food Conversion Ratio was calculated weekly during the maturation period of the Parental generation.
Food Conversion Ratio = (Group mean bodyweight gain g/day) during week)/ Group mean food consumption g/rat/day)

WATER CONSUMPTION AND COMPOUND INTAKE (if drinking water study): No

OPHTHALMOSCOPIC EXAMINATION: No.

HAEMATOLOGY: No.

CLINICAL CHEMISTRY: No

URINALYSIS: No.

NEUROBEHAVIOURAL EXAMINATION: No

Oestrous cyclicity (parental animals):

No data

Sperm parameters (parental animals):

Parameters examined : sperm motility, sperm morphology, sperm concentration

Litter observations:

STANDARDISATION OF LITTERS: Not applicable

PARAMETERS EXAMINED
The following parameters were examined: number and sex of pups, stillbirths, live births, postnatal mortality, presence of gross anomalies, weight gain, physical or behavioural abnormalities

GROSS EXAMINATION OF DEAD PUPS:
yes, for external and internal abnormalities

Postmortem examinations (parental animals):

SACRIFICE
- Male animals: All surviving animals on Day 21 post partum
- Maternal animals: All surviving animals on Day 21 post partum

GROSS NECROPSY
- Gross necropsy consisted of external and internal examinations

HISTOPATHOLOGY
Ovaries, uterus, cervix, coagulating gland, pituitary gland, liver, vagina, testes, epididymides, seminal vesicles, prostate, lungs, thyroid gland, mesenteric lymph nodes, kidneys and significant abnormalities.

ORGAN WEIGHTS
Testes with spididymides, prostate, seminal vesicles/coagulating gland, uterus with cervix, ovaries, pituitary, liver, kidneys.

Postmortem examinations (offspring):

SACRIFICE
All animals at Day 21 post partum

GROSS NECROPSY
- Gross necropsy consisted of external and internal examinations

HISTOPATHOLOGY / ORGAN WEIGHTS : Not examined

Statistics:

The following parameters were analysed statistically, where appropriate using the test methods outlined as follows:

Adult male and female bodyweight during the maturation, gestation and lactation periods, adult male food consumption, female food consumption during maturation, gestation and lactation, litter size, litter weight, individual offspring bodyweight, offspring landmarks of physical development.

Values were analysed to establish homogeneity of group variances using Levene’s test followed by one-way analysis of variance. If the variances were unequal subsequent comparisons between control and treated groups were performed using Dunnett’s T3 Multiple Comparison Method. If variances were equal subsequent comparisons between control and treated groups were performed using Dunnett’s Multiple Comparison
Method.

Adult pre-coital intervals, female gestation lengths, offspring reflexological responses and litter sex ratios. Individual values were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric rank sum test. Where significant differences were seen, pairwise comparison of control values against treated group values was performed using Mann-Whitney "U" test.

Histopathology
Chi-squared analysis for differences in the incidence of lesions occurring with an overall frequency of 1 or greater.
Kruskal-Wallis one-way non-parametric analysis of variance for the comparison of severity grades for the more frequently observed conditions.

Reproductive indices:

Mating index:
Mating Index (%) = (No. of animals mated/ No. of animals paired) x 100

Pregnancy Index:
Pregnancy index (%) = (No. of pregnant females/No. of animals mated) x 100

Parturition Index:
Parturition index (%) = (No. of females delivering live pups/No. of pregnant females) x 100

Offspring viability indices:

Live Birth index:
Live Birth Index (%) = (No. of pups alive on Day 1/ No. of pups born) x 100

Viability Index:
Viability Index 1 (%) = (No. of pups alive on Day 4/ No. of pups alive on Day 1) x 100
Viability Index 2 (%) = (No. of pups alive on Day 7/ No. of pups alive on Day 4) x 100
Viability Index 3 (%) = (No. of pups alive on Day 14/ No. of pups alive on Day 7) x 100
Viability Index 4 (%) = (No. of pups alive on Day 21/ No. of pups alive on Day 14) x 100
Viability Index 5 (%) = (No. of viable pups at weaning/ No. of pups on Day 1) x 100
Sex ratio:
Sex ratio = (No. of male pups/No. of pups of determined sex) x 100

Results and discussion

Results: P0 (first parental generation)

General toxicity (P0)

Clinical signs:

no effects observed

Body weight and weight changes:

effects observed, treatment-related

Food consumption and compound intake (if feeding study):

effects observed, treatment-related

Organ weight findings including organ / body weight ratios:

effects observed, treatment-related

Histopathological findings: non-neoplastic:

no effects observed

Other effects:

not examined

Reproductive function / performance (P0)

Reproductive function: oestrous cycle:

no effects observed

Reproductive function: sperm measures:

no effects observed

Reproductive performance:

no effects observed

Details on results (P0)

CLINICAL SIGNS AND MORTALITY
There were no toxicologically significant clinical findings throughout the study.

Mortality:
There were no unscheduled deaths that could be attributed to test material toxicity. There were several deaths that were considered to be due to dosing trauma.

BODY WEIGHT AND WEIGHT GAIN
Maturation
-At 1000 mg/kg bw/day there was a slight reduction in male bodyweight gain from Week 5 until the end of maturation phase compared to controls. Although male group mean bodyweights were slightly lower than control values the differences were not significant statistically. Female bodyweight gain was not affected by treatment at this dose level. At 250 and 50 mg/kg bw/day there were no significant differences in male and female bodyweight gain throughout the respective maturation phases.

Post Maturation
At 1000 mg/kg bw/day male group mean bodyweight gain post maturation was slightly lower than that of controls, although the intergroup difference was not significant statistically. At 250 and 50 mg/kg bw/day there were no significant differences in male bodyweight throughout this period.

Gestation
There were no significant intergroup differences in bodyweight gain for females throughout the gestation period.

Lactation
There were no significant intergroup differences in bodyweight gain for females throughout the lactation period.

FOOD CONSUMPTION AND COMPOUND INTAKE (if feeding study):
There were no toxicologically significant effects.

WATER CONSUMPTION
No data.

OPHTHALMOSCOPIC EXAMINATION:
No data.

HAEMATOLOGY
No data.

NEUROBEHAVIOUR
Behavioural Assessments
There were no treatment-related changes in behaviour detected.


ORGAN WEIGHTS
At 1000 mg/kg/d there was a slight increase in male liver and kidney weight which, as a percentage of bodyweight, showed a statistically significant (p< 0.01) difference compared to controls. There was also a reduction in absolute prostate weight and prostate weight relative to bodyweight with the intergroup difference again achieving statistical significance compared to controls (p<0.05). Female liver and kidney weights (absolute and relative to bodyweight) were slightly increased compared to control values although only the increased kidney weight achieved statistical significance (p < 0.05). At 250 and 50 mg/kg/d there were no significant differences compared to controls.

GROSS PATHOLOGY:
At terminal necropsy the incidence and distribution of macroscopic post mortern findings show no treatment related trends. The gross abnormalities are those commonly observed in this study type.

HISTOPATHOLOGY: NON-NEOPLASTIC
There were no significant treatment related findings from the selected reproduction organs examined.

Effect levels (P0)

1

Dose descriptor:

NOEL

Remarks:

for reproductive effects

Effect level:

1 000 mg/kg bw/day (actual dose received)

Based on:

test mat.

Sex:

male/female

Basis for effect level:

other: No effects

2

Dose descriptor:

NOEL

Remarks:

for adult toxicity

Effect level:

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

Based on:

test mat.

Sex:

male/female

Basis for effect level:

body weight and weight gain

organ weights and organ / body weight ratios

3

Dose descriptor:

NOAEL

Remarks:

for adult toxicity

Effect level:

1 000 mg/kg bw/day (actual dose received)

Based on:

test mat.

Sex:

male/female

Basis for effect level:

body weight and weight gain

organ weights and organ / body weight ratios

Target system / organ toxicity (P0)

Key result

Critical effects observed:

no

Results: F1 generation

General toxicity (F1)

Clinical signs:

no effects observed

Mortality / viability:

no mortality observed

Body weight and weight changes:

no effects observed

Sexual maturation:

not examined

Organ weight findings including organ / body weight ratios:

not examined

Gross pathological findings:

no effects observed

Histopathological findings:

not examined

Details on results (F1)

Litter Data
Litter Size, Sex and Offspring Viability
There was no adverse effect on litter size, sex or viability that could be convincingly attributed to test material toxicity.
Offspring Clinical Condition
Surviving offspring showed no treatment-related clinical abnormalities.
Offspring Bodyweight and Development
There were no significant differences in the offspring development of animals treated with the test material compared to controls, as indicated by the group mean age of start and completion of the appearance of landmarks of offspring development. Similarly, there were no convincing differences in offspring bodyweight between treated animals and controls during lactation.
Offspring Reflexological Assessment
There were no significant treatment related differences in offspring reflexological responses compared to controls.
Offspring Sex Ratios
There were no significant treatment related differences in litter mean sex ratios on Days 1 and 21 of lactation compared to controls.

Effect levels (F1)

Key result

Dose descriptor:

NOEL

Generation:

F1

Effect level:

> 1 000 mg/kg bw/day (nominal)

Based on:

test mat.

Sex:

male/female

Basis for effect level:

other: No effects

Target system / organ toxicity (F1)

Key result

Critical effects observed:

no

Overall reproductive toxicity

Key result

Reproductive effects observed:

not specified

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

The administration of the test material to adult male and female rats throughout the reproductive cycle resulted in no effects on reproduction that could be attributed to the test material. There was evidence of minor systemic toxicity at a dose level of 1000 mg/kg bw/day. The No Observed Effect Level for reproductive effects was 1000 mg/kg bw/day and the No Observed Effect Level for adult toxicity was 250 mg/kg bw/day.

Executive summary:

TEST GUIDANCE

The study was designed to investigate the effects of the test material on the growth and reproductive performance of the rat and complies with OECD Guidelines for Testing of Chemicals, Section 4: Health Effects, Test Guidelines No. 415, 26 May 1983.

 

METHODS

The test material was administered orally, by gavage, to groups of twenty-four male and twenty-four female rats throughout maturation, mating, gestation and lactation. The dose levels were 50, 250 and 1000 mg/kg bw/day of test material with a similar sized control group receiving vehicle alone.

Following at least ten and two weeks of dosing respectively, male and female rats were paired within their dose groups to produce litters. At weaning of the offspring, all surviving animals were killed and examined macroscopically.

Parental animals were observed daily for clinical signs. Bodyweights and food consumption were recorded weekly during the maturation phase which was continued for males after the mating phase. Mated females were weighed and food consumption recorded on specific days post-coitum and post-partum.

The offspring were observed daily for clinical signs. The litter signs and individual pup bodyweights were recorded on specific days post-partum. During the lactation period the offspring were observed for intra-litter onset and duration of landmarks of physical development. On specific days of lactation, reflexological assessment of offspring was performed.

Postmortem macroscopic examinations were performed on all adults and offspring, including decedents. At necropsy of adult males a semen sample was collected from the vas deferens of the left testis for sperm evaluation. Reproductive and potential target organs and any significant abnormalities from all parental animals were preserved in fixative. Histopathology was carried out on reproductive organs from control and high dose group parental animals. Additional testicular histopathology, involving staging of testicular spermatogenesis, was performed on control and high dose males.

 

RESULTS

Reproduction was unaffected by treatment. The incidence of non-treatment related total litter losses seen at 1000 mg/kg bw/day and 50 mg/kg bw/day is a recognised aberration with the particular strain and source of rat used in this study.

At 1000 mg/kg bw/day there was evidence of minor systemic toxicity. Males showed slightly reduced bodyweight gain compared with that of controls during the maturation phase. In addition, there was a slight increase in male and female kidney weight at this dose level, a slight increase in male liver weight and prostrate weight was slightly reduced. There were no associated histopathological changes. There were no toxicologically significant findings at the remaining dose levels, although there were a number of unscheduled deaths at dose levels of 250 and 1000 mg/kg bw/day. These were attributable to dosing trauma and were not related to test material toxicity.

 

CONCLUSION

The administration of the test material to adult male and female rats throughout the reproductive cycle resulted in no effects on reproduction that could be attributed to the test material. There was evidence of minor systemic toxicity at a dose level of 1000 mg/kg bw/day. The No Observed Effect Level for reproductive/developmental effects was 1000 mg/kg bw/day and the No Observed Effect Level for adult toxicity was 250 mg/kg bw/day (A NOAEL of 1000 mg/kg bw/d was proposed since only minor systemic effects were observed at this dose level).