Methyl benzoate

Genetic toxicity: in vitro

Administrative data

Endpoint:

in vitro cytogenicity / micronucleus study

Remarks:

Type of genotoxicity: chromosome aberration

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

from 2012-09-25 to 2013-

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: GLP study according to guideline

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

2013

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: OECD 487

Deviations:

yes

Remarks:

To get proper responses of statistical significance when using the specified positive controls the test design, specifically for the treatment, the expression phase and harvest time, was slightly modified compared to the OECD Guideline 487.

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Type of assay:

in vitro mammalian cell micronucleus test

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Methyl benzoate

EC Number:

202-259-7

EC Name:

Methyl benzoate

Cas Number:

93-58-3

Molecular formula:

C8H8O2

IUPAC Name:

methyl benzoate

Test material form:

other: clear liquid, colourless

Details on test material:

- Name of test material (as cited in study report): Methyl Benzoate
- Physical state: clear liquid, colourless

Method

Species / strain

Species / strain / cell type:

lymphocytes: human

Details on mammalian cell type (if applicable):

- Type and identity of media: DMEM:F12 (Dulbecco's modified eagle medium/Ham's F12 medium, mixture 1:1) supplemented with 200 mM GlutaMax
- Properly maintained: yes

Additional strain / cell type characteristics:

not applicable

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Metabolic activation system:

Mammalian Microsomal Fraction S9 Mix

Test concentrations with justification for top dose:

pre-test on cytotoxicity: up to 1360.0 µg/mL (approx. 10 mM)

Further concentrations please see Table 1

Vehicle / solvent:

- Vehicle(s)/solvent(s) used: DMSO; final concentration of DMSO in the culture medium was 0.5 % (v/v)
- Justification for choice of solvent/vehicle: The solvent was chosen due to its solubility properties and its relative non-toxicity to the cell cultures.

Controls

Controls 1

Untreated negative controls:

no

Negative solvent / vehicle controls:

yes

True negative controls:

no

Positive controls:

yes

Remarks:

Without metabolic activation

Positive control substance:

mitomycin C

other: Demecolcin

Controls 2

Untreated negative controls:

no

Negative solvent / vehicle controls:

yes

True negative controls:

no

Positive controls:

yes

Remarks:

With metabolic activation

Positive control substance:

cyclophosphamide

Details on test system and experimental conditions:

METHOD OF APPLICATION: in medium

DURATION
- Preincubation period: 48 h
- Exposure duration: 4 h with and without S9 mix (experiment I) or 4 h with S9 mix and 20 h without S9 mix (see Table 1)
- Expression time (cells in growth medium): cells exposed for 4 h have 16 h recovery period before fixation (expression phase), no recovery period for 20 h exposure cells
- Selection time (if incubation with a selection agent): 20 h with Cytochalasin B (4 µg/mL)
- Cells were prepared 40 h after start of the exposure

SPINDLE INHIBITOR (cytogenetic assays): Cytochalasin B (4 µg/mL)
STAIN (for cytogenetic assays): Giemsa

NUMBER OF REPLICATIONS: 2

NUMBER OF CELLS EVALUATED:
cytotoxic effect the CBPI: ca 500 cells per culture and cytotoxicity is expressed as % cytostasis
micronuclei effects: at least 1000 binucleate cells per culture were scored for cytogenetic damage on coded slides. The frequency of micronucleated cells was reported as % micronucleated cells

DETERMINATION OF CYTOTOXICITY
- percentages of reduction in the CBPI (cytokinesis-block proliferating index) in comparison with the controls (% cytostasis) by counting 500 cells per culture in duplicate

Evaluation criteria:

A test item can be classified as non-clastogenic and non-aneugenic if:
- the number of micronucleated cells in all evaluated dose groups is in the range of the laboratory historical control data and/or
- no statistically significant or concentration-related increase in the number of micronucleated cells is observed.

A test item can be classified as clastogenic or aneugenic if:
- the number of micronucleated cells is not in the range of the historical laboratory control data and
- either a concentration-related increase of micronucleated cells in three test groups or a statistically significant increase of the number of micronucleated cells is observed.

Statistics:

Statistical significance was confirmed by means of the Chi square test.

Results and discussion

Test results

Species / strain:

lymphocytes: human

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

no cytotoxicity

Vehicle controls validity:

valid

Untreated negative controls validity:

not applicable

Positive controls validity:

valid

Additional information on results:

TEST-SPECIFIC CONFOUNDING FACTORS
- Effects of pH: no
- Effects of osmolality: no
- Evaporation from medium: no data
- Water solubility: Phase separation was observed in Experiment I at 1360.0 µg/mL in the absence and at 444.1 µg/mL and above in the presence of S9 mix and in Experiment II at 777.1 µg/mL and above in the presence of S9 mix.
- Precipitation: was observed in Experiment II at 777.1 µg/mL and above following 20 h exposure in the absence of S9 mix

RANGE-FINDING/SCREENING STUDIES: yes

COMPARISON WITH HISTORICAL CONTROL DATA: yes

Remarks on result:

other: other: Experiment I and II

Remarks:

Migrated from field 'Test system'.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

Interpretation of results (migrated information):
negative

Under the experimental conditions reported, the test item did not induce micronuclei as determined by the in vitro micronucleus test in human lymphocytes. Therefore, Methyl Benzoate is considered to be non-clastogenic and non-aneugenic in this in vitro micronucleus test, when tested up to the highest required concentration.

Executive summary:

The study was conducted according to OECD Guideline 487. The expression phase and harvest time were slightly modified compared to the OECD Guideline 487. The test item Methyl Benzoate, dissolved in DMSO, was assessed for its potential to induce micronuclei in human lymphocytes in vitro in two independent experiments. The following study design was performed:

	Without S9-Mix		With S9-Mix
	Exp. I	Exp. II	Exp. I and II
Exposure period	4 hrs	20 hrs	4 hrs
Recovery	16 hrs	-	16 hrs
Cytochalasin B exposure	20 hrs	20 hrs	20 hrs
Preparation interval	40 hrs	40 hrs	40 hrs
Total culture period	88 hrs	88 hrs	88 hrs

In each experimental group two parallel cultures were analysed. 1000 binucleate cells per culture were evaluated for cytogenetic damage. The highest applied concentration in this study (1360.0 µg/mL of the test item, approx. 10 mM) was chosen with regard to the molecular weight of the test item and with respect to the guideline. Dose selection of the cytogenetic experiment was performed considering the toxicity data and the occurrence of test item precipitation in accordance with OECD Guideline 487. The evaluated experimental points and the results are summarised in Table 2 (see Attached document). In both cytogenetic experiments, in the absence and presence of S9 mix, no cytotoxicity indicated as cytostasis was observed up to the highest applied concentration. In both independent experiments, neither a statistically significant nor a biologically relevant increase in the number of micronucleated cells was observed after treatment with the test item. Appropriate mutagens were used as positive controls. They induced statistically significant increases in cells with micronuclei. It can be stated that under the experimental conditions reported, the test item did not induce micronuclei as determined by the in vitro micronucleus test in human lymphocytes. Therefore, Methyl Benzoate is considered to be non-clastogenic and non-aneugenic in this in vitro micronucleus test, when tested up to the highest required concentration.