(2-hydroxypropyl)trimethylammonium 2-ethylhexanoate

Repeated dose toxicity: oral

Administrative data

Endpoint:

sub-chronic toxicity: oral

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

1997

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

comparable to guideline study

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

1998

Report date:

1998

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

equivalent or similar to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 408 (Repeated Dose 90-Day Oral Toxicity Study in Rodents)

Deviations:

not specified

GLP compliance:

not specified

Limit test:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

2-ethylhexanoic acid

EC Number:

205-743-6

EC Name:

2-ethylhexanoic acid

Cas Number:

149-57-5

Molecular formula:

C8H16O2

IUPAC Name:

2-ethylhexanoic acid

Test material form:

liquid

Specific details on test material used for the study:

2-Ethylhexanoic acid (EHA; CAS no. 149-57-5) was obtained from Eastman Chemical Company (Kingsport, TN, USA). The purity of the test sample was determined to be 99.920.05%, and the mass spectrum was consistent with the structure of EHA.

Test animals

Species:

rat

Strain:

Fischer 344

Details on species / strain selection:

Male and female weanling F344 rats were obtained from Charles River Laboratories (Wilmington, MA, USA). Females were nulliparous and non-pregnant.
Animals were observed for approximately 2 wk and determined to be healthy prior to testing.All animals were approximately 6 wk of age at the start of
the study.

Sex:

male/female

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

Husbandry and environmental conditions were in compliance with the NIH Guide to the Use and Care of Animals (86-23). Certified feed (Agway1 ProlabTM Animal Diet RMH 3200) and water were available ad lib

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:

oral: feed

Details on route of administration:

The test substance was added directly (no vehicle) to chow

Vehicle:

unchanged (no vehicle)

Details on oral exposure:

Diets were prepared monthly and the concentrations of test diets were verified analytically.

Analytical verification of doses or concentrations:

yes

Details on analytical verification of doses or concentrations:

Diets were prepared monthly and the concentrations of test diets were verified analytically.

Duration of treatment / exposure:

13 weeks

Frequency of treatment:

via Feed ad libitum

Doses / concentrations

Doses / concentrations 1

Dose / conc.:

0 other: % w/w

Doses / concentrations 2

Dose / conc.:

0.1 other: % w/w

Doses / concentrations 3

Dose / conc.:

0.5 other: % w/w

Doses / concentrations 4

Dose / conc.:

1.5 other: % w/w

No. of animals per sex per dose:

10 males and 10 females
An additional 10 animals per sex were added to the highdose and control groups to evaluate recovery from any observed toxic efects.

Control animals:

yes, plain diet

Positive control:

No

Examinations

Observations and examinations performed and frequency:

Body weight measurements were collected twice during the first week and at least once weekly thereafter, while feed consumption was usually measured twice weekly throughout the study.
Animals were checked daily for mortality.
Observations for clinical signs of toxicity were performed twice each workday, and included examination of the hair, skin, eyes, motor activity, faeces and urine.
Clinical observations for recovery animals were identical to those performed on animals during the test phase of the study.

Sacrifice and pathology:

All animals were fasted overnight, anaesthetized with CO2, and exsanguinated from the posterior vena cava after collecting blood for analysis.
Complete gross necropsies were performed on all animals. Haematology and serum clinical chemistries were conducted on five animals per sex.

Other examinations:

Haematology tests included haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, differential white blood cell count, platelet count, red blood cell indices, prothrombin time.
Clinical chemistry tests included: aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin, total protein, albumin, creatinine, urea nitrogen, glucose, g-glutamyl transpeptidase, triglycerides, cholesterol, sodium, potassium, chloride,
calcium and phosphorous.

Statistics:

Numerical data were evaluated for statistical significance using the following computer-generated statistical tests: Bartlett’s test (PE0.01), one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (PE0.05), and Duncan’s multiple range test (PE0.05).

Results and discussion

Results of examinations

Clinical signs:

no effects observed

Mortality:

no mortality observed

Body weight and weight changes:

no effects observed

Description (incidence and severity):

Body weight gain was slightly lower for animals consuming diets containing 1.5% EHA compared with the control groups.
Mean body weights of rats consuming diets containing 0.5% or 0.1% EHA were unaffected compared with controls.

Food consumption and compound intake (if feeding study):

effects observed, non-treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

Feed consumption by rats was initially reduced between 19 and 26% in animals consuming the 1.5% diet relative to that of the control group. From day 4 to the end of the treatment period for that group, the average feed consumption was 3–5% lower in males, and 8–10% lower in females when compared with their respective control groups. No dierences in feed consumption were seen for the 0.1 and 0.5% groups or for the 1.5% recovery group compared with controls.

Food efficiency:

not specified

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

not examined

Ophthalmological findings:

no effects observed

Haematological findings:

effects observed, non-treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

Minor red blood cell differences (reductions in mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume) were observed at the 0.5 and 1.5% dose levels for male and female rats. These dierences were minimal, however, and did not indicate clinically significant changes in red blood cell indices.

Clinical biochemistry findings:

effects observed, treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

Triglyceride concentrations for rats were not significantly different from control values.
The only other change in serum chemistry was an increase in albumin in male rats fed 1.5% EHA; this value returned to control levels after 28 days of recovery.

Urinalysis findings:

no effects observed

Behaviour (functional findings):

not examined

Immunological findings:

not examined

Organ weight findings including organ / body weight ratios:

effects observed, non-treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

Mean relative (to body weight) liver weights for all groups of animals receiving 0.5% or 1.5% EHA were greater (PE0.05) than the weights of the respective control groups.
The mean absolute liver weights for all groups fed 1.5% EHA, and for female rats and male mice fed 0.5% EHA were also significantly greater (PE0.05) than for the respective control groups. No other changes in liver weights were noted and following 28 days of recovery, all absolute liver weights were comparable to control values.
Absolute kidney weights were unaffected by EHA treatment.
Minor, yet statistically significant (PE0.05) decreases in absolute brain weights (1.5% female rats) not considered biologically significant.
Slight increases in relative adrenal gland, brain, and testes weights occurred for some of the groups, the differences were related to reduced terminal body weight and, therefore, were not considered to be indicative of organ specific toxicity

Gross pathological findings:

effects observed, non-treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

No treatment-related gross pathology was observed for either main-study or recovery animals.
.

Neuropathological findings:

not examined

Histopathological findings: non-neoplastic:

effects observed, non-treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

Hepatocyte hypertrophy was observed after 13 wk of treatment. No hepatic lesions were observed in rats after recovery.
Hepatomegaly, which was noted in the present study, was interpreted as an adaptive response resulting from enzyme induction, particularly since EHA is known to induce enzyme activity in the liver.
No testicular changes were noted.

Histopathological findings: neoplastic:

no effects observed

Effect levels

1

Key result

Dose descriptor:

NOAEL

Effect level:

61 mg/kg bw/day (nominal)

Based on:

test mat.

Sex:

male

Basis for effect level:

organ weights and organ / body weight ratios

2

Key result

Dose descriptor:

NOAEL

Effect level:

71 mg/kg bw/day (nominal)

Based on:

test mat.

Sex:

female

Basis for effect level:

organ weights and organ / body weight ratios

Target system / organ toxicity

Key result

Critical effects observed:

no

System:

other: Liver

Organ:

liver

Any other information on results incl. tables

Hepatomegaly, which was noted in the present study, was interpreted as an adaptive response resulting from enzyme induction, particularly since EHA is known to induce enzyme activity in the liver.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

When calculated as a time-weighted average, the three EHA diets provided dose levels of 61, 303 or 917 mg/kg/ day for male rats and 71, 360 or 1068 mg/kg/day for female rats.
The NOAEL for male rats was 61 mg/kg/day and the NOEL for female rats was 71 mg/kg/day.
The lowest-observed-adverse-efect level was approximately 300 mg/kg/day in rats primarily based on potential adverse effects on the liver. Thus, EHA appears to cause similar hepatic effects
to 2-EH following subchronic exposure, but at higher dose levels.