p-benzoquinone

Genetic toxicity: in vivo

Administrative data

Endpoint:

in vivo mammalian somatic cell study: cytogenicity / bone marrow chromosome aberration

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

study well documented, meets generally accepted scientific principles, acceptable for assessment

Data source

Reference

Reference 1

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Benzene and the genotoxicity of its metabolites. I. Transplacental activity in mouse fetuses and in their dams.

Author:

Ciranni, R., Barale, R., Marrazzini, A. & Loprieno, N.

Year:

1988

Bibliographic source:

Ciranni, R., Barale, R., Marrazzini, A. & Loprieno, N. (1988a) Benzene and the genotoxicity of its metabolites. I. Transplacental activity in mouse fetuses and in their dams. Mutat. Res., 208, 61–67

Reference 2

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Benzene and the genotoxicity of its metabolites. II. The effect of the route of administration on the micronuclei and bone marrow depression in mouse bone marrow cells.

Author:

Ciranni, R., Barale, R., Ghelardini, G. & Loprieno, N.

Year:

1988

Bibliographic source:

Ciranni, R., Barale, R., Ghelardini, G. & Loprieno, N. (1988b) Benzene and the genotoxicity of its metabolites. II. The effect of the route of administration on the micronuclei and bone marrow depression in mouse bone marrow cells. Mutat. Res., 209, 23–28

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

equivalent or similar to guideline

Guideline:

EU Method B.12 (Mutagenicity - In Vivo Mammalian Erythrocyte Micronucleus Test)

GLP compliance:

not specified

Type of assay:

mouse spot test

Test material

Test material information

1

Reference substance name:

p-benzoquinone

EC Number:

203-405-2

EC Name:

p-benzoquinone

Cas Number:

106-51-4

Molecular formula:

C6H4O2

IUPAC Name:

1,4-benzoquinone

Test animals

Species:

mouse

Strain:

CD-1

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:

oral: unspecified

Doses / concentrations

Doses / concentrations 1

Dose / conc.:

20 mg/kg bw/day

Remarks:

Ciranni et al. (1988a)

Doses / concentrations 2

Dose / conc.:

20 mg/kg bw/day

Remarks:

Ciranni et al. (1988b)

Examinations

Statistics:

The significance level of induced micronuclei was assessed by the use of the Kastenbaum and Bowman tables [12], while the significance of induced cell toxicity (PCE/NCE ratio) was evaluated with the t-test after arc-sin transformation.

Results and discussion

Test results

Test results 1

Key result

Sex:

female

Genotoxicity:

positive

Remarks:

Ciranni et al. (1988a)

Toxicity:

yes

Test results 2

Key result

Sex:

male

Genotoxicity:

positive

Remarks:

Ciranni et al. (1988b)

Toxicity:

yes

Any other information on results incl. tables

a) Among the tested metabolites hydroquinone and, to a lesser extent, p-benzoquinone, catechol and o,o'-biphenol seem to be active on fetuses. They also produce evident toxic effects, p-Benzoquinone, 1,2,4-benzenetriol, p,p'-biphenol produce only toxic effects, suggesting that these chemicals reach the fetuses, but do not induce any evident genotoxic effects.

b) p-Benzoquinone produces an increase of micronuclei which is statistically significant (P < 0.05) only when administered by o.r. and at 42 h after treatment. Bone marrow depression appears at 24 h and then it decreases slowly. The same amount (20 mg/kg) is extremely toxic after i.p. injection, therefore animals were treated with 5 mg/kg. Under these conditions no significant micronucleus increases were induced, but high levels of toxicity were present at all the times checked (18-48 h).

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

p-Benzoquinone induced micronuclei in the bone-marrow cells of mice treated in vivo.

Executive summary:

p-Benzoquinone is weakly positive in inducing micronuclei in vivo only after oral administration.