Isopropanol: acute vapor inhalation neurotoxicity study in rats.

Five groups of 25 Fischer 344 rats of each sex were exposed for 6 h to isopropanol vapor at 0, 500, 1500, 5000 or 10,000 ppm. Behavioral observations for 10 rats of each sex were made prior to and 1, 6, and 24 h after exposure. Motor activity was evaluated for 15 rats of each sex prior to and immediately following exposure. Exposure to isopropanol caused a spectrum of transient effects indicative of narcosis at 10,000 ppm and sedation at 5000 ppm. Prostration or severe ataxia, decreased arousal, slowed or labored respiration, decreased neuromuscular function, hypothermia and loss of reflex function were observed 1 and 6 h after exposure to 10,000 ppm isopropanol vapor. Similar, but less severe, alterations were observed in animals in the 5000 ppm exposure group 1 h after exposure. Exposure concentration-related decreases in motor activity were observed in males and females in the 5000 and 10,000 ppm groups and slight decreases in motor activity were observed in males in the 1500 ppm group. Animals in the 1500 and 5000 ppm exposure groups recovered from these motor activity effects within 5 h. Based on this study, exposure of male and female rats to isopropanol vapor produces transient, concentration-related narcosis and/or sedation at concentrations of 5000 and 10,000 ppm and minor decreases in motor activity in males at a concentration of 1500 ppm. The no-observed-effect level (NOEL) for this was 500 ppm isopropanol.

Disposition and pharmacokinetics of isopropanol in F-344 rats and B6C3F1 mice.

The absorption, metabolism, disposition, and excretion of isopropanol (IPA) were studied in male and female rats and mice. Animals were exposed by i.v. (300 mg/kg) and inhalation (500 and 5000 ppm for 6 hr) routes; additionally, IPA was given by gavage to rats only in single and multiple 300 and 3000 mg/kg doses. In the rat approximately 81-89% of the administered dose was exhaled (as acetone, CO2, and unmetabolized IPA); approximately 76% of the dose in mice was exhaled after i.v. bolus but 92% was exhaled following inhalation. Approximately 3-8% of the administered dose was excreted in urine as IPA, acetone, and a metabolite tentatively identified as isopropyl glucuronic acid. Small amounts of radiolabel were found in feces and in the carcass. There were no major differences in the rates or routes of excretion observed either between sexes or between routes of administration. Additionally, repeated exposure had no effect on excretion. However, both the route of administration and the exposure or dose level influenced the form in which material was exhaled. Following exposure to 5000 ppm, a greater percentage of unmetabolized IPA was recovered in the expired air than following exposure to 500 ppm, implying saturation of metabolism.

Isopropanol 13-week vapor inhalation study in rats and mice with neurotoxicity evaluation in rats.

This study was conducted to evaluate the possible subchronic toxicity as well as neurobehavioral effects of isopropanol, a widely used industrial and commercial solvent. Five groups, each containing 10 Fischer 344 rats/sex and 10 CD-1 mice/sex, were exposed for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week, for 13 weeks to isopropanol vapor at concentrations of 0 (control), 100, 500, 1500, or 5000 ppm. An additional 15 rats/sex were assigned to the 0, 500, 1500, and 5000 ppm groups for assessment of neurobehavioral function. No exposure-related mortalities occurred during the study. The narcotic effects of isopropanol were noted only during exposures at 1500 and 5000 ppm. These signs, noted during exposures, were typically absent following exposures. The only clinical signs observed following exposures included swollen periocular tissue, perinasal encrustation, and ataxia for rats of the 5000 ppm group. Neurobehavioral evaluations indicated no changes in any of the parameters of the functional observational battery; however, increased motor activity for female rats in the 5000 ppm group was noted at Weeks 9 and 13. Decreases in body weight and body weight gain were observed for rats of the 5000 ppm group at the end of the first week of exposure. During the remaining weeks, increases in body weight and/or body weight gain were observed for rats of the 1500 and 5000 ppm groups. No exposure-related effects on body weight were noted for male mice; however, increased body weight and body weight gain were observed for female mice of the 5000 ppm group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Strategies employed to determine the acute aquatic toxicity of ethyl benzene, a highly volatile, poorly water-soluble chemical.

Studies are described in which ethyl benzene (EB) was tested to determine its acute toxicity to three marine organisms, Atlantic silversides (Menidia menidia), mysid shrimp (Mysidopsis bahia), and diatoms (Skeletonema costatum), and to one freshwater algae (Selenastrum capricornutum). The respective 96-hr median lethal concentration (LC50) values and 95% confidence intervals for EB in the flow-through studies with fish and mysid shrimp were 5.1 (4.4-5.7) mg/liter and 2.6 (2.0-3.3) mg/liter. While the 96-hr median effective concentrations (EC50's) for growth inhibition and 95% confidence intervals for the static studies with diatoms and algae were 7.7 (5.9-10.0) mg/liter and 3.6 (1.7-7.6) mg/liter, respectively. Problems were encountered in all four studies as a result of the high volatility and poor water solubility of EB in water and an apparent "salting out" effect noted in seawater. This effect was found particularly true in the diatom and algae studies where the salinity was increased with the addition of culture medium. Measures are described which were used to overcome this stability problem with EB. These included sealing the test systems tight without any air spaces to prevent the collection of EB vapors. Also, increased mixing of EB in the test solutions was found to be essential in the flow-through studies to maintain stable levels. In the case of the diatom and algal studies, since current EPA test guidelines were judged to be inadequate to overcome EB volatility from the test medium, a new closed test system had to be developed and employed, after validation with a nonvolatile reference toxicant in the new and conventional static test systems. The results of these studies indicate that previous reports underestimated the potential acute aquatic toxicity of EB by at least one order of magnitude. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the potential environmental impact of EB and the resultant regulatory actions.

Developmental neurotoxicity evaluation of orally administered isopropanol in rats.

Isopropanol was administered by gavage to timed-mated rats from Gestation Day (GD) 6 through Postnatal Day (PND) 21. Doses administered were 0, 200, 700, or 1200 mg/kg/day in a volume of 5 ml/kg. The dams were allowed to deliver and body weights and food consumption were recorded during gestation and lactation. Pups were counted, examined, sexed, and weighed on PND 0, 4, 7, 13, 17, 21, 36, 49, and 68. Litters were culled to eight pups (4:4 or 5:3 sex ratio) on PND 4 and litters without acceptable numbers of male and female pups were eliminated from the study. Pups were weaned on PND 22, and two pups from each litter and their dams were killed. Six of these pups from each dose group were perfused in situ for histopathological examination of the central and peripheral nervous system. Brains of the remaining pups were divided into four regions and weighed. Maternal liver and kidney weights were recorded. Weaned pups were assessed for day of testes descent or vaginal opening and for motor activity on PNDs 13, 17, 21, 47, and 58; auditory startle on PNDs 22 and 60; and active avoidance on PNDs 60-64. These pups were euthanized and examined on PND 68. One high-dose dam died on PND 15, but there were no other clinical observations or effects on maternal weight, food consumption, or gestation length. Pup survival, weight, sex ratio, and sexual maturation were unaffected. There were no biologically significant findings in the behavioral tests, no changes in organ weights, and no pathological findings that could be attributed to isopropanol exposure. In conclusion, there was no evidence of developmental neurotoxicity associated with isopropanol exposure as high as 1200 mg/kg/day.

Developmental toxicity evaluation of isopropanol by gavage in rats and rabbits.

Timed-pregnant CD (Sprague-Dawley) rats, 25/group, were dosed orally with aqueous isopropanol (IPA; CAS No. 67-63-0) solutions at 0, 400, 800, or 1200 mg/kg/day, once daily on Gestational Days (GD) 6 through 15 at a dosing volume of 5 ml/kg. Artificially inseminated New Zealand white rabbits, 15/group, were dosed orally with IPA at 0, 120, 240, or 480 mg/kg/day once daily on GD 6 through 18 at 2 ml/kg. Maternal body weights, clinical observations, and food consumption were recorded throughout gestation for both species. At scheduled euthanization for both species (GD 20, rats; GD 30, rabbits), fetuses were weighed, sexed, and examined for external, visceral (including craniofacial) and skeletal alterations. For both species, the pregnancy rate was high and equivalent across all groups; no dams or does aborted, delivered early, or were removed from study. In rats, two dams (8%) died at 1200 mg/kg/day and one dam (4%) died at 800 mg/kg/day. Maternal body weights and weight gain were equivalent across all groups, except for statistically significantly reduced gestational weight gain (GD 0-20; 89.9% of control value), associated with statistically significantly reduced gravid uterine weight at 1200 mg/kg/day (89.2% of control value). There were no treatment-related clinical signs or effects on maternal food consumption. All gestational parameters evaluated were equivalent across groups, including pre- and postimplantation loss, fetal sex ratios, and litter size. Twenty-two to 25 litters were examined per group. Fetal body weights per litter were statistically significantly reduced at the two highest doses (97.3 (n.s.), 94.7, and 94.3% of controls at 800 mg/kg/day and 92.1, 91.9, and 95.4% of controls at 1200 mg/kg/day for all fetuses and males and females separately). No evidence of increased teratogenicity was observed at any dose tested in rats. In rabbits, four does (26.7%) died at 480 mg/kg/day. Maternal body weights were statistically significantly reduced during treatment (GD 6-18) at 480 mg/kg/day (45.4% of control value) with a nonsignificant reduction in gestational weight change (GD 0-30; 77.3% of control value) at this dose. Profound clinical signs of toxicity and statistically significantly reduced maternal food consumption were observed at 480 mg/kg/day. All gestational parameters were equivalent across all doses administered. Thirteen to 15 litters were evaluated per group except for the 480 mg/kg/day group with 11 litters (due to maternal deaths). There were no treatment-related effects on pre- or postimplantation loss, fetal sex ratio, litter size, or fetal body weight/litter. Moreover, no evidence was found of increased teratogenicity at any dose tested in rabbits. Therefore, IPA was not teratogenic to CD rats or to NZW rabbits. The NOAELS for both maternal and developmental toxicity were 400 mg/kg/day in rats, and were 240 and 480 mg/kg/day, respectively, in rabbits.

In vitro and in vivo assays of isopropanol for mutagenicity.

To assess the mutagenic potential of isopropanol, an in vitro Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell/HGPRT gene mutation assay and a bone marrow micronucleus study in mice were conducted. In the CHO/HGPRT assay, concentration levels ranged from 0.5 to 5.0 mg/ml. No elevated mutant frequencies attributable to treatment were observed in the test under either activated or non-activated conditions. In the micronucleus assay, mice were injected intraperitoneally (IP) with either 350, 1,173, or 2,500 mg/kg of isopropanol at constant volumes of 10 ml/kg. No increased incidence of micronuclei was observed in bone marrow polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs) harvested at 24, 48, or 72 hr post-dosing. In both assays, negative and positive control mutant frequencies were within historical control ranges. These results, in conjunction with previously published data, clearly demonstrate that isopropanol is not a mutagen.

Rigid analogues of dopamine: synthesis and interaction of 6-exo- and 6-endo-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octanes with dopamine uptake sites and receptors.

Two isomeric 6-endo- and 6-exo-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl) derivatives (1 and 2) of 2-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane were synthesized as semirigid analogues of dopamine (DA) to help evaluate the preferred conformation of dopamine at the uptake site of the presynaptic nerve terminal and at the DA receptor. Against the uptake of 0.1 microM [3H]DA by a synaptosomal preparation of corpus striatum from the reserpine-pretreated rat, 2 was found to have a weak inhibitory effect that was three times greater than that of 1 (IC50 = 32 vs. 110 microM). Interactions with DA receptors were assessed with competition for binding of [3H]apomorphine (APO) and on the effect on DA-sensitive adenylate cyclase. Compounds 1 and 2 were both virtually inactive against the binding of 0.5 nM [3H]APO at a screening concentration of 100 microM. The experimental compounds also exhibited only slight adenylate cyclase stimulation in rat striatal homogenates, with 1 appearing to be somewhat more active (at 50 or 400 microM). The weak activities of 1 and 2 and their relatively small differences in activity in these test systems suggest that the DA analogues interact only weakly with the DA transport and receptor sites, possibly as a result of the steric interference caused by the bulky bicyclic ring.

The effect of hematin on the development of microsomal enzyme induction and physical dependence in mice following repeated oral propoxyphene administration.

Male ICR mice (25 - 30 g) were pretreated with bovine hematin (20, 40 or 50 mumoles per kg per day, i.p.) for three days. During the next six-day period, animals received either 50 mg per kg per day propoxyphene-HCl or saline, p.o., in addition to the daily hematin injections. Only the highest hematin regimen depressed the induction of propoxyphene-N-demethylase activity significantly in the drug-treated animals. A similar depression below control levels was noted in the animals receiving only saline (p.o.) and hematin (i.p.). While hematin treatment abolished the metabolic tolerance to propoxyphene analgesia such treatment failed to generate any appreciable degree of physical dependence to propoxyphene as assessed by a challenge with naloxone. These findings may be helpful in assessing the risk factors associated with the widespread use of propoxyphene.

Evaluation of 2-azabicyclo[2.2..2]octane analogs of 4-anilidopiperidine analgesics.

Eight analogs of the fentanyl-type analgesics, in which the piperidine ring is restricted into a boat conformation, were evaluated for analgesic activity. All analogs were less active than fentanyl, but interesting conformational and structural relationships were observed. Results of the study are discussed.

The role of the hepatic microsomal electron-transport system in the development of metabolic tolerance from repeated oral methadone administration in mice.

The hepatic microsomal cytochromes P-450 and b5, as well as the enzymes of the hepatic microsomal electron-transport system (HMETS), including NADPH oxidase and NAPDH cytochrome c reductase, were monitored in male ICR mice (25 - 30 g) over a six-day period following repeated oral administration of methadone hydrochloride 12.5, 25, or 50 mg/kg per day, or an equivalent volume of water. Cytochrome P-450 content, when expressed per milligram of microsomal protein, was elevated as early as day 1 of administration. This increase in cytochrome P-450, which lasted throughout the period of administration, appeared to correlate with the previously reported increase in the hepatic microsomal enzyme methadone N-demethylase and tolerance to methadone lethality. The activities of the enzymes NADPH cytochrome c reductase and NADPH oxidase were both elevated significantly by day 2 of administration. However, these increases returned to control levels by day 6 of treatment. The only other cytochrome in the HMETS, cytochrome b5, showed no significant change following repeated oral methadone administration. Further, methadone administration depressed the hepatic microsomal protein content following two days of treatment and no elevation above control values was noted. The significance of these findings with respect to the role of the HMETS in the development of tolerance is discussed in some detail for methadone, as well as the findings previously reported by this laboratory for its acetylated congener, l-alpha-acetylmethadol.

Effect of repeated oral propoxyphene administration on analgesia, toxicity and microsomal metabolism in the mouse.

Induction of hepatic propoxyphene N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase activities resulted following repeated oral administration of 25, 50 and 100 mg d-propoxyphene hydrochloride per kg daily in the mouse over a six-day period. A significant elevation in both enzyme activities was noted after a single dose of propoxyphene (100 mg/kg). A dose-related response characterized the observed induction of each microsomal enzyme activity. Pentobarbital sleeping times (a measure of in vivo microsomal activity) also exhibited dose-related decrements in hypnosis with increasing doses of propoxyphene. These effects appeared to correlate with the development of tolerance to both the analgesic and lethal properties of propoxyphene. Pretreatment with SKF-525A, a potent microsomal enzyme inhibitor, abolished this tolerance in each case. Furthermore, a lack of central nervous system cellular tolerance was demonstrated by the finding that intracerebroventricular LD50 values for propoxyphene in propoxyphene- and water-treated mice were identical to the value derived from naive mice. Thus, the observed tolerance seems to be the result of dispositional (metabolic) and not central nervous system tolerance.

Tolerance to methadone lethality and microsomal enzyme induction in mice tolerant to and dependent on morphine.

In an attempt to explain a loss of cross-tolerance between morphine and methadone and an increased tolerance to methadone lethality in morphine-dependent mice administered methadone orally for six days, the possibility that methadone was stimulating its own metabolism was investigated. It was found that methadone did enhance its own metabolism two-fold. This increase in activity correlated with the development of tolerance to the lethal effects of methadone as measured by an elevation of the oral methadone LD50. Furthermore, SKF-525A, a potent microsomal inhibitor, abolished this tolerance. The intracerbroventricular methadone LD50 was not altered by six days administration of oral methadone, suggesting that the tolerance observed was dispositional in nature.

Additional metabolic correlates of 1-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM)-induced cellular tolerance and physical dependence: the role of the hepatic microsomal electron transport system.

The microsomal cytochromes P-450 and b5 and the enzymes of the hepatic microsomal electron transport system (HMETS) including NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and NADPH oxidase activities were monitored in male ICR mice (25-30 g) over a six-day period following the repeated oral administration of 7, 14 and 28 mg/kg per day of l-alpha-acetylmethadol hydrochloride (LAAM) or an equivalent volume of water. Cytochrome P-450 and the microsomal enzyme activity of NADPH oxidase were maximally elevated (three- to four-fold above control values) by the third day of LAAM administration (28 mg/kg per day). These elevations not only correlated on a dose and a temporal basis with previously reported microsomal activities including LAAM N-demethylase, but also with the reported development of cellular tolerance and physical dependence following an identical regimen of LAAM. In addition, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome b5 increased in activity and content, respectively, after the repeated administration of this narcotic. However, the enzyme activity was first significantly elevated after only a single dose of LAAM. Thereafter, it showed a pattern of induction similar to that of NADPH oxidase. In contrast, cytochrome b5 was only elevated after the last repeated dose. The significance of these findings is discussed in some detail relative to the generation of the two analgesically active metabolites of LAAM.