Bis(2-methoxyethyl) ether

Endpoint summary

Additional information

Several studies have been identified that examine the basic toxicokinetics of Diethylene glycol dimethyl ether.

- Human and rat hepatic microsomes were incubated with Diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (Diglyme). The rat microsomes catalysed the NADPH-dependent cleavage of the central ether linkage of Diglyme yielding 2-Methoxyethanol and 2-(2-Methoxyethoxy)ethanol. Microsomes isolated from phenobarbital- or ethanol-pretreated rats exhibited an increased capacity to cleave diglyme to 2 -Methoxyethanol. This ethanol-induced increase in 2-Methoxyethanol formation was not observed if incubations contained the cytochrome P450 IIEI inhibitor Isoniazid. Pretreatment of rats with Diglyme significantly increased microsomal P-450 levels, P-450 associated enzyme activities and the conversion of Diglyme to 2-Methoxyethanol. Human hepatic microsomes also catalysed the NADPH-dependent cleavage of Diglyme to 2-Methoxyethanol. The formation of 2-Methoxyethanol from Diglyme correlated with the aniline hydroxylase activity (P450 IIEI) levels measured in human hepatic microsomes. These results suggest that the (central) ether linkage of Diglyme is cleaved by rat and human P-450 and 2-Methoxyethanol is formed.

 

- An embryotoxic oral dose of Diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, 3.73 mmol/kg bw (500 mg/kg bw), administered on gestation day 11 to pregnant CD-1 mice was metabolised predominatly by O-demethylation to 2-(2-Methoxyethoxy)ethanol with subsequent oxidation to (2-Methoxyethoxy)acetic acid. Urinary excretion of this metabolite over 48 hours amnounted to 63 +/-2% of the dose. A smaller percentage of the administered dose was metabolised at the (central) ether linkage to produce 2-Methoxyethanol, which was further metabolised by alcohol dehydrogenase to Methoxyacetic acid. Urinary excretion of Methoxyacetic acid, a potent developmental toxicant, amounted to 28 +/-1% of the administered dose by 48 hours and was the second most prominent urinary metabolite. Unchanged Diglyme and Methoxyacetic acid were detected in the embryonic tissues from these animals and embryos harvested after the initial 6 -hour period showed detectable amounts of only Methoxyacetic acid. The average amount of Methoxyacetic acid per embryo was calculated to be 1.5 +/-1.0 µmol (5.9 mmol/kg bw) at the 6 -hour termination time.

 

-The effect of enzyme induction on the metabolism Bis(2 -methoxyethyl)ether (Diglyme) was studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were given either daily doses of Diglyme at 5.1 mmol/kg bw/d by gavage or 0.1% (w/v) Phenobarbital in the drinking water for 22 consecutive days. In one study (A), a significant reduction in the Hexobarbital sleeping time was determined for rats pretreated with Diglyme or Phenobarbital in comparison with that determined for naive rats. In a second study (B), naive and pretreated rats given single oral doses of 14C-Diglyme at 5.1 mmol/kg bw showed similar urinary 14C excretion patterns. The amount of (2 -Methoxyethtoxy)acetic acid, the principal metabolite, was similar for rats given no pretreatment and for rats pretreated with either Diglyme or Phenobarbital. However, both pretreatments resulted in significant increases in the formation of methoxyacetic acid.

 

- The metabolism of (2 -Methoxyethyl)ether (Diglyme) was studied in isolated rat hepatocytes and in intact rat. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in both studies. Primary hepatocytes were cultured as monolayers and incubated with [¹⁴C]-Diglyme at 1, 10, 30 and 50 µM for up to 48 hours. For thein vivostudy, rats were given single oral doses of [¹⁴C]-Diglyme at 5.1 mmol/kg bw and urine was collected for up to 96 hours. The principal metabolite from primary rat hepatocytes and in the urine was (2-Methoxyethoxy)acetic acid (approx. 67% of the administered dose after 48 hours). Other prominant metabolites common to both systems included 2-(2.Methoxyethoxy)ethanol, Methoxyacetic acid, 2-Methoxyethanol and diglycolic acid. Diglyme was demonstrated to be not cytotoxic to rat hepatocytes.

 

- Male rats were treated with a single oral dose of Diethylene glycol dimethyl ether and the urine, feces and expired air were examined for the test item and its metabolites. 2-(2-Methoxyethoxy)ethanol, the principal metabolite of Diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, was administered to male rats on 20 consecutive days. After study termination the rats were examined for testicular lesions. The principal metabolites of Diethylene glycol dimethyl ether after a single dose of 5.1 or 0.051 mmol/kg bw to male rats are (2-Methoxyethoxy)acetic acid and Methoxyacetic acid. Within 96 hours approximately 86-90% of the administered dose was excreted via urine. Neither (2-Methoxyethoxy)acetic acid nor 2-(2-Methoxyethoxy)ethanol induced gross or microscopic abnormalities in testes of rats dosed with 5.1 mmol/kg bw/d for 20 consecutive days.

 

Taking into account the results of all above mentioned ADME-studies performed with Diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, the substance is considered to be metabolized to (2-Methoxyethoxy)acetic acid and 2-Methoxy acetic acid, which are excreted rapidly via urine. The generation of the reproduction and teratogenic toxicant (2-Methoxy acetic acid ) is assumed to be responsible for the reprotoxic properties of Diethylene glycol dimethyl ether. There is no tendency for bioaccumulation.

 

An in vitro skin absorption study was performed applying Diethylene glycol dimethyl ether to dermatomed human skin. The lag time was reported to be 36 +/- 3 min, the flux at steady state permeation was 0.952 +/- 0.340 mg/cm²/h.