[No public or meaningful name is available]

Genetic toxicity: in vitro

Administrative data

Endpoint:

in vitro gene mutation study in bacteria

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

05-26-2020 to 01-22-2021

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

2021

Report date:

2021

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Test guideline 1

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EPA OPPTS 870.5100 - Bacterial Reverse Mutation Test (August 1998)

Test guideline 2

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EU Method B.13/14 (Mutagenicity - Reverse Mutation Test Using Bacteria)

Test guideline 3

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 471 (Bacterial Reverse Mutation Assay)

Version / remarks:

21 Jul 1997

GLP compliance:

yes

Type of assay:

bacterial reverse mutation assay

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

1,1'-Methylenebis(4-isocyanatobenzene) and oligomeric reaction products of 1,1'-methylenebis(4-isocyanatobenzene) and oxydipropanol and oligomerization reaction products of oxydipropanol

EC Number:

701-041-3

Molecular formula:

C8H6NO [C7H5NO [C3H6O]n C8H7NO ]m C7H4NO with 2<=n<20 and 0<=m<=3

IUPAC Name:

1,1'-Methylenebis(4-isocyanatobenzene) and oligomeric reaction products of 1,1'-methylenebis(4-isocyanatobenzene) and oxydipropanol and oligomerization reaction products of oxydipropanol

Test material form:

liquid

Method

Target gene:

his-, trp-

Species / strain

Species / strain / cell type:

S. typhimurium TA 1535, TA 1537, TA 98, TA 100 and E. coli WP2

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Metabolic activation system:

S9 mix with S9 fraction obtained from Wistar rats induced with 80 mg/kg bw phenobarbital i.p. and β-naphthoflavone orally on three consecutive days.

Test concentrations with justification for top dose:

1st Experiment
Strains: TA 1535, TA 100, TA 1537, TA 98 and E. coli WP2 uvrA
Doses: 0; 33; 100; 333; 1000; 2500 and 5000 μg/plate
Type of test: Standard plate test with and without S9 mix
Number of plates: 3 test plates per dose or per control

2nd Experiment
Strains: TA 1535, TA 100, TA 1537, TA 98 and E. coli WP2 uvrA
Doses: 0; 10; 33; 100; 333; 1000 and 2500 μg/plate
Type of test: Preincubation test with and without S9 mix
Number of plates: 3 test plates per dose or per control
Reason: No mutagenicity was observed in the standard plate test. Due to toxicity, the doses were adjusted in the preincubation test.

3rd Experiment
Strains: TA 1535, TA 100, TA 1537, TA 98 and E. coli WP2 uvrA
Doses: 0; 33; 100; 333; 1000; 2500 and 5000 μg/plate
Type of test: Preincubation test with and without S9 mix
Number of plates: 3 test plates per dose or per control
Reason: No mutagenicity was observed in the preincubation test. Cytotoxicity,
occurred in the 1st Experiment, was not obtained with the adjusted doses in the preincubation test. Therefore, the experimental part was repeated with higher dose.

Vehicle / solvent:

On request of the sponsor, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether was used as vehicle, which had been demonstrated to be suitable in bacterial reverse mutation tests (see Maron, D.; Katzenellenbogen, J.; Ames, B.N.: Compatibility of organic solvents with the Salmonella/Microsome Test. Mut. Res., 88, 343 – 350 (1981).

Controls

Untreated negative controls:

yes

Negative solvent / vehicle controls:

yes

True negative controls:

no

Positive controls:

yes

Positive control substance:

4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide

9-aminoacridine

N-ethyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine

other: With S9 mix: 2-aminoanthracene (2-AA) (Sigma-Aldrich; 96%) - 2.5 μg/plate, dissolved in DMSO - strains: TA 1535, TA 100, TA 1537, TA 9 Without S9 mix: 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine (NOPD) (Sigma-Aldrich; 98%) - 10 μg/plate, dissolved in DMSO - strain: TA 98

Details on test system and experimental conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
For testing, deep-frozen (-70°C to -80°C) bacterial cultures (Salmonella typhimurium TA 1535, TA 100, TA 1537, TA 98 and E. coli WP2 uvrA) were thawed at room temperature, and 0.1 mL of this bacterial suspension was inoculated in nutrient broth solution (8 g/L Difco nutrient broth + 5 g/L NaCl) and incubated in the shaking water bath at 37°C for about 12 - 16 hours. The
optical density of the fresh bacteria cultures was determined. Fresh cultures of bacteria were grown up to late exponential or early stationary phase of growth (approximately 109 cells per mL). These cultures grown overnight were kept in iced water from the beginning of the experiment until the end in order to prevent further growth. The use of the strains mentioned was in accordance with the current scientific recommendations for the conduct of this assay.
The Salmonella strains TA 1535, TA 100, TA 1537 and the Escherichia coli strain were obtained from Moltox Molecular Toxicology, Inc.; Boone, NC 28607; USA on 02 Dec 2014. The Salmonella strain TA 98 was obtained from Moltox Molecular Toxicology on 07 Jan 2015.

Salmonella typhimurium
The rate of induced back mutations of several bacteria mutants from histidine auxotrophy (his-) to histidine prototrophy (his+) is determined. The tester strains TA 1535, TA 1537, TA 98 and TA 100 selected by Ames and coworkers are derivatives of Salmonella typhimurium LT2 and have GC base pairs at the primary reversion site. All strains have a defective excision repair system (uvrB), which prevents the repair of lesions which are induced in the DNA, and this deficiency results in greatly enhanced sensitivity of some mutagens. Furthermore, all strains show a considerably reduced hydrophilic polysaccharide layer (rfa), which leads to an increase in permeability to lipophilic substances. The strains TA 1535 and TA 100 are derived from histidine-prototrophic Salmonella strains by the substitution mutation his G 46 and are used to detect base pair substitutions. TA 1537 and TA 98 are strains for the detection of frameshift mutagens. These strains carry different frameshift markers, i.e. the +1 mutant his C 3076 in the case of TA 1537 and the +2 type his D 3052 in the case of TA 98.
The strains TA 98 and TA 100 carry an R factor plasmid pKM 101 and, in addition to having genes resistant to antibiotics, they have a modified postreplication DNA repair system, which increases the mutation rate by inducing a defective repair in the DNA; this again leads to a considerable increase in sensitivity.

Escherichia coli
Escherichia coli WP2 uvrA which has an AT base pair at the primary reversion site is a derivative of E. coli WP2 with a deficient excision repair and is used to detect substances which induce base pair substitutions. The rate of induced back mutations from tryptophan auxotrophy (trp-) to tryptophan independence (trp+) is determined.

Checking the tester strains
The Salmonella strains were checked for the following characteristics at regular intervals: deep rough character (rfa); UV sensitivity (Δ uvrB); ampicillin resistance (R factor plasmid).
E. coli WP2 uvrA was checked for UV sensitivity.
Histidine and tryptophan auxotrophy was checked in each experiment via the spontaneous rate.

EXOGENOUS METABOLIC ACTIVATION

S9 fraction
The S9 fraction was prepared at BASF SE in an AAALAC approved laboratory in accordance with the German Animal Welfare Act and the effective European Council Directive.
At least 5 male Wistar rats [Crl:WI(Han)] (200 - 300 g; Charles River Laboratories Germany GmbH) received 80 mg/kg b.w. phenobarbital i.p. and β-naphthoflavone orally (both supplied by Sigma-Aldrich, 82024 Taufkirchen, Germany) each on three consecutive days. During this time, the animals were housed in polycarbonate cages: central air conditioning with a fixed range of temperature of 20 - 24°C and a fixed relative humidity of 45 - 65%. The day/night rhythm was 12 hours: light from 6 am to 6 pm and darkness from 6 pm to 6 am.
Standardized pelleted feed and drinking water from bottles were available ad libitum. 24 hours after the last administration, the rats were sacrificed, and the livers were prepared using sterile solvents and glassware at a temperature of +4°C. The livers were weighed and washed in a weight-equivalent volume of a 150 mM KCl solution and homogenized in three volumes of KCl solution. After centrifugation of the homogenate at 9000 x g for 10 minutes at +4°C, 5 mL portions of the supernatant (S9 fraction) were stored at -70°C to -80°C.

S9 mix
The S9 mix was prepared freshly prior to each experiment (1, 2). For this purpose, a sufficient amount of S9 fraction was thawed at room temperature and 1 part of S9 fraction is mixed with 9 parts of S9 supplement (cofactors). This mixture of both components (S9 mix) was kept on ice until used. The concentrations of the cofactors in the S9 mix were:
MgCl2 8 mM
KCl 33 mM
glucose-6-phosphate 5 mM
NADP 4 mM
phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) 15 mM
The phosphate buffer is prepared by mixing a Na2HPO4 solution with a NaH2PO4 solution in a ratio of about 4:1.
To demonstrate the efficacy of the S9 mix in this assay, the S9 batch was characterized with benzo(a)pyrene.

DOSES
In agreement with the recommendations of current guidelines 5 mg/plate or 5 μL/plate were generally selected as maximum test dose at least in the 1st Experiment. However, this maximum dose was tested even in the case of relatively insoluble test compounds to detect possible mutagenic impurities. Furthermore, doses > 5 mg/plate or > 5 μL/plate might also be tested in repeat experiments for further clarification/substantiation.

TEST SUBSTANCE PREPARATIONS
The test substance was weighed and topped up with the chosen vehicle to achieve the required concentration of the stock solution. The test substance was dissolved in ethylene glycol dimethyl ether. To achieve a clear solution of the test substance in the vehicle, the test substance preparation was shaken thoroughly.
The further concentrations were diluted from the stock solution according to the planned doses. All test substance formulations were prepared immediately before use.

ANALYSIS OF TEST SUBSTANCE PREPARATION
The stability of the test substance in the vehicle ethylene glycol dimethyl ether was not
determined analytically, because the test substance was administered immediately after
preparation.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
Choice of the vehicle
On request of the sponsor, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether was used as vehicle.

Mutagenicity tests
Standard plate test
• Salmonella typhimurium
Test tubes containing 2-mL portions of soft agar (overlay agar), which consists of 100 mL agar (0.8% [w/v] agar + 0.6% [w/v] NaCl) and 10 mL amino acid solution (minimal amino acid solution for the determination of mutants: 0.5 mM histidine + 0.5 mM biotin) were kept in a water bath at about 42 - 45°C, and the remaining components were added in the following order:
0.1 mL test solution, vehicle or positive control
0.1 mL fresh bacterial culture
0.5 mL S9 mix (with metabolic activation)
or
0.5 mL phosphate buffer (without metabolic activation)
After mixing, the samples were poured onto Minimal glucose agar plates (Moltox Molecular Toxicology, Inc.; Boone, NC 28607; USA) within approx. 30 seconds.
After incubation at 37°C for 48 – 72 hours in the dark, the bacterial colonies (his+ revertants) were counted. The colonies were counted using the Sorcerer Image Analysis System with the software program Ames Study Manager (Perceptive Instruments Ltd., Haverhill, UK).
Colonies were counted manually, if precipitation of the test substance hindered the counting using the Image Analysis System.

Escherichia coli
Test tubes containing 2-mL portions of soft agar (overlay agar), which consists of 100 mL agar (0.8% [w/v] agar + 0.6% [w/v] NaCl) and 10 mL amino acid solution (minimal amino acid solution for the determination of mutants: 0.5 mM tryptophan) were kept in a water bath at about 42 - 45°C, and the remaining components were added in the following order:
0.1 mL test solution, vehicle or positive control
0.1 mL fresh bacterial culture
0.5 mL S9 mix (with metabolic activation)
or
0.5 mL phosphate buffer (without metabolic activation)
After mixing, the samples were poured onto Minimal glucose agar plates (Moltox Molecular Toxicology, Inc.; Boone, NC 28607; USA) within approx. 30 seconds.
After incubation at 37°C for 48 – 72 hours in the dark, the bacterial colonies (trp+ revertants) were counted. The colonies were counted using the Sorcerer Image Analysis System with the software program Ames Study Manager (Perceptive Instruments Ltd., Haverhill, UK).
Colonies were counted manually, if precipitation of the test substance hindered the counting using the Image Analysis System.

Preincubation Test
0.1 mL test solution, vehicle or positive control, 0.1 mL bacterial suspension and 0.5 mL S9 mix (with metabolic activation) or phosphate buffer (without metabolic activation) were incubated at 37°C for the duration of about 20 minutes using a shaker. Subsequently, 2 mL of soft agar was added and, after mixing, the samples were poured onto the agar plates within approx. 30 seconds.
After incubation at 37°C for 48 – 72 hours in the dark, the bacterial colonies were counted. The colonies were counted using the Sorcerer Image Analysis System with the software program Ames Study Manager (Perceptive Instruments Ltd., Haverhill, UK). Colonies were counted manually, if precipitation of the test substance hindered the counting using the Image Analysis System.

Evaluation criteria:

Mutagenicity
Individual plate counts, mean number of revertant colonies per plate and standard deviations were given for groups. In general, six doses of the test substance were tested with a maximum of 5 mg/plate, and triplicate plating was used for all test groups at least in the 1st Experiment. Dose selection and evaluation as well as the number of plates used in repeat studies or further experiments were based on the findings of the 1st Experiment.

Toxicity
Toxicity detected by a
• decrease in the number of revertants (factor ≤ 0.6)
• clearing or diminution of the background lawn (= reduced his- or trp- background growth)
was recorded for all test groups with and without S9 mix in all experiments. Single values with a factor ≤ 0.6 were not detected as toxicity in low dose groups.

Solubility
Precipitation would be recorded and indicated in the tables. As long as precipitation did not interfere with the colony scoring, 5 mg/plate was generally selected and analyzed (in cases of nontoxic compounds) as the maximum dose at least in the 1st Experiment.

Criteria for valid experiments:
• number of revertant colonies in negative controls within the historical control data range
• sterility controls reveal no indication of bacterial contamination.
• positive control substances both + and - S9 mix induce a distinct increase in the number of revertant colonies in the range of hist. pos. control data or above.
• Fresh bacterial culture containing approximately 10^9 cells per mL were used

The test substance was considered positive if it caused a dose-related and reproducible increase in the number of revertant colonies, i.e. at least doubling (TA 98, TA 100 and E.coli WP2 uvrA) or tripling (TA 1535 and TA 1537) of the spontaneous mutation rate in at least one tester strain either without or without S9 mix.
A test substance was considered negative if the number of revertants was within the hist. neg. control data under all conditions in at least 2 independent experiments.

Results and discussion

Test results

Test results 1

Key result

Species / strain:

E. coli WP2 uvr A

Remarks:

Standard plate test and preincubation test

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

cytotoxicity

Vehicle controls validity:

valid

Positive controls validity:

valid

Test results 2

Key result

Species / strain:

S. typhimurium TA 98

Remarks:

Standard plate test and preincubation test

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

cytotoxicity

Vehicle controls validity:

valid

Positive controls validity:

valid

Test results 3

Key result

Species / strain:

S. typhimurium TA 1537

Remarks:

Standard plate test and preincubation test

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

cytotoxicity

Vehicle controls validity:

valid

Positive controls validity:

valid

Test results 4

Key result

Species / strain:

S. typhimurium TA 100

Remarks:

Standard plate test and preincubation test

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

cytotoxicity

Vehicle controls validity:

valid

Positive controls validity:

valid

Test results 5

Key result

Species / strain:

S. typhimurium TA 1535

Remarks:

Standard plate test and preincubation test

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

cytotoxicity

Vehicle controls validity:

valid

Positive controls validity:

valid

Additional information on results:

A bacteriotoxic effect (reduced his- or trp- background growth, decrease in the number of his+ or trp+ revertants) was observed in the standard plate test depending on the strain and test conditions at and above 1000 μg/plate.
In the preincubation assay bacteriotoxicity (reduced his- or trp- background growth, decrease in the number of his+ or trp+ revertants) was observed depending on the strain and test conditions at and above 333 μg/plate.
Test substance precipitation was observed at and above 1000 μg/plate both with and without S9 mix.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

Under the experimental conditions chosen, it is concluded that 4,4’-MDI/DPG/HMWP is not a mutagenic test substance in the bacterial reverse mutation test in the absence and the presence of metabolic activation.

Executive summary:

The test substance 4,4’-MDI/DPG/HMWP was tested for its mutagenic potential based on the ability to induce point mutations in selected loci of several bacterial strains, i.e. Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli, in a reverse mutation assay.
STRAINS: TA 1535, TA 100, TA 1537, TA 98 and E. coli WP2 uvrA
DOSE RANGE: 33 μg - 5000 μg/plate (SPT), 10 μg - 5000 μg/plate (PIT)
TEST CONDITIONS: Standard plate test (SPT) and preincubation test (PIT) both with and without metabolic activation (liver S9 mix from induced rats).
SOLUBILITY: Precipitation of the test substance was observed at and above
1000 μg/plate both with and without S9 mix.
TOXICITY: A bacteriotoxic effect was observed depending on the strain and
test conditions at and above 333 μg/plate.
MUTAGENICITY: A relevant increase in the number of his+ or trp+ revertants (factor ≥ 2: TA 100, TA 98 and E.coli WP2 uvrA or factor ≥ 3: TA 1535 and TA 1537) was not observed in the standard plate test or in the preincubation test without S9 mix or after the addition of a metabolizing system.

CONCLUSION:
Under the experimental conditions of this study, the test substance 4,4’-MDI/DPG/HMWP is not mutagenic in the Salmonella typhimurium/Escherichia coli reverse mutation assay in the absence and the presence of metabolic activation.