6-tert-butyl-1,1-dimethylindan-4-yl methyl ketone

Endpoint summary

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Genetic toxicity in vitro

Description of key information

Bacterial reverse mutation assay (Ames test) (OECD TG 471): negative

Link to relevant study records

Reference

Endpoint:

in vitro gene mutation study in bacteria

Remarks:

Gene mutation

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

The study was conducted between 14 October 2016 and 11 November 2016

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 471 (Bacterial Reverse Mutation Assay)

Version / remarks:

1997

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Type of assay:

bacterial reverse mutation assay

Target gene:

S. typhimurium: Histidine gene
E. coli: Tryptophan gene

Species / strain / cell type:

S. typhimurium TA 1535, TA 1537, TA 98 and TA 100

Species / strain / cell type:

E. coli WP2 uvr A

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Metabolic activation system:

Rat liver S9-mix induced by a combination of Phenobarbital and β-Naphta flavone

Test concentrations with justification for top dose:

Experiment 1: Plate Incorporation Method:
The maximum concentration was 5000 μg/plate (the maximum recommended dose level). Eight concentrations of the test item (1.5, 5, 15, 50, 150, 500, 1500 and 5000 μg/plate) were assayed in triplicate against each tester strain, using the direct plate incorporation method.

Experiment 2: Pre-Incubation Method:
The dose range used for Experiment 2 was determined by the results of Experiment 1 and was 5 to 5000 µg/plate.
Seven test item dose levels (5, 15, 50, 150, 500, 1500 and 5000 μg/plate) per bacterial strain were selected in the second mutation test in order to achieve both a minimum of four non-toxic dose levels and the toxic limit of the test item following the change in test methodology from plate incorporation to pre-incubation.

Vehicle / solvent:

- Vehicle: acetone
- Justification for choice of solvent/vehicle: The test item was insoluble in sterile distilled water and dimethyl sulphoxide at 50 mg/mL but was fully soluble in acetone at 100 mg/mL in solubility checks performed in-house. Acetone was therefore selected as the vehicle.

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

benzo(a)pyrene

other: 2-aminoanthracene

Details on test system and experimental conditions:

Study Controls:
The solvent (vehicle) control used was acetone. The negative (untreated) controls were performed to assess the spontaneous revertant colony rate. The solvent and negative controls were performed in triplicate.
The positive control items used demonstrated a direct and indirect acting mutagenic effect depending on the presence or absence of metabolic activation. The positive controls were performed in triplicate.

The sterility controls were performed in triplicate as follows:
Top agar and histidine/biotin or tryptophan in the absence of S9-mix;
Top agar and histidine/biotin or tryptophan in the presence of S9-mix; and
The maximum dosing solution of the test item in the absence of S9-mix only (test in singular only).

Microsomal Enzyme Fraction:
The S9 Microsomal fractions were pre-prepared using standardized in-house procedures (outside the confines of this study). Lot No. PB/βNF S9 05 June 2016 was used in this study.

S9-Mix and Agar:
The S9-mix was prepared before use using sterilized co-factors and maintained on ice for the duration of the test.
S9: 5.0 mL
1.65 M KCl / 0.4 M MgCl2: 1.0 mL
0.1 M Glucose-6-phosphate: 2.5 mL
0.1 M NADP: 2.0 mL
0.2 M Sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4): 25.0 mL
Sterile distilled water: 14.5 mL

A 0.5 mL aliquot of S9-mix and 2 mL of molten, trace histidine or tryptophan supplemented, top agar were overlaid onto a sterile Vogel-Bonner Minimal agar plate in order to assess the sterility of the S9-mix. This procedure was repeated, in triplicate, on the day of each experiment.

Media:
Top agar was prepared using 0.6% Bacto agar and 0.5% sodium chloride with 5 mL of 1.0 mM histidine and 1.0 mM biotin or 1.0 mM tryptophan solution added to each 100 mL of top agar. Vogel-Bonner Minimal agar plates were purchased from SGL Ltd.

Test System and Supporting Information:
Bacteria:
The five strains of bacteria used, and their mutations, are as follows:
Salmonella typhimurium
Strains/ Genotype/ Type of mutations indicated
TA1537/ his C 3076; rfa-; uvrB-: / frame shift
TA98/ his D 3052; rfa-; uvrB-;R-factor/ frame shift
TA1535/ his G 46; rfa-; uvrB-: / base-pair substitution
TA100/ his G 46; rfa-; uvrB-;R-factor/ base-pair substitution
Escherichia coli
Strain/ Genotype/ Type of mutations indicated
WP2uvrA/ trp-; uvrA-: / base-pair substitution

The bacteria used in the test were obtained from:
• University of California, Berkeley, on culture discs, on 04 August 1995.
• British Industrial Biological Research Association, on a nutrient agar plate, on 17 August 1987.

All of the strains were stored at approximately -196 °C in a Statebourne liquid nitrogen freezer, model SXR 34.

In this assay, overnight sub-cultures of the appropriate coded stock cultures were prepared in nutrient broth (Oxoid Limited) and incubated at 37 °C for approximately 10 hours. Each culture was monitored spectrophotometrically for turbidity with titres determined by viable count analysis on nutrient agar plates.

Experimental Design and Study Conduct:
Test Item Preparation and Analysis:
The test item was accurately weighed and approximate half-log dilutions prepared in acetone by mixing on a vortex mixer on the day of each experiment. No correction was made for test item purity. Acetone is toxic to the bacterial cells at 0.1 mL (100 µL) after employing the pre-incubation modification; therefore all of the formulations for Experiment 2 were prepared at concentrations two times greater than required on Vogel-Bonner agar plates. To compensate, each formulation was dosed using 0.05 mL (50 µL) aliquots (Maron et al., 1981). Prior to use, the solvent was dried to remove water using molecular sieves i.e. 2 mm sodium alumino-silicate pellets with a nominal pore diameter of 4 x 10^-4 microns.

All formulations were used within four hours of preparation and were assumed to be stable for this period. Analysis for concentration, homogeneity and stability of the test item formulations is not a requirement of the test guidelines and was, therefore, not determined. This is an exception with regard to GLP and has been reflected in the GLP compliance statement.

Test for Mutagenicity: Experiment 1 - Plate Incorporation Method:
Without Metabolic Activation:
0.1 mL of the appropriate concentration of test item, solvent vehicle or appropriate positive control was added to 2 mL of molten, trace amino-acid supplemented media containing 0.1 mL of one of the bacterial strain cultures and 0.5 mL of phosphate buffer. These were then mixed and overlayed onto a Vogel-Bonner agar plate. Negative (untreated) controls were also performed on the same day as the mutation test. Each concentration of the test item, appropriate positive, vehicle and negative controls, and each bacterial strain, was assayed using triplicate plates.

With Metabolic Activation:
The procedure was the same as described previously except that following the addition of the test item formulation and bacterial culture, 0.5 mL of S9-mix was added to the molten, trace amino-acid supplemented media instead of phosphate buffer.

Incubation and Scoring:
All of the plates were incubated at 37 ± 3 °C for approximately 48 hours and scored for the presence of revertant colonies using an automated colony counting system. The plates were viewed microscopically for evidence of thinning (toxicity). Manual counts were performed at 5000 µg/plate because of test item precipitation.

Test for Mutagenicity: Experiment 2 – Pre-Incubation Method:
As Experiment 1 was deemed negative, Experiment 2 was performed using the pre-incubation method in the presence and absence of metabolic activation.

Without Metabolic Activation:
0.1 mL of the appropriate bacterial strain culture, 0.5 mL of phosphate buffer and 0.05 mL of the test item formulation, solvent vehicle or 0.1 mL of appropriate positive control were incubated at 37 ± 3 °C for 20 minutes (with shaking) prior to addition of 2 mL of molten, trace amino-acid supplemented media and subsequent plating onto Vogel-Bonner plates. Negative (untreated) controls were also performed on the same day as the mutation test employing the plate incorporation method. All testing for this experiment was performed in triplicate.

With Metabolic Activation:
The procedure was the same as described previously except that following the addition of the test item formulation and bacterial strain culture, 0.5 mL of S9-mix was added to the tube instead of phosphate buffer, prior to incubation at 37 ± 3 °C for 20 minutes (with shaking) and addition of molten, trace amino-acid supplemented media. All testing for this experiment was performed in triplicate.

Incubation and Scoring:
All of the plates were incubated at 37 ± 3 °C for approximately 48 hours and scored for the presence of revertant colonies using an automated colony counting system. The plates were viewed microscopically for evidence of thinning (toxicity). Manual counts were performed at 5000 µg/plate because of test item precipitation. Several further manual counts were also required due to bubbles in the base agar slightly distorting the actual plate count.

Acceptability Criteria:
The reverse mutation assay may be considered valid if the following criteria are met:
- All bacterial strains must have demonstrated the required characteristics as determined by their respective strain checks according to Ames et al., (1975), Maron and Ames (1983) and Mortelmans and Zeiger (2000).

- All tester strain cultures should exhibit a characteristic number of spontaneous revertants per plate in the vehicle and untreated controls (negative controls). Acceptable ranges are presented as follows:
TA1535: 7 to 40
TA100: 60 to 200
TA1537: 2 to 30
TA98: 8 to 60
WP2uvrA: 10 to 60

- All tester strain cultures should be in the range of 0.9 to 9 x 10^9 bacteria per mL.
- Diagnostic mutagens (positive control chemicals) must be included to demonstrate both the intrinsic sensitivity of the tester strains to mutagen exposure and the integrity of the S9-mix. All of the positive control chemicals used in the study should induce marked increases in the frequency of revertant colonies, which are at least the minimum positive control value over the previous two years, both with or without metabolic activation.

- There should be a minimum of four non-toxic test item dose levels.

- There should be no evidence of excessive contamination.

Evaluation criteria:

There are several criteria for determining a positive result. Any, one, or all of the following can be used to determine the overall result of the study:
1. A dose-related increase in mutant frequency over the dose range tested (De Serres and Shelby, 1979).
2. A reproducible increase at one or more concentrations.
3. Biological relevance against in-house historical control ranges.
4. Statistical analysis of data as determined by UKEMS (Mahon et al., 1989).
5. Fold increase greater than two times the concurrent solvent control for any tester strain (especially if accompanied by an out-of-historical range response (Cariello and Piegorsch, 1996)).

A test item will be considered non-mutagenic (negative) in the test system if the above criteria are not met.

Although most experiments will give clear positive or negative results, in some instances the data generated will prohibit making a definite judgment about test item activity. Results of this type will be reported as equivocal.

Statistics:

Statistical significance was confirmed by using Dunnetts Regression Analysis (* = p < 0.05) for those values that indicate statistically significant increases in the frequency of revertant colonies compared to the concurrent solvent control.

Key result

Species / strain:

S. typhimurium TA 1535

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

no cytotoxicity nor precipitates, but tested up to recommended limit concentrations

Vehicle controls validity:

valid

Untreated negative controls validity:

valid

Positive controls validity:

valid

Key result

Species / strain:

S. typhimurium TA 100

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

no cytotoxicity nor precipitates, but tested up to recommended limit concentrations

Vehicle controls validity:

valid

Untreated negative controls validity:

valid

Positive controls validity:

valid

Key result

Species / strain:

S. typhimurium TA 1537

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

no cytotoxicity nor precipitates, but tested up to recommended limit concentrations

Vehicle controls validity:

valid

Untreated negative controls validity:

valid

Positive controls validity:

valid

Key result

Species / strain:

S. typhimurium TA 98

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

no cytotoxicity nor precipitates, but tested up to recommended limit concentrations

Vehicle controls validity:

valid

Untreated negative controls validity:

valid

Positive controls validity:

valid

Key result

Species / strain:

E. coli WP2 uvr A

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

no cytotoxicity nor precipitates, but tested up to recommended limit concentrations

Vehicle controls validity:

valid

Untreated negative controls validity:

valid

Positive controls validity:

valid

Additional information on results:

Mutation test:
Prior to use, the master strains were checked for characteristics, viability and spontaneous reversion rate (all were found to be satisfactory). The amino acid supplemented top agar and the S9-mix used in both experiments was shown to be sterile. The test item formulation was also shown to be sterile.

Results for the negative controls (spontaneous mutation rates) were considered to be acceptable. These data are for concurrent untreated control plates performed on the same day as the Mutation Test.

The maximum dose level of the test item in the first experiment was selected as the maximum recommended dose level of 5000 µg/plate. There was no visible reduction in the growth of the bacterial background lawn at any dose level, either in the presence or absence of metabolic activation (S9-mix), in the first mutation test (plate incorporation method) and consequently the same maximum dose level was used in the second mutation test. Similarly there was no visible reduction in the growth of the bacterial background lawn at any dose level, either in the presence or absence of metabolic activation (S9-mix), in the second mutation test (pre-incubation method). A test item precipitate (particulate in appearance) was noted at and above 500 µg/plate; this observation did not prevent the scoring of revertant colonies.

There were no significant increases in the frequency of revertant colonies recorded for any of the bacterial strains, with any dose of the test item, either with or without metabolic activation (S9-mix) in Experiment 1 (plate incorporation method). Similarly, no toxicologically significant increases in the frequency of revertant colonies were recorded for any of the bacterial strains, with any dose of the test item, either with or without metabolic activation (S9-mix) in Experiment 2 (pre incubation method). Small, statistically significant increases in revertant colony frequency were observed in the second mutation test at 1500 µg/plate (TA1535, absence of S9-mix), 500, 1500 and 5000 µg/plate (TA100, presence of S9-mix) and 500 µg/plate (TA1537, presence of S9-mix). These increases were considered to be of no biological relevance because there was no clear evidence of a dose response relationship or reproducibility. Furthermore, the individual revertant counts at the statistically significant dose levels were within the in-house historical untreated/vehicle control range for each tester strain and the maximum fold increase was only 1.6 times the concurrent vehicle controls.

The vehicle (acetone) control plates gave counts of revertant colonies within the normal range. All of the positive control chemicals used in the test induced marked increases in the frequency of revertant colonies in excess of the minimum positive control values over the previous two years, both with or without metabolic activation. Thus, the sensitivity of the assay and the efficacy of the S9-mix were validated.

Remarks on result:

other: no mutagenic potential

Conclusions:

The test substance was considered to be non-mutagenic under the conditions of this test.

Executive summary:

The mutagenic activity of the substance was evaluated in accordance with OECD TG 471 and according to GLP principles. The test was performed in two experiments. Salmonella typhimurium strains TA1535, TA1537, TA98 and TA100 and Escherichia coli strain WP2uvrA were treated with the test item using both the Ames plate incorporation method (Experiment 1) and pre-incubation method (Experiment 2) at up to eight dose levels, in triplicate, both with and without the addition of metabolizing system (S9-mix). The dose range for Experiment 1 was predetermined and was 1.5 to 5000 µg/plate. The experiment was repeated on a separate day (Experiment 2) using a slightly amended dose range (5 to 5000 µg/plate) following the results of Experiment 1. There was no visible reduction in the growth of the bacterial background lawn at any dose level, either in the presence or absence of metabolic activation (S9-mix), in the first mutation test and consequently the same maximum dose level was used in the second mutation test. Similarly there was no visible reduction in the growth of the bacterial background lawn at any dose level, either in the presence or absence of metabolic activation (S9-mix), in the second mutation test. A test item precipitate (particulate in appearance) was noted at and above 500 µg/plate; this observation did not prevent the scoring of revertant colonies. There were no significant increases in the frequency of revertant colonies recorded for any of the bacterial strains, with any dose of the test item, either with or without metabolic activation (S9-mix) in Experiment 1. Similarly, no toxicologically significant increases in the frequency of revertant colonies were recorded for any of the bacterial strains, with any dose of the test item, either with or without metabolic activation (S9-mix) in Experiment 2. Considered not biological relevant, small statistically significant increases in revertant colony frequency were observed in the second mutation test at 1500 µg/plate (TA1535, absence of S9-mix), 500, 1500 and 5000 µg/plate (TA100, presence of S9-mix) and 500 µg/plate (TA1537, presence of S9-mix). These increases were considered to be of no biological relevance because there was no clear evidence of a dose response relationship or reproducibility. Furthermore, the individual revertant counts at the statistically significant dose levels were within the in-house historical untreated/vehicle control range for each tester strain and the maximum fold increase was only 1.6 times the concurrent vehicle controls. Adequate vehicle, negative and positive controls were included and were found satisfactory, validating the sensitivity of the assay and the efficacy of the S9-mix. Under the conditions of this test the substance was considered to be non-mutagenic.

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no adverse effect observed (negative)

Additional information

Key study:

Bacterial reverse mutation assay:

The mutagenic activity of the substance was evaluated in accordance with OECD TG 471 and according to GLP principles. The test was performed in two experiments. Salmonella typhimurium strains TA1535, TA1537, TA98 and TA100 and Escherichia coli strain WP2uvrA were treated with the test item using both the Ames plate incorporation method (Experiment 1) and pre-incubation method (Experiment 2) at up to eight dose levels, in triplicate, both with and without the addition of metabolizing system (S9-mix). The dose range for Experiment 1 was predetermined and was 1.5 to 5000 µg/plate. The experiment was repeated on a separate day (Experiment 2) using a slightly amended dose range (5 to 5000 µg/plate) following the results of Experiment 1. There was no visible reduction in the growth of the bacterial background lawn at any dose level, either in the presence or absence of metabolic activation (S9-mix), in the first mutation test and consequently the same maximum dose level was used in the second mutation test. Similarly there was no visible reduction in the growth of the bacterial background lawn at any dose level, either in the presence or absence of metabolic activation (S9-mix), in the second mutation test. A test item precipitate (particulate in appearance) was noted at and above 500 µg/plate; this observation did not prevent the scoring of revertant colonies. There were no significant increases in the frequency of revertant colonies recorded for any of the bacterial strains, with any dose of the test item, either with or without metabolic activation (S9-mix) in Experiment 1. Similarly, no toxicologically significant increases in the frequency of revertant colonies were recorded for any of the bacterial strains, with any dose of the test item, either with or without metabolic activation (S9-mix) in Experiment 2. Considered not biological relevant, small statistically significant increases in revertant colony frequency were observed in the second mutation test at 1500 µg/plate (TA1535, absence of S9-mix), 500, 1500 and 5000 µg/plate (TA100, presence of S9-mix) and 500 µg/plate (TA1537, presence of S9-mix). These increases were considered to be of no biological relevance because there was no clear evidence of a dose response relationship or reproducibility. Furthermore, the individual revertant counts at the statistically significant dose levels were within the in-house historical untreated/vehicle control range for each tester strain and the maximum fold increase was only 1.6 times the concurrent vehicle controls. Adequate vehicle, negative and positive controls were included and were found satisfactory, validating the sensitivity of the assay and the efficacy of the S9-mix. Under the conditions of this test the substance was considered to be non-mutagenic.

Additional available information:

In a study of Mersch-Sundermann (1998) the test substance (5-500 µg/plate) was tested, using the plate incorporation assay, in Salmonella Typhimurium strains TA97, TA98, TA100 and TA102, with and without metabolic activation. Under the conditions of this study the test substance did not show mutagenic effects.

In another study (Kevekordes, 1997) the test substance was examined for its genotoxicity potential in the micronucleus test (somewhat similar to OECD 487) with human lymphocytes in vitro in the presence and absence of an exogenous metabolizing system containing rat liver S9 and the metabolically competent human hepatoma cell line Hep G2. Compound concentrations were employed up to cytotoxic doses. Test substance revealed no genotoxic activity in this micronucleus test with human lymphocytes and with the human hepatoma cell line Hep G2.

Furthermore, additional data is available in the RIFM database (Research Institute for Fragrance Materials) indicating negative results in the SOS chomotest, Comet assay, SCE test and UMU test.

This additional information does not have an impact on classification.

Justification for classification or non-classification

Based on the results of the Bacterial reverse mutation assay (Ames test), the substance does not have to be classified for mutagenicity in accordance with EU CLP Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 and its amendments.