p-phenylene diisocyanate

Toxicity to reproduction

Administrative data

Endpoint:

two-generation reproductive toxicity

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

1989

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Justification for type of information:

The study was performed to a recognised guideline on an analogous material. Please refer to Section 13.2 "OTher Assessment reports" for full justification, reference "pPDI+TDI READ ACROSS JUSTIFICATION".

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

1989

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 416 (Two-Generation Reproduction Toxicity Study)

Deviations:

not specified

GLP compliance:

yes

Limit test:

no

Justification for study design:

Guideline study.

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

m-tolylidene diisocyanate

EC Number:

247-722-4

EC Name:

m-tolylidene diisocyanate

Cas Number:

26471-62-5

Molecular formula:

C9H6N2O2

IUPAC Name:

2,4-diisocyanato-1-methylbenzene, 2,6-diisocyanato-1-methylbenzene

Test material form:

not specified

Details on test material:

80:20 % mixture of the 2,4- and 2,6-isomers, over 99% pure (Dow Chemical USA).

Specific details on test material used for the study:

As above.

Test animals

Species:

rat

Strain:

Sprague-Dawley

Details on species / strain selection:

As per guideline recommendations.

Sex:

male/female

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

TEST ANIMALS
- Source: Charles River, Kingston, NY
- Diet: ad libitum, certified ground rodent chow #5002, Ralton-Purina
- Water: ad libitum, tap water
- Acclimation period: 2 weeks
- Weight at study initiation:
(P) ♂ 200.2 - 204.7 g; ♀ 141.4 - 146.6 g;
(F1) ♂ 127.5 - 141.2 g; ♀ 111.6 - 121.0 g
- Age at study initiation: 6 weeks

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
- Temperature: 62 - 76 °F (Room temperature)
- Humidity (%): 40 - 70
- Photoperiod: 12 hrs dark / 12 hrs light

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:

inhalation: vapour

Type of inhalation exposure (if applicable):

whole body

Vehicle:

unchanged (no vehicle)

Details on exposure:

Male and female Sprague-Dawley weanling rats F0 (28 animals/sex/group) were exposed to TDI vapour at different concentrations, 6 hours/day, 5 days/week, for 10 weeks.
Animals were paired randomly within groups for 3 weeks to produce the F1 generation. Exposures of females continued through mating and the first 19 days of gestation and were discontinued from gestation day 20 through the fourth day postpartum. Exposures of females resumed on day 5 postpartum and continued through postnatal day 20. Exposures of F0 males were continuous from the mating period through delivery of the first F1 litters. At weaning, 28 weanlings/sex/group F1 were randomly selected to produce the F2 generation. F1 weanlings were exposed to the same TDI protocol as the F0 generation.
In addition, 10 F1 weanlings/sex/group were necropsied for gross lesions. F0 males were necropsied following delivery of the first F1 litters. F0 females were necropsied after the F1 pups were weaned.
The selected F1 weanings were exposed to the same exposure concentration of TDI as their parents for 12 weeks. After their pre-breed exposure, F1 animals were paired as described above to produce the F2 generation. Mating, gestation, lactation, necropsy of the F1 parents and selected F2 weanlings and historic examination of selected F1 adults tissues were performed as described above except that no F2 animals were selected as parents. Remaining non-selected F1 and F2 pups at weaning were euthanised and discarded after the necropsy of the selected pups.

GENERATION OF TEST ATMOSPHERE / CHAMBER DESCRIPTION
- Exposure apparatus: TDI vapour was generated using a glass evaporator system. Rats were exposed to TDI vapours in 4320 L chambers.
- Temperature, humidity, pressure in air chamber: Temperature measurements were obtained from the inside surface of each evaporator during the exposure regimen.
- Air flow rate: 1000 L/min (for the 0.0 and 0.3 ppm chambers), or 1500 L/min (for the 0.02 and 0.08 ppm chambers)
- Air change rate: ≥ 14 / h

TEST ATMOSPHERE
- Brief description of analytical method used: Throughout the study, TDI atmosphere were monitored by placing probes in the breathing zone of the animals approximately six times per each 6 h exposure. Control chamber atmosphere was measured six times daily for the first 11 exposure days and once per day thereafter. Atmospheres were monitored by paper tape devices based upon modified Marcali method.
Two Autostep Isocyanate paper tape monitoring devices (GMD) System, Inc., Hendersonville, PA), one for 0.00, 0.02, 0.08, and one for 0.3 ppm were used to measure TDI concentrations in the exposure chamber atmospheres.
- Samples taken from breathing zone: yes

Details on mating procedure:

- M/F ratio per cage: 1 / 1
- Proof of pregnancy: vaginal sperm and/or dropped or vaginal copulation plug
- After successful mating each pregnant female was caged: individually

Analytical verification of doses or concentrations:

yes

Details on analytical verification of doses or concentrations:

The 2,4- and 2,6-TDI isomer concentrations in the exposure chamber atmospheres were measured prior to the onset of the F0 exposure period and on exposure day 143. Samples were obtained and reverse-phase HPLC was used to separate and quantify the 2,4- and 2,6-TDI isomers.

Duration of treatment / exposure:

10 week pre breed exposure,
3 week exposure during mating,
19 day eposure during gestation,
(dams not exposed day 20 - 24), 16 days during lactation.

Frequency of treatment:

pre breed exposure: 6 h/day, 5 days/week
during mating: 6 h/day, 7 days/week until day 19 of gestation. Then exposed again 6 h/day, 7 days/week to day 20 postnatal. At day 21, litters weaned. Parents for second generation selected and exposed 6 h/day, 5 days/week for 12 weeks prior to mating. Exposure during mating and subsequently, as above.

Details on study schedule:

- F1 parental animals not mated until weaning [3-4] weeks after selected from the F1 litters (At weaning, 28 weanlings/sex/group F1 were randomly selected to produce the F2 generation. F1 weanlings were exposed to the same TDI protocol as the F0 generation.).

Animals were paired randomly within groups for 3 weeks to produce the F1 generation. Exposures of females continued through mating and the first 19 days of gestation and were discontinued from gestation day 20 through the fourth day postpartum. Exposures of females resumed on day 5 postpartum and continued through postnatal day 20. Exposures of F0 males were continuous from the mating period through delivery of the first F1 litters. At weaning, 28 weanlings/sex/group F1 were randomly selected to produce the F2 generation. F1 weanlings were exposed to the same TDI protocol as the F0 generation.
The selected F1 weanings were exposed to the same exposure concentration of TDI as their parents for 12 weeks. After their pre-breed exposure, F1 animals were paired as described above to produce the F2 generation.

Doses / concentrations

Doses / concentrations 1

Dose / conc.:

0.02 ppm (nominal)

Remarks:

0.15 mg/m³

Doses / concentrations 2

Dose / conc.:

0.08 ppm (nominal)

Remarks:

0.58 mg/m³

Doses / concentrations 3

Dose / conc.:

0.3 ppm (nominal)

Remarks:

2.18 mg/m³

Doses / concentrations 4

Dose / conc.:

0 mg/m³ air (nominal)

Remarks:

0, 0.2, 0.79, 0.29 mg/m3
Basis:
other: analytical concentration by inhalation

No. of animals per sex per dose:

28 pups/sex/group

Control animals:

yes, concurrent no treatment

Details on study design:

As per guideline.

Positive control:

No.

Examinations

Parental animals: Observations and examinations:

CAGE SIDE OBSERVATIONS: Yes

DETAILED CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS: Yes
- Time schedule: pups pnd 0, 1, 4, 7, 14, 21

BODY WEIGHT: Yes
- Time schedule for examinations:
dams gd 0, 7, 14, 21 and pnd 1, 4, 7, 14;
pups pnd 1, 4, 7, 14, 21, 28

Oestrous cyclicity (parental animals):

Not detailed

Sperm parameters (parental animals):

Not detailed

Litter observations:

PARAMETERS EXAMINED
The following parameters were examined in F1 / F2 offspring:
Survival indices were calculated at day 0, 4, 7, and 14 after birth and at weaning.

GROSS EXAMINATION OF DEAD PUPS:
Yes, for external and internal abnormalities.

Postmortem examinations (parental animals):

SACRIFICE
- Male animals: All surviving animals, after the last litters in each generation were produced.
- Maternal animals: All surviving animals, after the last litter of each generation was weaned.

GROSS NECROPSY
- Gross necropsy consisted of external surfaces, all orifices, cranial cavity, carcass; external and cut surfaces of the brain and spinal cord, the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities and their viscera, and cervical tissues and organs.

HISTOPATHOLOGY / ORGAN WEIGHTS
Selected tissues from 10 F0 animals/sex/group in the high exposure and control groups were examined for histopathological lesions.
Tissues: pituitary, liver, kidneys (2), upper and lower respiratory tract (including nasal turbinates), vagina, uterus, ovaries, testes, epididymides, seminal vesicles, prostate, and other tissues with gross lesions identified as being potentially treatment related.
Tissues from the upper respiratory tract from 10 animals/sex from the mid- and low-exposure groups also were examined for histopathological lesions.

Postmortem examinations (offspring):

A gross internal examination was performed on any pup appearing abnormal or dying on test, and ten pups randomly selected for each sex from each test group of the Fl and F2 generations.

SACRIFICE
- Remaining non-selected F1 and F2 pups at weaning were euthansised and discarded after the necropsy of the selected pups.
- 10 F1 weanlings/sex/group were necropsied for gross lesions.

GROSS NECROPSY
- Gross necropsy consisted of external surfaces, all orifices, cranial cavity, carcass; external and cut surfaces of the brain and spinal cord, the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities and their viscera, and cervical tissues and organs.

Statistics:

The unit of comparison was the male, the female or the litter. Results of the quantitative continuous variables e.g., body weights, food consumption, organ weights, etc. were intercomparted for the 3 treatment groups and one control group by use of Levene’s test for equal variances, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t-tests. Nonparametric data were statistically evaluated using the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by the Mann-Whitney U-test for pairwise comparisons when appropriate. Frequency data such as the various indices were compared using the Fisher’s exact-test. For all statistical tests, the fiducial limit of 0.05 (two-tailed) was used as the criterion for statistical significance.

Reproductive indices:

The reproductive indices were calculated for F0 and F1 males and females for each breed (F0 to produced F1 litters and F1 to produce F2 litters).

a. Mating index (%) = Number of females with copulation plugs/Number of females cohabited x 100
b. Fecundity index (%) = Number of pregnancies/Number of plug-positive females x 100
c. Fertility index (female) (%) = Number of females pregnant/ Total number of females cohabitated x 100
d. Fertility index (male) (%) = Number of males shown to be fertile/Total number of males mated x 100
e. Gestational index = Number of females with live litters/Number of females pregnant
f. Live birth index = Number of live pups at birth/Total number of pups born

Offspring viability indices:

The viability indices were calculated for F0 and F1 males and females for each breed (F0 to produced F1 litters and F1 to produce F2 litters).
a. 4-Day survival index = Number of pups surviving 4-day (pre-cull)/Total number of live pups at birth
b. 7-Day survival index = Number of pups surviving 7-days/Total number of live pups at 4-days (post-cull)
c. 14-Day survival index = Number of pups surviving 14-days/Total number of live pups at 7-days (post-cull)
d. 21-Day survival index = Number of pups surviving 21-days/Total number of live pups at 14-days (post-cull)
e. Lactation index = Number of pups surviving 21 days/ Total number of live pups at 4-days (post-cull)

Results and discussion

Results: P0 (first parental generation)

General toxicity (P0)

Clinical signs:

no effects observed

Dermal irritation (if dermal study):

not examined

Mortality:

no mortality observed

Body weight and weight changes:

effects observed, treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

See below

Food consumption and compound intake (if feeding study):

effects observed, treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

See below

Food efficiency:

not examined

Water consumption and compound intake (if drinking water study):

not examined

Ophthalmological findings:

not examined

Haematological findings:

not examined

Clinical biochemistry findings:

not examined

Urinalysis findings:

not examined

Behaviour (functional findings):

not examined

Immunological findings:

not examined

Organ weight findings including organ / body weight ratios:

no effects observed

Histopathological findings: non-neoplastic:

effects observed, treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

See below

Histopathological findings: neoplastic:

not examined

Other effects:

no effects observed

Reproductive function / performance (P0)

Reproductive function: oestrous cycle:

not examined

Reproductive function: sperm measures:

not examined

Reproductive performance:

no effects observed

Details on results (P0)

Clinical signs of toxicity (nasal discharge in males and red-tinged fur in females) were observed in the high-exposure F0 group, but there were no effects on body weight. Histopathology revealed a significant increase in the incidence of rhinitis in the nasal turbinates of F0 animals (both sexes) exposed to 0.08 and 0.3 ppm and hyperplasia and dysplasia of the respiratory epithelium of F0 males at 0.3 ppm. The incidence of hyperplasia was significantly increased in F0 females at 0.3 ppm.

Effect levels (P0)

1

Key result

Dose descriptor:

NOAEC

Effect level:

> 0.3 ppm

Based on:

test mat.

Sex:

male/female

Basis for effect level:

reproductive performance

2

Key result

Dose descriptor:

LOAEL

Effect level:

0.02 ppm

Based on:

test mat.

Sex:

male/female

Basis for effect level:

histopathology: non-neoplastic

Remarks on result:

other:

Remarks:

minimal irritation to respiratory tract

Results: P1 (second parental generation)

General toxicity (P1)

Clinical signs:

not examined

Dermal irritation (if dermal study):

not examined

Mortality:

not examined

Body weight and weight changes:

effects observed, treatment-related

Food consumption and compound intake (if feeding study):

not examined

Food efficiency:

not examined

Water consumption and compound intake (if drinking water study):

not examined

Ophthalmological findings:

not examined

Haematological findings:

not examined

Clinical biochemistry findings:

not examined

Urinalysis findings:

not examined

Behaviour (functional findings):

not examined

Immunological findings:

not examined

Organ weight findings including organ / body weight ratios:

not examined

Gross pathological findings:

not examined

Neuropathological findings:

not examined

Histopathological findings: non-neoplastic:

not examined

Histopathological findings: neoplastic:

not examined

Other effects:

not examined

Reproductive function / performance (P1)

Reproductive function: oestrous cycle:

not examined

Reproductive function: sperm measures:

not examined

Reproductive performance:

not examined

Results: F1 generation

General toxicity (F1)

Clinical signs:

no effects observed

Dermal irritation (if dermal study):

not examined

Mortality / viability:

no mortality observed

Body weight and weight changes:

effects observed, treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

See below

Food consumption and compound intake (if feeding study):

not examined

Food efficiency:

not examined

Water consumption and compound intake (if drinking water study):

not examined

Ophthalmological findings:

not examined

Haematological findings:

not examined

Clinical biochemistry findings:

not examined

Urinalysis findings:

not examined

Sexual maturation:

no effects observed

Nipple retention in male pups:

not examined

Organ weight findings including organ / body weight ratios:

no effects observed

Gross pathological findings:

no effects observed

Histopathological findings:

no effects observed

Other effects:

no effects observed

Developmental neurotoxicity (F1)

Behaviour (functional findings):

not examined

Developmental immunotoxicity (F1)

Developmental immunotoxicity:

not examined

Details on results (F1)

There were no treatment-related gross lesions in F1 animals that were necropsied. F1 males had a significant increase in the incidence of rhinitis at all exposure concentrations; in females, this increase was apparent only at the two higher doses. In the high-exposure group (males), there was a significant increase in the incidence of submucosal lymphoid infiltrates in both the larynx and the trachea as well as a significant increase in the incidence of intracellular eosinophilic droplets. There were no treatment-related effects in the trachea or larynx of F1 females.
During the 12-week prebreed exposure of F1 animals, animals from the 0.30 ppm group exhibited reduced body weights (both sexes) and weight gain (males only). The only treatment-related clinical signs were observed in F1 females and included perinasal encrustation and red-tinged fur. F2 pup body weights and weight gain per litter were reduced at 0.080 and 0.30 ppm during lactation.

Effect levels (F1)

Key result

Dose descriptor:

LOAEC

Generation:

F1

Effect level:

0.3 ppm (nominal)

Based on:

test mat.

Sex:

male/female

Basis for effect level:

body weight and weight gain

Results: F2 generation

General toxicity (F2)

Clinical signs:

no effects observed

Dermal irritation (if dermal study):

not examined

Body weight and weight changes:

effects observed, treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

See below

Food consumption and compound intake (if feeding study):

not examined

Food efficiency:

not examined

Water consumption and compound intake (if drinking water study):

not examined

Ophthalmological findings:

not examined

Haematological findings:

not examined

Clinical biochemistry findings:

not examined

Urinalysis findings:

not examined

Sexual maturation:

not examined

Anogenital distance (AGD):

not examined

Nipple retention in male pups:

not examined

Organ weight findings including organ / body weight ratios:

not examined

Gross pathological findings:

not examined

Histopathological findings:

not examined

Other effects:

not examined

Developmental neurotoxicity (F2)

Behaviour (functional findings):

not examined

Developmental immunotoxicity (F2)

Developmental immunotoxicity:

not examined

Overall reproductive toxicity

Key result

Reproductive effects observed:

no

Any other information on results incl. tables

F0:

F0 females exhibited no differences among groups for body weight gains.

In F0 males, body weight gain was reduced at 0.3 ppm only for the first exposure week, with increased body weight gains for the fifth and ninth treatment weeks also at 0.3 ppm. Terminal F0 male body weight gains were significantly increased at 0.02, 0.08 and 0.3 ppm (data not shown). Final body weights (week 14) were significantly increased at 0.3 ppm (6.5 %,Table 1). Clinical signs of toxicity (nasal discharge in males and red-tinged fur in females) were observed in the high-exposure F0 group. There were no treatment-related gross lesions observed in necropsy.

Histopathology revealed a significant increase in the incidence of rhinitis in the nasal turbinates of F0 animals (both sexes) exposed to 0.08 and 0.3 ppm and hyperplasia and dysplasia of the respiratory epithelium of F0 males at 0.3 ppm. The incidence of hyperplasia was also significantly increased in F0 females at 0.3 ppm. Treatment-related histopathologic lesions were limited to the upper respiratory tract with tissues located deeper in the respiratory tract being less affected.

F1-pups:

The F1 litters exhibited equivalent litter sizes and body weights per litter throughout lactation (data not shown). Perinatal deaths (postnatal days 0-4) were decreased (survival was increased) at 0.3 ppm (Table 2).

There were no treatment-related gross lesions in F1 animals that were necropsied.

F1 males had a significant increase in the incidence of rhinitis at all exposure concentrations; in females, this increase was apparent only at the two higher doses. In the high-exposure group (males), there was a significant increase in the incidence of submucosal lymphoid infiltrates in both the larynx and the trachea as well as a significant increase in the incidence of intracellular eosinophilic droplets. There were no treatment-related effects in the trachea or larynx of F1 females. During the 12-week prebreed exposure of F1 animals, animals from the 0.3 ppm group exhibited reduced body weights (both sexes) and weight gain (males only). The only treatment-related clinical signs were observed in F1 females and included perinasal encrustation and red-tinged fur. F2 pup body weights and weight gain per litter were reduced at 0.08 and 0.3 ppm during lactation.

F1-adult:

Males at 0.3 ppm exhibited reduced body weights and weight gain, females at 0.3 ppm also exhibited reduced body weights but not weight gain. Though final body weight were not reduced in both genders. Treatment-related clinical signs were observed in F1 females (but not in F1 males) at 0.08 and 0.3 ppm (perinasal encrustation and red-tinged fur). Histopathology revealed lesions limited to rhinitis in F1 males at all exposure levels and in F1 females at 0.08 and 0.3 ppm.

F2-pups:

F2 pup body weights and weight gain per litter were slightly reduced (< 8 %) at 0.08 and 0.3 ppm during lactation. Only in the high dose group reduced bw was persisting through day 21 (7 %)

Perinatal deaths were reduced (survival was increased) at 0.02 and 0.3 ppm, but lactational survival indices were unaffected by treatment.

There were no treatment-related gross lesions in F2 animals that were necropsied.

Table 1: Final body weights (week 14) of F0 adult males

ppm	0	0.02	0.08	0.3
Mean +/-SD	557.7 +/-52.75	584.9 +/-51.58	585 +/-51.26	596.4 +/-53.42

Table 2: Litter viability F1-generation on days 0 - 4 precull

ppm	0	0.02	0.08	0.3
#dead (d 0-4)	17	16	11	7

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

On the basis of the results observed, the test substance is not classsified as toxic for reproduction.

Executive summary:

On the basis of the results observed, the test substance is not classsified as toxic for reproduction.