Propylene glycol monomethyl ether (PGME): inhalation toxicity and carcinogenicity in Fischer 344 rats and B6C3F1 mice

Toxicol Pathol. 2002 Sep-Oct;30(5):570-9. doi: 10.1080/01926230290105848.

Abstract

A series of inhalation studies with propylene glycol monomethyl ether (PGME) vapor were undertaken to characterize its subchronic toxicity in mice and chronic toxicity/oncogenicity in rats and mice. Groups of male and female Fischer 344 rats and B6C3F1 mice were exposed to 0, 300, 1,000, or 3,000 ppm vapor from 1 week to 2 years. Primary treatment-related effects included: initial sedation of animals exposed to 3,000 ppm and its subsequent resolution correlating with induction of hepatic mixed function oxidase activity and S-phase DNA synthesis; elevated mortality in high-exposure male rats and mice (chronic study); elevated deposition of alpha2u-globulin (alpha2U-G) and associated nephropathy and S-phase DNA synthesis in male rat kidneys; accelerated atrophy of the adrenal gland X-zone in female mice (subchronic study only); and increased occurrence and/or severity of eosinophilic foci of altered hepatocytes in male rats. No toxicologically relevant statistically significant increases in neoplasia occurred in either species. A numerical increase in the incidence of kidney adenomas occurred in intermediate-exposure male rats; however, the association with alpha2U-G nephropathy, a male rat specific effect, indicated a lack of relevance for human risk assessment.

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / chemically induced
  • Adenoma / metabolism
  • Adenoma / pathology
  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Alpha-Globulins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Carcinogenicity Tests
  • Carcinogens / administration & dosage
  • Carcinogens / toxicity*
  • DNA / biosynthesis
  • DNA Replication / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Enzyme Induction / drug effects
  • Female
  • Kidney Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Kidney Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Longevity / drug effects
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases / biosynthesis
  • Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Propylene Glycols / administration & dosage
  • Propylene Glycols / toxicity*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred F344
  • S Phase / drug effects
  • S Phase / physiology

Substances

  • Alpha-Globulins
  • Carcinogens
  • Propylene Glycols
  • alpha 2u globulin
  • propylene glycol methyl ether
  • DNA
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases