Two-generation reproductive toxicity study of inhaled toluene diisocyanate vapor in CD rats

Toxicol Sci. 1999 Dec;52(2):258-68. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/52.2.258.

Abstract

Twenty-eight 42-day-old pups/sex/group (F0) were exposed to toluene diisocyanate vapor (TDI; 80% 2,4-TDI, 20% 2,6-TDI) by inhalation at 0.0, 0.02, 0.08, or 0.3 ppm, 6 h/day, 5 days/week, for 10 weeks, then mated within groups for 3 weeks, with exposure 7 days/week during mating, gestation, and lactation. F0 maternal animals were not exposed from gestational day (gd) 20 through postnatal day (pnd) 4; maternal exposures resumed on pnd 5. Twenty-eight weanlings/sex/group continued exposure for 12 weeks (starting on pnd 28) and were bred as described above. F0 and F1 parents and ten F1 and F2 weanlings/sex/group were necropsied, and adult reproductive organs, pituitary, liver, kidneys, and upper respiratory tract (target organs) were evaluated histologically in ten/sex/group. Adult toxicity was observed in both sexes and generations at 0.08 and 0.3 ppm, including occasional reductions in body weights and weight gain, clinical signs of toxicity at 0.08 and 0.3 ppm, and histologic changes in the nasal cavities at 0.02, 0.08, and 0.3 ppm (including rhinitis, a nonspecific response to an irritating vapor, at all concentrations). There was no reproductive toxicity, reproductive organ pathology, or effect on gestation or lactation at any exposure concentration. Postnatal toxicity and reduced body weights and weight gains during lactation occurred only in F2 litters at 0.08 and 0.3 ppm. Therefore, under the conditions of this study, a no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was not determined for adult toxicity; the NOAEL for reproductive toxicity was at least 0.3 ppm, and the NOAEL for postnatal toxicity was 0.02 ppm.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Animals
  • Atmosphere Exposure Chambers
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Female
  • Fetal Weight / drug effects
  • Lactation / drug effects
  • Litter Size / drug effects
  • Male
  • Occupational Exposure / adverse effects
  • Pregnancy
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Reproduction / drug effects*
  • Rhinitis / chemically induced
  • Sex Ratio
  • Teratogens / toxicity*
  • Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate / administration & dosage
  • Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate / toxicity*
  • Weight Gain / drug effects

Substances

  • Teratogens
  • Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate