5-vinylnorborn-2-ene

Developmental toxicity / teratogenicity

Administrative data

Endpoint:

developmental toxicity

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

comparable to guideline study with acceptable restrictions

Remarks:

Comparable to Guideline study. Well conducted and reported study.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

1995

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

equivalent or similar to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 414 (Prenatal Developmental Toxicity Study)

GLP compliance:

not specified

Limit test:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

5-ethylidene-8,9,10-trinorborn-2-ene

EC Number:

240-347-7

EC Name:

5-ethylidene-8,9,10-trinorborn-2-ene

Cas Number:

16219-75-3

Molecular formula:

C9H12

IUPAC Name:

(5E)-5-ethylidenebicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene

Details on test material:

- Test substance: 5-Ethylidene-2-norbornene (CAS No.16219-75-3)
- Source: Union Carbide Corporation, South Charleston, West Virginia, Lot No. 1609
- Analytical Purity: 99%

Test animals

Species:

rat

Strain:

other: CD (Sprague-Dawley)

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

Each animal was assigned a unique number and was ear tagged for identification.

TEST ANIMALS
- Virgin male and female CD (Sprague Dawley).
- Age not recorded; acclimated for 2 weeks before exposure commenced.
- Weight at study initiation: females ~235 g.
- Housing: 2 (1M/!F) to a cage in stainless steel wire-mesh cages.
- Diet: Prolab Certified Rodent Food@, ad libitum except during exposure period
- Water: tapwater
- Acclimation period: two weeks during which time they were examined by the Clinical Veterinarian and representative animals were subjected to a full necropsy, examination for intestinal parasites, histologic examination of selected tissues and serum viral antibody analysis.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
- Temperature (exposure chamber): 20.4-22.2 Celsius
- Humidity (exposure chamber): 47.5-49.6%
- Photoperiod: 12-hour

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:

inhalation

Type of inhalation exposure (if applicable):

whole body

Vehicle:

unchanged (no vehicle)

Details on exposure:

For generation of atmospheres, liquid ENB was metered from a heated glass evaporator similar in design to that described by Carpenter et al. (1975) and, more recently, Snellings and Dodd (1990). The temperature in the evaporator(s) was maintained at the lowest level sufficient to vaporize the liquid (31-52°C). The resultant vapor was carried into the chamber by passage of conditioned air through the evaporator(s). Concentrations of the ENB vapor in the exposure chambers were monitored using a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector.

Chamber volume: 3220litres, airflow 1000litres/min.

Chamber temperature, relative humidity, and airflow rate were recorded approximately every 30 minutes during each six-hour exposure.

Analytical verification of doses or concentrations:

yes

Details on analytical verification of doses or concentrations:

Analytical chamber concentrations were measured by gas chromatography. Calibration of the gas chromatograph was done using a series of standards which encompassed the entire range of vapor concentrations generated in the exposure chambers. Each chamber atmosphere was monitored for concentration verification approximately once every 25 minutes during each daily six-hour exposure. Daily nominal concentrations (an estimated concentration calculated from the amount of test material delivered and the chamber airflow during the exposure period) were calculated for each chamber. In a preliminary study on the distribution of vapur in the exposure chamber, each chamber was sampled at 5 different positions in triplicate. The variation seen was deemed acceptable.

Details on mating procedure:

- If cohoused:
- M/F ratio per cage: 1:1 (one male at least 300 g:one female at least 200 g) mating cages (22.5 x 31.0 x IS cm high)
- Proof of pregnancy: vaginal plug referred to as day 0 of pregnancy
- Plug-positive females-were housed individually for the duration of the study. 

Duration of treatment / exposure:

Gestation days (GD) 6-15

Frequency of treatment:

6 hours/day

Doses / concentrations

Doses / concentrations 1

Dose / conc.:

25 ppm (analytical)

Remarks:

equivalent to 123mg/m3

Doses / concentrations 2

Dose / conc.:

100 ppm (analytical)

Remarks:

equivalent to 492mg/m3

Doses / concentrations 3

Dose / conc.:

354 ppm (analytical)

Remarks:

equivalent to 1740mg/m3

No. of animals per sex per dose:

25

Control animals:

other: yes, air-exposed only

Details on study design:

Sex: female
Duration of test: females sacrificed on GD21

Examinations

Maternal examinations:

CAGE SIDE OBSERVATIONS: Yes
- Time schedule: Maternal animals were observed daily for mortality, morbidity, and signs of toxicity

BODY WEIGHT: Yes
- Time schedule for examinations: Body weights were recorded on GD 0, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21.

FOOD CONSUMPTION : Yes, Maternal food consumption was measured at 3-day intervals.

POST-MORTEM EXAMINATIONS: Yes
- Sacrifice on gestation day # 21
- Organs examined: general abdominopelvic gross pathology, gravid uterine weight, liver and kidney weights. Maternal thyroid glands were weighed and prepared for light microscopic examination and morphometric measurements.

Ovaries and uterine content:

The ovaries and uterine content was examined after termination: Yes
Examinations included:
- Gravid uterus weight: Yes
- Number of corpora lutea: Yes
- Number of implantations: Yes
- Number of resorptions: not reported

Fetal examinations:

All fetuses were weighed, sexed, and examined for external variations and malformations.
- Soft tissue examinations: Yes: half per litter were examined for thoracic and abdominal abnormalities ; these fetuses were decapitated and the heads fixed in Bouin's solution for examination of craniofacial structures by sectioning. 
- Skeletal examinations: Yes: All fetuses were eviscerated and processed for skeletal staining with alizarin red S to examine for skeletal malformations and variations.
- Head examinations: Yes: half per litter

Statistics:

Quantitative continuous variables were intercompared between ENB groups and the corresponding air-control groups using Levene's test for equal variances,analysis of variance, and t-tests. The t-test was used when the F value from the ANOVA was significant. Non-parametric data were statistically analyzed using the Kruskall-Wallis test followed by the Mann-Whitney U test. Incidence data were compared using Fisher's Exact Test. A probability value of <0.05(two-tailed) was used as the critical level of significance.

Results and discussion

Results: maternal animals

General toxicity (maternal animals)

Clinical signs:

no effects observed

Mortality:

no mortality observed

Body weight and weight changes:

effects observed, treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

Body weight: Significantly reduced in top dose group (-8.5% compared to controls by GD15). Showed evidence of reversal after exposure ceased.
Body weight gain: Significantly reduced in top (-62%) and mid (-25%) dose groups, but for the mid dose group this was only over the period GD6-9. There was again evidence of this effect disappearing after exposure ceased.

Food consumption and compound intake (if feeding study):

effects observed, treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

Significantly reduced by 21% in high dose group and 10% in mid dose group. In the latter case, this is an average figure over the whole exposure period, but the effect was more marked at the start of exposure (-17% compared to the end of exposure (-8%).

Immunological findings:

no effects observed

Description (incidence and severity):

No changes to thyroid weight, T3 or T4 levels.

Organ weight findings including organ / body weight ratios:

effects observed, treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

Relative liver weight increased in mid and high dose animals. No other significant organ weight changes noted.

Gross pathological findings:

no effects observed

Histopathological findings: non-neoplastic:

effects observed, treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

Colloid depletion in thyroid gland, characterised by small, collapsed or angular-shaped follicles containing minimal colloid. A dose response was seen in all dose groups.

Maternal developmental toxicity

Pre- and post-implantation loss:

no effects observed

Description (incidence and severity):

Migrated Data from removed field(s)
Field "Effects on pregnancy duration" (Path: ENDPOINT_STUDY_RECORD.DevelopmentalToxicityTeratogenicity.ResultsAndDiscussion.ResultsMaternalAnimals.MaternalDevelopmentalToxicity.EffectsOnPregnancyDuration): effects observed, non-treatment-related
Field "Description (incidence and severity)" (Path: ENDPOINT_STUDY_RECORD.DevelopmentalToxicityTeratogenicity.ResultsAndDiscussion.ResultsMaternalAnimals.MaternalDevelopmentalToxicity.DescriptionIncidenceAndSeverityEffectsOnPregnancyDuration): One dam at 100ppm delivered early.

Changes in number of pregnant:

no effects observed

Description (incidence and severity):

Rates at 83-100% were equivalent across all groups.

Other effects:

no effects observed

Description (incidence and severity):

Gravid uterine weight unaffected. No effects on number of corpora lutea, total number of non-viable and viable implants

Effect levels (maternal animals)

1

Dose descriptor:

NOAEC

Effect level:

< 25 ppm (analytical)

Based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect level:

histopathology: non-neoplastic

2

Dose descriptor:

NOAEC

Effect level:

25 ppm (analytical)

Based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect level:

body weight and weight gain

food consumption and compound intake

organ weights and organ / body weight ratios

Maternal abnormalities

Abnormalities:

no effects observed

Results (fetuses)

Fetal body weight changes:

no effects observed

Description (incidence and severity):

Migrated Data from removed field(s)
Field "Fetal/pup body weight changes" (Path: ENDPOINT_STUDY_RECORD.DevelopmentalToxicityTeratogenicity.ResultsAndDiscussion.ResultsFetuses.FetalPupBodyWeightChanges): no effects observed

Reduction in number of live offspring:

no effects observed

Changes in sex ratio:

no effects observed

External malformations:

no effects observed

Skeletal malformations:

effects observed, treatment-related

Description (incidence and severity):

In 100ppm and 354ppm groups there was an increase in the number of fetuses showing bilobed twelfth thoracid centrum. In high dose group only, there was also an increase in split twelfth thoracic centrum and poorly ossified second sternebra. This are all considered variations rather than malformations and are seen as an increase in frequency compared to spontaneous occurence in control animals.

Visceral malformations:

no effects observed

Details on embryotoxic / teratogenic effects:

.

Effect levels (fetuses)

Dose descriptor:

NOAEC

Effect level:

100 ppm (analytical)

Based on:

test mat.

Sex:

not specified

Basis for effect level:

skeletal malformations

Fetal abnormalities

Abnormalities:

effects observed, treatment-related

Localisation:

skeletal: vertebra

Description (incidence and severity):

minor variations - increase in frequency compared to spontaneous occurence in control animals

Overall developmental toxicity

Developmental effects observed:

no

Any other information on results incl. tables

There were no maternal deaths or abortions. One dam at 100 ppm delivered early. Pregnancy rates ranged from 83.3 to 100% and were equivalent across all groups. Between 20 and 25 litters were available for examination in each group. There were no exposure-related clinical signs of toxicity. Gestational body weights were reduced GD 9, 12, 15, and 18 at 354 ppm and on GD 15 at 100 ppm. Gestational body weight gains were statistically significantly reduced (p< 0.01) 61.5% over GD 6-15 at 354 ppm and 25.2% over GD 9-15 at 100 ppm, both accompanied by decreased food consumption (21.4% and 10.4%, respectively, p< 0.01). At 100 ppm, food consumption was less markedly affected, being reduced 16.5% for GD 9-12 and 8.0% for GD 12-15. Food consumption was similar to controls in the post expsoure period.  

Necropsy: There were no effects on the number of corpora lutea. The corrected body weights and corrected body weight changes were reduced in the 354 ppm group. Liver weights showed a nonstatistical trend for increase at 100 and 354 ppm. Relative liver weight was increased at 100 and 354 ppm. There were no statistically significant differences among the groups for number of live fetuses per litter, percent malformations per litter, placental or fetal body weights, or sex ratio. Three skeletal variants were increased in litters of the 354 ppm group (bilobed 12th thoracic centrum, split 12th thoracic centrum, and poorly ossified second sternabra) and one variant (bilobed 12th thoracic centrum) was increased in the 100 ppm group litters, but these occurred in the presence of maternal toxicity and were not seen in the 25 ppm group. Whilst the incidence of bilobed 12th thoracic centrum was statistically increased relative to controls, there was no clear dose response relationship - incidence at all three doses was similar and the effect did occur in controls. The biological significance is therefore questionable in the absence of any other significant findings. Both absolute and relative thyroid weights were unaffected by maternal exposure to ENB. There was no difference in thyroid hormones compared to controls. Histology evaluation confirmed vacuolar colloid depletion in all groups, (including controls) that was more marked and numerous in ENB groups. Morphometric evaluation confirmed concentration-related depletion of thyroid colloid in the ENB groups. There were no clinical signs suggestive of thyroid dysfunction.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Executive summary:

Neeper-Bradley et al. (1995) reported results of a teratogenicity test of ethylidene norbornene (ENB) conducted in CD (Sprague-Dawley) rats by inhalation of 0, 25, 100 and 354 ppm (0, 123, 492, 1740 mg/m3) during days 6-15 of pregnancy. There was no maternal mortality. Maternal body weights, body weight gain, and food consumption were reduced over the exposure period at 100 and 354 ppm, with partial or complete recovery post exposure. Increased relative liver weights were measured for the 100 and 354 ppm groups. Vacuolar depletion of thyroid follicular colloid was present in all groups of pregnant animals, including air-only controls, but the incidence and extent was greater in ENB vapor-exposed rats. There were no effects on tri-iodothyronine (T3), tetra-iodothyronine (T4) or T3 uptake. There were no increases in the incidence of malformations or external and visceral variations. Three skeletal variants (bilobed 12th thoracic centrum, split 12th thoracic centrum, and poorly ossified second sternabra) were increased at 354 ppm, and one (bilobed 12th thoracic centrum) was increased at 100 ppm. Thus, minimal developmental toxicity in the form of skeletal variants was observed in the 100 and 354 ppm group litters in the presence of maternal toxicity but analysis of the results suggests no dose response relationship and, in the absence of other findings, this change may not be biologically significant. On this basis, it is concluded that the NOAEL for maternal toxicity is 25ppm (123 mg/m3) whilst that for developmental toxicity/teratogenicity is 100 ppm (492 mg/m3).

This result can be considered representative of the likely developmental toxicity of the close structural analogue vinyl norbornene.