Methoxyacetic acid

Toxicity to reproduction

Administrative data

Endpoint:

fertility, other

Remarks:

based on test type (migrated information)

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

other information

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

study well documented, meets generally accepted scientific principles, acceptable for assessment

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Comparison of the in vivo and in vitro testicular effects produced by methoxy-, ethoxy-, and N-butoxyacetic acids in the rat

Author:

Foster P M D, Lloyd S C, Blackbum D M

Year:

1987

Bibliographic source:

Toxicology, 43: 17-30.

Materials and methods

GLP compliance:

not specified

Limit test:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Methoxyacetic acid

EC Number:

210-894-6

EC Name:

Methoxyacetic acid

Cas Number:

625-45-6

Molecular formula:

C3H6O3

IUPAC Name:

2-methoxyacetic acid

Constituent 2

Reference substance name:

2-methoxyacetic acid

IUPAC Name:

2-methoxyacetic acid

Test animals

Species:

rat

Strain:

not specified

Sex:

male

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:

oral: gavage

Details on study design:

Methoxyacetic acid was administered to male rats by stomach tube as single oral doses of 118, 296 or 592 mg/kg bw. Testicular weight and morphology were monitored over a 14-day period post-treatment. Six animals/group, including a control group, were killed after 1, 2, 4 and 14 days and the testes, epididymides, seminal vesicles, prostate and liver were histopathologically examined.

Results and discussion

Results: P0 (first parental generation)

Details on results (P0)

Reduced body weight was reported at all doses during the first two days after administration, but this returned to normal during the study observation period. The relative testis weight was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in the high dose group from the 4th day of the experiment. In all the substance-treated groups, dose-dependent effects were seen in the testes 24 hours after administration.
In the animals of the lowest dose group, minimal damage (pyknosis, condensing of the cell nuclei) occurred in the spermatocytes at the early pachytene or diplotene stages, as well as damage to the secondary spermatocytes. After 14 days, mature spermatids were also affected.
The high dose led to degenerative changes and loss of secondary spermatocytes, spermatids and spermatocytes in the zygotene, pachytene, diplotene and diakinesis stages. An increase in the number of spermatocytes at the pachytene stage was observed 14 days after exposure. An increased number of immature and abnormal cells was found in the epididymides. No findings were noticed in the seminal vesicles, prostate or liver on histological examination.

Overall reproductive toxicity

Reproductive effects observed:

not specified

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Executive summary:

Methoxyacetic acid was administered by gavage to rats as single oral doses of 118, 296 or 592 mg/kg bw. Testicular weight and morphology were monitored over a 14-day period post-treatment. Dosage with Methoxyacetic acid resulted in a significant decrease in testicular weight. Histological examination of the testes from treated animals indicated that Methoxyacetic acid at all doses produced damage specific to spermatocytes undergoing meiotic maturation and division within 24 h of treatment.