Tetrahydro-2-methylfuran

Endpoint summary

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Skin sensitisation

Link to relevant study records

Reference

Endpoint:

skin sensitisation: in vivo (LLNA)

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

23 October 2012 - 13 November 2012.

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Conducted according to an appropriate OECD guideline and under GLP.

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 429 (Skin Sensitisation: Local Lymph Node Assay)

GLP compliance:

yes

Type of study:

mouse local lymph node assay (LLNA)

Species:

mouse

Strain:

other: CBA/Ca

Sex:

female

Details on test animals and environmental conditions:

TEST ANIMALS
- Source: Harlan Laboratories UK Ltd., Oxon, UK
- Age at study initiation: 8-12 weeks
- Weight at study initiation: 15 to 23 g
- Housing: individually housed in suspended solid-floor polypropylene cages furnished with softwood woodflakes
- Diet: ad libitum
- Water: ad libitum
- Acclimation period: minimum 5 days

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
- Temperature (°C): 19 to 25
- Humidity (%): 30 to 70
- Air changes (per hr): ca. 15
- Photoperiod (hrs dark / hrs light): 12/12

Vehicle:

acetone/olive oil (4:1 v/v)

Concentration:

undiluted test item or the test item at concentrations of 50% or 25% v/v in acetone/olive oil 4:1

No. of animals per dose:

4

Details on study design:

Using available information regarding the systemic toxicity/irritancy potential of the test item, a preliminary screening test was performed using two mice, one mouse per test item concentration. The mice were treated by daily application of 25 µl of the undiluted test item or the test item at a concentration of 50% v/v in acetone/olive oil 4:1, to the dorsal surface of each ear for three consecutive days (Days 1, 2, 3). The mice were observed twice daily on Days 1, 2 and 3 and once daily on Days 4, 5 and 6. Local skin irritation was scored daily. Any clinical signs of toxicity, if present, were also recorded. The bodyweight of each mouse was recorded on Day 1 (prior to dosing) and on Day 6. The thickness of each ear was measured using an Oditest micrometer (Dyer, PA), pre-dose on Day 1, post dose on Day 3 and on Day 6. Any changes in the ear thickness were noted. Mean ear thickness changes were calculated between time periods Days 1 and 3 and Days 1 and 6. A mean ear thickness increase of equal to or greater than 25% was considered to indicate excessive irritation and limited biological relevance to the endpoint of sensitisation. The preliminary screening test suggested that the test item would not produce systemic toxicity or excessive local skin irritation at the highest suitable concentration.

Groups of four mice were treated with the undiluted test item or the test item at concentrations of 50% or 25% v/v in acetone/olive oil 4:1. The mice were treated by daily application of 25 µl of the appropriate concentration of the test item to the dorsal surface of each ear for three consecutive days (Days 1, 2, 3). The test item formulation was administered using an automatic micropipette and spread over the dorsal surface of the ear using the
tip of the pipette. A further group of four mice received the vehicle alone in the same manner.

Five days following the first topical application of the test item or vehicle (Day 6) all mice were injected via the tail vein with 250 µl of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) containing 3H-methyl thymidine (3HTdR: 80 µCi/ml, specific activity 2.0 Ci/mmol, ARC UK Ltd) giving a total of 20 µCi to each mouse. Five hours following the administration of 3HTdR all mice were killed by carbon dioxide asphyxiation. The draining auricular lymph nodes from the four mice were excised and pooled for each experimental group. For each group 1 ml of PBS was added to the pooled lymph nodes. A single cell suspension of pooled lymph node cells was prepared by gentle mechanical disaggregation through a 200-mesh stainless steel gauze. The lymph node cells were rinsed through the gauze with 4 ml of PBS into a petri dish labelled with the project number and dose concentration. The lymph node cell suspension was transferred to a centrifuge tube. The petri dish was washed with an additional 5 ml of PBS to remove all remaining lymph node cells and
these were added to the centrifuge tube. The pooled lymph node cells were pelleted at 1400 rpm (approximately 190 g) for ten minutes. The pellet was resuspended in 10 ml of PBS and re-pelleted. To precipitate out the radioactive material, the pellet was resuspended in 3 ml of 5% Trichloroacetic acid (TCA).

After approximately eighteen hours incubation at approximately 4°C, the precipitates were recover ed by centrifugation at 2100 rpm (approximately 450 g) for ten minutes, resuspended in 1 ml of TCA and transferred to 10 ml of scintillation fluid (Optiphase 'Trisafe'). 3HTdR incorporation was measured by b-scintillation counting. The "Poly QTM" vials containing the samples and scintillation fluid were placed in the sample changer of the scintillator and left for approximately twenty minutes. The purpose of this period of time in darkness was to reduce the risk of luminescence, which has been shown to affect the reliability of the results. After approximately twenty minutes, the vials were shaken vigorously. The number of radioactive disintegrations per minute was then measured using the Beckman LS6500 scintillation system (Beckman Instruments Inc, Fullerton, CA, USA).

The proliferation response of lymph node cells was expressed as the number of radioactive disintegrations per minute per lymph node (disintegrations per minute/node) and as the ratio of 3HTdR incorporation into lymph node cells of test nodes relative to that recorded for the control nodes (Stimulation Index). The test item will be regarded as a sensitiser if at least one concentration of the test item results in a threefold or greater increase in 3HTdR incorporation compared to control values. Any test item failing to produce a threefold or greater increase in 3HTdR incorporation will be classified as a "non-sensitiser".

Positive control substance(s):

hexyl cinnamic aldehyde (CAS No 101-86-0)

Parameter:

SI

Remarks on result:

other: Vehicle = n/a 25 % v/v in acetone/olive oil 4:1 = negative 50% v/v in acetone/olive oil 4:1 = negative 100% v/v in acetone/olive oil 4:1 = negative

Parameter:

SI

Value:

ca. 1

Test group / Remarks:

Vehicle control

Remarks on result:

other: n/a

Parameter:

SI

Value:

ca. 1.1

Variability:

Test article: 25%

Remarks on result:

other: no indication of skin sensitisation

Parameter:

SI

Value:

ca. 1.1

Variability:

Test article: 50%

Remarks on result:

other: no indication of skin sensitisation

Parameter:

SI

Value:

ca. 1.5

Test group / Remarks:

Test article: 100%

Remarks on result:

other: no indication of skin sensitisation

There were no deaths. No signs of systemic toxicity were noted in the test or control animals during the test. Bodyweight changes of the test animals between Day 1 and Day 6 were comparable to those observed in the corresponding control group animals over the same period. The test item was considered to be a non-sensitiser under the conditions of the test.

Interpretation of results:

not sensitising

Remarks:

Migrated information Criteria used for interpretation of results: EU

Conclusions:

The test material was found not sensitising in a Local Lymph Node Assay in mouse, in a study conducted according to current OECD guideline and in compliance with GLP.

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no adverse effect observed (not sensitising)

Additional information:

The key study for skin sensitisation found the test material not sensitising in a Local Lymph Node Assay in mouse (Harlan 2013). There were no deaths. No signs of systemic toxicity were noted in the test or control animals during the test. Bodyweight changes of the test animals between Day 1 and Day 6 were comparable to those observed in the corresponding control group animals over the same period.

Migrated from Short description of key information:

The key study for sensitisation found tetrahydro-2-methylfuran not sensitising in a Local Lymph Node Assay in mouse, in a study conducted according to current OECD guideline and in compliance with GLP (Harlan 2013).

Justification for selection of skin sensitisation endpoint:

The most recent and reliable available study.

Justification for classification or non-classification

Based on the available information, no classification is proposed for tetrahydro-2 -methylfuran is not classified as a skin sensitiser in accordance with current EC Regulation 1272/2008.