Heptan-1-ol

Endpoint summary

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Effects on fertility

Description of key information

There is a GLP OECD 422 study performed with Heptanol (Spézia, 2012). A NOAEL of 1000 mg/kg/day was set for all parental and fertility endpoints.

Link to relevant study records

Reference

Endpoint:

screening for reproductive / developmental toxicity

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

27 April 2012 - 02 July 2012

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Compliant to GLP and testing guidelines; adequate consistence between data, comments and conclusions.

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 422 (Combined Repeated Dose Toxicity Study with the Reproduction / Developmental Toxicity Screening Test)

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Limit test:

no

Species:

rat

Strain:

Sprague-Dawley

Sex:

male/female

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

TEST ANIMALS
- Source: breeder: Charles River Laboratories France, L’Arbresle, France.
- Age/Weight: at the beginning of the treatment period, the males were approximately 10 weeks old and had a mean body weight of 407 g (range: 376 g to 435 g) and the females were approximately 9 weeks old and had a mean body weight of 220 g (range: 205 g to 234 g)
- Fasting period before study: no
- Housing: individually housed, except during pairing, in polysulfone cages with stainless steel lids
- Diet: SSNIFF R/M-H pelleted diet (free access)
- Water: tap water filtered with a 0.22 µm filter (free access)
- Acclimation period: at least 6 days before the beginning of the study.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
- Temperature (°C): 22 ± 2°C
- Humidity (%): 50 ± 20%
- Air changes (per hr): approximately 12 cycles/hour of filtered, non-recycled air
- Photoperiod (hrs dark / hrs light): 12 h/12 h.

IN-LIFE DATES: 09 May 2012 to 02 July 2012.

Route of administration:

oral: gavage

Vehicle:

corn oil

Details on exposure:

PREPARATION OF DOSING SOLUTIONS:
The test item was administered as a solution in the vehicle. The test item was mixed with the required quantity of vehicle and stirred at least 30 minutes. No correction factor was applied.
The dose formulations were prepared for 1 to 8 days (frequency based on the results of the stability study. They were stored at room temperature and protected from light and delivered to the study room in brown flasks.

VEHICLE
- Concentration in vehicle: 20, 60 and 200 mg/mL
- Amount of vehicle (if gavage): 5 mL/kg/day.

Details on mating procedure:

- M/F ratio per cage: 1/1
- Length of cohabitation (mating period): until mating occurs or 21days has elapsed
- Proof of pregnancy: vaginal plug or sperm in the morning vaginal lavage referred to as day 0 post-coitum
- After successful mating each pregnant female was caged individually

Analytical verification of doses or concentrations:

yes

Details on analytical verification of doses or concentrations:

Type of method: GC-FID
Test item concentrations: remained within an acceptable range of variation compared to nominal values.
Homogeneity: not assessed, dose formulation is a solution
Stability: 8-day

Duration of treatment / exposure:

¿ in the males:
- 2 weeks before pairing,
- during the pairing period,
- until sacrifice (at least 5 weeks in total),
¿ in the females:
- 2 weeks before pairing,
- during the mating period,
- during gestation,
- during lactation until day 5 p.p. inclusive,
- until sacrifice for non-pregnant females.

Frequency of treatment:

Daily

Details on study schedule:

- No F1 parents (only one generation mated)
- Age at mating of the mated animals in the study: 12 weeks for males, 11 weeks for females.

Dose / conc.:

1 000 mg/kg bw/day (actual dose received)

Dose / conc.:

300 mg/kg bw/day (actual dose received)

Dose / conc.:

100 mg/kg bw/day (actual dose received)

No. of animals per sex per dose:

10 animals per sex per dose

Control animals:

yes, concurrent vehicle

Details on study design:

- Dose selection rationale:
The dose-levels were selected in agreement with the Sponsor.
In a previous preliminary study, the test item was administered to three groups of three male and three female Sprague-Dawley rats by oral gavage once daily at 100, 300 or 1000 mg/kg/day (5 mL/kg/day was used). An additional group of three males and three females was administered the vehicle alone, corn oil, under the same experimental conditions (2 weeks). The animals were checked daily for mortality and clinical signs. Body weight and food consumption were recorded twice weekly. On completion of the treatment period and after at least 14 hours fasting, all animals were sacrificed. A complete macroscopic post mortem examination was performed on all animals and designated organs were weighed. No microscopic examination was performed.

There were no unscheduled deaths. At 1000 mg/kg/day, all animals (male and female rats) had ptyalism. This finding was considered to be related to treatment with the test item but of minor toxicological importance. There were no toxicologically significant effects on mean body weight, mean body weight change or mean food consumption. At necropsy, no organ weight changes or gross finding were attributed to n-HEPTANOL administration.

Therefore 1000 mg/kg/day, which is also the maximum recommended dose to be tested according to OECD Guideline No. 422, was selected as the high-dose level. The low-dose and mid-dose were selected using a ratio representing a three-fold interval (i.e. 100 and 300 mg/kg/day).

- Rationale for animal assignment: computerized stratification procedure

Positive control:

no (not required)

Parental animals: Observations and examinations:

CAGE SIDE OBSERVATIONS:
- Time schedule: at least twice a day during the treatment period.

DETAILED CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS:
- Time schedule: once a day during the treatment period.

BODY WEIGHT (GAIN):
- Time schedule: Males: on the first day of treatment, then once a week until sacrifice. Females: on the first day of treatment, then once a week until mating (or until sacrifice), on days 0, 7, 14 and 20 post-coitum and days 1 and 5 post-partum.

FOOD CONSUMPTION:
- Time schedule: once a week until sacrifice, with the exception of the mating period (not recorded).

NEUROBEHAVIOURAL EXAMINATION:
- The first five males and the first five females to deliver from each group were evaluated once at the end of the treatment period. For females, this was performed on day 5 post partum after sacrifice of the pups.

HAEMATOLOGY:
On the day of sacrifice.

CLINICAL CHEMISTRY:
On the day of sacrifice.

URINALYSIS:
On the day of sacrifice.

REPRODUCTION (apart from indices):
- Pre-coital time and duration of gestation were recorded.

Oestrous cyclicity (parental animals):

fresh vaginal lavage (stained with methylene blue), each morning during the pairing period, until females are mated.

Sperm parameters (parental animals):

Parameters examined in males of parental generation:
- weighing and microscopic examination: see Tissue Procedure Table below
- microscopic evaluation of stages of the spermatogenic cycle and testicular interstitial cells.

Litter observations:

STANDARDISATION OF LITTERS: No

PARAMETERS EXAMINED:
- number and sex of pups,
- number of live, dead and cannibalized pups,
- presence of gross anomalies, weight gain, clinical signs

GROSS EXAMINATION OF DEAD AND SURVIVING PUPS:
- external and internal abnormalities

Postmortem examinations (parental animals):

SACRIFICE
- Male animals: all surviving animals after the end of the mating period
- Female animals: all surviving animals = day 5 post-partum or, for females which had not delivered yet, day 25 post-coitum (mothers with litter dying entirely were sacrificed as appropriate)

ORGAN WEIGHTS: see table below
The body weight of each animal sacrificed as scheduled (see § Study plan adherence) was recorded before sacrifice, and the organs specified in the Tissue Procedure Table were weighed (wet) as soon as possible after dissection.
The ratio of organ weight to body weight (recorded immediately before sacrifice) was calculated.

GROSS PATHOLOGY:
A complete macroscopic post-mortem examination was performed on all parent animals including one male of group 4 which was sacrificed prematurely. This included examination of the external surfaces, all orifices, the cranial cavity, the external surfaces of the brain and spinal cord, the thoracic, abdominal and pelvic cavities with their associated organs and tissues and the neck with its associated organs and tissues. The numbers of corpora lutea and implantation sites were also recorded for females sacrificed as scheduled on day 6 p.p., and for females sacrificed on day 25 p.c. due to no delivery.
For apparently non-pregnant females the presence of implantation scars on the uterus was checked using the ammonium sulphide staining technique.

HISTOPATHOLOGY:
- on all tissues listed in the table below for the first five control and high dose animals (groups 1 and 4) sacrificed as scheduled,
- on all macroscopic lesions,
- all females sacrificed because of non-delivery to investigate possible causes.

Postmortem examinations (offspring):

SACRIFICE: on day 5 post-partum

GROSS NECROPSY: on all pups (surviving and found dead)

HISTOPATHOLOGY: No

ORGAN WEIGTHS: No

Reproductive indices:

Pre-implantation loss = 100 * (Number of corpora lutea - Number of implantation sites) / Number of corpora lutea
Post-implantation loss = 100 * (Number of implantation sites - Number of live concepti) / Number of implantations
Mating index = 100 * (Number of mated animals / Number of paired animals)
Fertility index = 100 * (Number of pregnant female partners / Number of mated pairs)
Gestation index = 100 * (Number of females with live born pups / Number of pregnant females)

Offspring viability indices:

Live birth index = 100 * (Number of live born pups / Number of delivered pups)
Viability index on day 4 p.p. = 100 * (Number of surviving pups on day 4 p.p. / Number of live born pups)

Clinical signs:

effects observed, treatment-related

Body weight and weight changes:

no effects observed

Food consumption and compound intake (if feeding study):

no effects observed

Organ weight findings including organ / body weight ratios:

no effects observed

Histopathological findings: non-neoplastic:

effects observed, treatment-related

Other effects:

not examined

Reproductive function: sperm measures:

not examined

Description (incidence and severity):

no in-vivo observation of sperm

Reproductive performance:

no effects observed

MORTALITY:
There were no unscheduled deaths in control, 100 and 300 mg/kg/day groups.
At 1000 mg/kg/day, one male was sacrificed moribund (hypoactivity, loud/abdominal breathing, and ptyalism) on study day 35 most likely due to reflux at dosing.
Two females were sacrificed for absence of delivery on day 25 p.c.: one female (300 mg/kg/day group) and one female (1000 mg/kg/day group). These females were not pregnant.

CLINICAL SIGNS:
Hypoactivity, loud/abdominal breathing and dyspnea were observed at 1000 mg/kg/day and in males only (except hypoactivity which was also noted in one female treated at 1000 mg/kg/day, during the lactation period). These clinical signs appeared mainly from study day 30 with the exception of one male with loud breathing from study day 9 and abdominal breathing from study days 9 to 12. All these clinical signs were considered to be related to the treatment with the test item and of toxicological significance.
Ptyalism was considered to be related to the test item but of minor toxicological importance.
A treatment-related effect was considered to be unlikely for the few others clinical signs commonly observed in this species and strain.

BODY WEIGHT (GAIN):
There were no biologically significant effects on mean body weight or mean body weight changes during the premating, mating, gestation or lactation periods.
In males, there were a few isolated and statistically significant increases in mean body weight changes. In absence of any dose relationship and taking into account the amplitudes of the changes, a relationship to the treatment with the test item was considered unlikely.

FOOD CONSUMPTION:
There were no effects on mean food consumption during the premating, mating, gestation or lactation periods.

NEUROBEHAVIOURAL EXAMINATION:
Functional Observation Battery
There were no relevant differences in treated groups when compared with control group.

Motor activity
There were no relevant differences in motor activity (horizontal movements and rearing) in treated groups when compared with control group.

HAEMATOLOGY:
When compared with controls, a few statistically significant differences were recorded from animals treated at 300 or 1000 mg/kg/day (increased white blood cells, decreased neutrophils and decreased fibrinogen). These findings were of small amplitude and observed in one sex only or with opposite trends between sexes. Therefore, these findings were considered to be of non toxicological significance.

CLINICAL CHEMISTRY:
Overall, when compared with controls there were a few statistically significant differences which were considered to be of non toxicological significance taking into account the amplitudes of the changes, the absence of a dose-relationship and/or the absence of a similar correlate in the other sex.

URINALYSIS:
There were no effects on mean urinalysis parameters.

REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE:
There were no treatment-related effects on mating and fertility data.
All animals mated within comparable mean number of days taken to mate.
All females were pregnant, except one at 300 mg/kg/day and one at 1000 mg/kg/day.

ORGAN WEIGHTS:
There were no changes in organ weights attributed to the test item administration.
Organ weight changes were not considered to be related to the test item as they were small in amplitude, had no gross or microscopic correlates, and/or were not dose-related in magnitude.

GROSS PATHOLOGY:
Unscheduled sacrifices
High-dose male was sacrificed moribund on study day 35. At necropsy, the lungs were enlarged and showed focal white discoloration (approximately 2.5 cm long, 1.5 cm wide).
High-dose female was not pregnant and was sacrificed on day 25 p.c. At necropsy, there was a transverse vaginal septum and enlarged uterine cervix.
Mid-dose female was not pregnant and was sacrificed on day 25 p.c. The only macroscopic finding was red discoloration of the thymus. This is a common finding noted at necropsy in rats, which correlated with hemorrhages and is considered to be related to the sacrifice procedure.

Terminal sacrifice
The few macroscopic findings noted at the end of the treatment period were of those commonly recorded in the Sprague-Dawley rat and none were considered to be related to the test item administration.
Red discoloration of the thymus was noted in a few test item-treated males and a single mid-dose female. This is a common finding noted at necropsy in rats, which correlated with hemorrhages and is considered to be related to the sacrifice procedure. Therefore it was not considered to be related to the test item administration.
Cutaneous scabs were noted in a few test item-treated males and in a single high-dose female. However since this is a common finding in rats, it was considered to be incidental and unrelated to the test item administration.

HISTOPATHOLOGY:
Unscheduled sacrifices
The cause of death of high-dose male was acute bronchioalveolar inflammation which was associated with fragments of alimentary content and numerous bacterial colonies. This acute inflammation was characterized by edema, correlated with macroscopic enlargement and white discoloration of the lungs, and was associated with hemorrhages. This pulmonary inflammation was most likely secondary to the reflux at dosing noted clinically.
In high-dose female, the transverse vaginal septum was confirmed microscopically since there was a thin band of connective tissue covered by a mucous epithelium continuous with the vaginal epithelium. There was marked mucification of the vaginal epithelium and accumulation of mucus in the vaginal lumen. The transverse vaginal septum is a developmental anomaly occasionally observed in female rats (De Schaepdrijver et al., 1995; Lezmi et al., 2011). The presence of this transverse vaginal septum explained that this female was unable to breed.

In mid-dose female, there were no significant microscopic findings in the reproductive organs or other tissues. This female was at the end of estrus/early metestrus.

Terminal sacrifice
There were no microscopic changes attributed to the test item administration. There were no significant changes in the female and male reproductive organs.
All microscopic findings noted in treated animals were considered incidental changes, as they also occurred in controls, were of low incidence, had no dose-relationship in incidence or severity, and/or are common background findings for the Sprague-Dawley rat.

Dose descriptor:

NOAEL

Effect level:

1 000 mg/kg bw/day (actual dose received)

Based on:

test mat.

Sex:

male/female

Basis for effect level:

other:

Remarks on result:

other: no effect up to 1000 mg/kg/day

Key result

Critical effects observed:

no

Lowest effective dose / conc.:

1 000 mg/kg bw/day (actual dose received)

Clinical signs:

no effects observed

Mortality / viability:

mortality observed, treatment-related

Body weight and weight changes:

effects observed, treatment-related

Sexual maturation:

no effects observed

Organ weight findings including organ / body weight ratios:

not examined

Gross pathological findings:

not examined

Histopathological findings:

not examined

MORTALITY/VIABILITY:
There were no obvious treatment-related effects on pup mortality.

CLINICAL SIGNS:
3.5.2 Clinical signs (Appendix 31)
There were no clinical signs in pups that could be considered to be treatment-related.

The few clinical signs recorded concerned a few pups:
Control group:
- one pup from litter had an hematoma on neck (days 1 to 4 p.p.),
100 mg/kg/day group:
- one pup from litter had an hematoma on back (days 1 to 3 p.p.),
- one pup from litter was emaciated and cold to the touch (day 5 p.p.),
1000 mg/kg/day group:
- one pup from litter had a scab on back (from day 3 p.p.),
- one pup from litter had an hematoma on head (days 1 to 4 p.p.),
- one pup from litter had an hematoma on back (days 2 to 4 p.p.),
- one pup from litter was emaciated and cold to the touch (day 5 p.p.).

BODY WEIGHT (GAIN):
There was a moderate increase in mean pups body weight at 1000 mg/kg/day. However, taking into account the amplitude of this change, it was considered that there were no toxicologically significant effects on mean body weight of pups during the lactation period (day 1 or day 5 p.p.).

Dose descriptor:

NOAEL

Generation:

F1

Effect level:

1 000 mg/kg bw/day (actual dose received)

Based on:

test mat.

Sex:

male/female

Basis for effect level:

other:

Remarks on result:

other: No effect up to 1000mg/kg/day

Key result

Critical effects observed:

no

Lowest effective dose / conc.:

1 000 mg/kg bw/day (actual dose received)

Key result

Reproductive effects observed:

no

Lowest effective dose / conc.:

1 000 mg/kg bw/day (actual dose received)

Conclusions:

The test item was administered daily by oral gavage to male and female Sprague-Dawley rats, for 2 weeks before mating, during mating, and until sacrifice (for males) or throughout gestation and until day 5 post-partum (for females), at dose-levels of 100, 300 or 1000 mg/kg/day.

Based on the experimental conditions of this study:
- the No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) for parental toxicity was considered to be 1000 mg/kg/day,
- the NOEL for reproductive performance (mating and fertility) was considered to be 1000 mg/kg/day,
- the No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) for toxic effects on progeny was considered to be 1000 mg/kg/day in the absence of any treatment-related effect on pups at this dose-level.

Executive summary:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential toxic effects of the test item following daily oral administration (gavage) to male and female rats from before mating, during mating and, for the females, throughout gestation until day 5 post-partum (p.p.) inclusive.

This study provides information on the possible health hazards (including neurological and immunological effects) likely to arise from repeated exposure over a limited period of time. It can also indicate effects on male and female reproductive performance, such as gonadal function, mating behavior, conception, development of the conceptus and parturition.

Methods

Three groups of ten male and ten female Sprague-Dawley rats received the test item, daily, by oral administration (gavage), before mating, during mating and, for the males, until sacrifice, for the females, throughout gestation until day 5p.p., at dose-levels of 100, 300 or 1000 mg/kg/day.

An additional group of ten males and ten females received the vehicle control, corn oil, under the same experimental conditions. The dosing volume was 5 mL/kg/day.

 

Animals were checked daily for clinical signs, mortality, and detailed clinical observations were conducted weekly. Body weights and food consumption were recorded weekly until mating and then at designated intervals throughout gestation and lactation.

The animals were paired for mating after 2 weeks of treatment and the dams were allowed to litter and rear their progeny until day 5p.p.. The total litter sizes and numbers of pups of each sex were recorded after birth. The pups were observed daily for clinical signs of toxicity and pup body weights were recorded on days 1 and 5 p.p.

A Functional Observation Battery including touch response, forelimb grip strength, pupillary reflex, visual stimulus response, auditory startle reflex, tail pinch response, righting reflex, landing foot splay, rectal temperature and motor activity was performed on five males and females per group at the end of the study. Prior to sacrifice, blood samples were also taken from these animals for analysis of hematology and blood biochemistry parameters.

 

The males were sacrificed after completion of the mating period. Body weights and selected organs weights were recorded and a complete macroscopic post-mortem examination performed, with particular attention paid to the reproductive organs. A microscopic examination was also conducted on selected organs from the first five males in the control group and the high-dose group. Microscopic examination was conducted on all macroscopic lesions from all groups.

 

Dams were sacrificed on day 6 p.p. Body weights and selected organs weights were recorded and a complete macroscopic examination was performed, with particular attention paid to the reproductive organs. A microscopic examination was then conducted on selected organs from the first five females to deliver in the control group and the high-dose group and on any macroscopic lesions from all groups.

 

Pups, including those found dead before study termination, were also submitted for a macroscopic post-mortem examination.

Results

The test item concentrations in the administered dosage forms were within an acceptable range of variation (± 15%). The test item was not detected in control samples.

 

Mortality

There were no unscheduled deaths in control, 100 and 300 mg/kg/day groups. At 1000 mg/kg/day, one male was sacrificed moribund (hypoactivity, loud/abdominal breathing, and ptyalism) on study day 35 most likely due to reflux at dosing.

 

Clinical signs

Hypoactivity, loud/abdominal breathing and dyspnea were observed at 1000 mg/kg/day and in males only (except hypoactivity which was also noted in one female treated at 1000 mg/kg/day, during the lactation period). These clinical signs were considered to be related to the treatment with the test item. Ptyalism was considered to be related to the test item but of minor toxicological importance.

 

Body weight and body weight change

There were no biologically significant effects on mean body weight or mean body weight changes during the premating, mating, gestation or lactation periods.

 

Food consumption

There were no effects on mean food consumption during the premating, mating, gestation or lactation periods.

 

Functional Observation

There were no relevant differences in treated groups when compared with control group.

 

Motor activity

There were no relevant differences in motor activity (horizontal movements and rearing) in treated groups when compared with control group.

 

Hematology

There were nofindings of toxicological significance.

 

Blood biochemistry

There were nofindings of toxicological significance.

 

Urinalysis

There were no effects on mean urinalysis parameters.

 

Mating and fertility data

There were no treatment-related effects on mating and fertility data. All animals mated within comparable mean number of days taken to mate.

 

Delivery data

There were no relevant differences between control and test item-treated groups (mean duration of gestation, mean number of corpora lutea, mean number of implantations, mean pre-implantation loss, mean number of pups delivered and mean post-implantation loss).

Pups mortality

There were no obvious treatment-related effects on pup mortality.

 

Pups clinical signs

There were no clinical signs in pups that could be considered to be treatment-related.

 

Live birth, viability and lactation indexes

There were no treatment-related effects on live birth, viability and lactation indexes.

 

Pup body weight

There were no toxicologically significant effects on mean body weight of pups during the lactation period (day 1 or day 5 p.p.).

 

Sex ratio

There were no treatment-related effects on sex ratio (% of male pups) both on days 1 and 5 p.p.

 

Pathology:    

- Unscheduled sacrifices: the cause of death of thehigh-dose male sacrificed moribund on study day 35 was acute bronchioalveolar inflammation most likely secondary to the reflux at dosing noted clinically. One high-dose female was not pregnant and was sacrificed on day 25 p.c.. At necropsy, there was a developmental anomaly of the vagina (transverse septum) which explained that this female was unable to breed. One mid-dose female was not pregnant and was sacrificed on day 25 p.c. There were no significant macroscopic and microscopic changes in this female.

- Terminal sacrifice: The test item administration at 100, 300 or 1000 mg/kg/day did not induce any organ weight, macroscopic or microscopic changes.

 

Conclusion

The test item was administered daily by oral gavage to male and female Sprague-Dawley rats, for 2 weeks before mating, during mating, and until sacrifice (for males) or throughout gestation and until day 5 post-partum (for females), at dose-levels of 100, 300 or 1000 mg/kg/day.

 

Based on the experimental conditions of this study:

- the No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) for parental toxicity was considered to be 1000 mg/kg/day,

- the NOEL for reproductive performance (mating and fertility) was considered to be 1000 mg/kg/day,

- the No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) for toxic effects on progeny was considered to be 1000 mg/kg/day in the absence of any treatment-related effect on pups at this dose-level.

Effect on fertility: via oral route

Endpoint conclusion:

no adverse effect observed

Dose descriptor:

NOAEL

1 000 mg/kg bw/day

Additional information

 

The objective of this GLP study (OECD 422, Spézia, 2012) was to evaluate the potential toxic effects of the test item following daily oral administration (gavage) to male and female rats from before mating, during mating and, for the females, throughout gestation until day 5 post-partum (p.p.)inclusive.

This study provides information on the possible health hazards (including neurological and immunological effects) likely to arise from repeated exposure over a limited period of time. It can also indicate effects on male and female reproductive performance, such as gonadal function, mating behavior, conception, development of the conceptus and parturition.

Three groups of ten male and ten female Sprague-Dawley rats received the test item, daily, by oral administration (gavage), before mating, during mating and, for the males, until sacrifice, for the females, throughout gestation until day 5p.p., at dose-levels of 100, 300 or 1000 mg/kg/day.

An additional group of ten males and ten females received the vehicle control, corn oil, under the same experimental conditions. The dosing volume was 5 mL/kg/day.

 

Animals were checked daily for clinical signs, mortality, and detailed clinical observations were conducted weekly. Body weights and food consumption were recorded weekly until mating and then at designated intervals throughout gestation and lactation.

The animals were paired for mating after 2 weeks of treatment and the dams were allowed to litter and rear their progeny until day 5p.p.. The total litter sizes and numbers of pups of each sex were recorded after birth. The pups were observed daily for clinical signs of toxicity and pup body weights were recorded on days 1 and 5p.p.

A Functional Observation Battery including touch response, forelimb grip strength, pupillary reflex, visual stimulus response, auditory startle reflex, tail pinch response, righting reflex, landing foot splay, rectal temperature and motor activity was performed on five males and females per group at the end of the study. Prior to sacrifice, blood samples were also taken from these animals for analysis of hematology and blood biochemistry parameters.

 

The males were sacrificed after completion of the mating period. Body weights and selected organs weights were recorded and a complete macroscopicpost-mortemexamination performed, with particular attention paid to the reproductive organs. A microscopic examination was also conducted on selected organs from the first five males in the control group and the high-dose group. Microscopic examination was conducted on all macroscopic lesions from all groups.

 

Dams were sacrificed on day 6p.p.Body weights and selected organs weights were recorded and a complete macroscopic examination was performed, with particular attention paid to the reproductive organs. A microscopic examination was then conducted on selected organs from the first five females to deliver in the control group and the high-dose group and on any macroscopic lesions from all groups.

 

 

 

Results

The test item concentrations in the administered dosage forms were within an acceptable range of variation (± 15%). The test item was not detected in control samples.

 

Mortality

There were no unscheduled deaths in control, 100 and 300 mg/kg/day groups. At 1000 mg/kg/day, one male was sacrificed moribund (hypoactivity, loud/abdominal breathing, and ptyalism) on study day 35 most likely due to reflux at dosing.

 

Clinical signs

Hypoactivity, loud/abdominal breathing and dyspnea were observed at 1000 mg/kg/day and in males only (except hypoactivity which was also noted in one female treated at 1000 mg/kg/day, during the lactation period). These clinical signs were considered to be related to the treatment with the test item. Ptyalism was considered to be related to the test item but of minor toxicological importance.

 

Body weight and body weight change

There were no biologically significant effects on mean body weight or mean body weight changes during the premating, mating, gestation or lactation periods.

 

Food consumption

There were no effects on mean food consumption during the premating, mating, gestation or lactation periods.

 

Mating and fertility data

There were no treatment-related effects on mating and fertility data. All animals mated within comparable mean number of days taken to mate.

 

Delivery data

There were no relevant differences between control and test item-treated groups (mean duration of gestation, mean number ofcorpora lutea, mean number of implantations, mean pre-implantation loss, mean number of pups delivered and mean post-implantation loss).

 

Pups pre and post-natal development:

There were no obvious treatment-related effects on pup mortality, clinical signs, body weight and lactation indices.

Pathology

There were no significant macroscopic and microscopic changes in this female.

 

 

Conclusion

The test item was administered daily by oral gavage to male and female Sprague-Dawley rats, for 2 weeks before mating, during mating, and until sacrifice (for males) or throughout gestation and until day 5post-partum(for females), at dose-levels of 100, 300 or 1000 mg/kg/day.

 

Based on the experimental conditions of this study:

- the No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) for parental toxicity was considered to be 1000 mg/kg/day,

- the NOEL for reproductive performance (mating and fertility) was considered to be 1000 mg/kg/day,

- the No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) for toxic effects on progeny was considered to be 1000 mg/kg/day in the absence of any treatment-related effect on pups at this dose-level.

Short description of key information:
An oral repeated dose toxicity study combined with the reproductive test (GLP study according to OECD 422 guideline) was perfomed with Heptanol in 2012.

Effects on developmental toxicity

Description of key information

There is a publication (Nelson, 1989) reporting a rat developmental inhalation study with Hexanol and Pentanol at the highest concentration possible as a vapour. No teratogenic effects were recorded for both Analogs. This study was used as read across for evaluation of the target heptanol (see justification of read across).

Link to relevant study records

Reference

Endpoint:

developmental toxicity

Type of information:

migrated information: read-across from supporting substance (structural analogue or surrogate)

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Study not performed according to guideline. Only 15 fetuses were examined. Only one dose tested.

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

no guideline followed

GLP compliance:

no

Limit test:

yes

Species:

rat

Strain:

Sprague-Dawley

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

TEST ANIMALS
- Source: Charles River Breeding Laboratories, Portage, MI, USA
- Age at study initiation: no data
- Weight at study initiation: 200-300 g
- Fasting period before study:
- Housing: shoebox cages with cleaned heat-treated sawdust bedding
- Diet (e.g. ad libitum): NIH-07 lab chow, ad libitum except during exposure
- Water (e.g. ad libitum): tap water, ad libitum except during exposure
- Acclimation period: 1-2 weeks

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
- Temperature (°C): 24 +- 2
- Humidity (%): 50 +- 10
- Air changes (per hr): no data
- Photoperiod (hrs dark / hrs light): 12 / 12

IN-LIFE DATES: no data
Administration / exposure

Route of administration:

inhalation: vapour

Type of inhalation exposure (if applicable):

whole body

Vehicle:

unchanged (no vehicle)

Details on exposure:

GENERATION OF TEST ATMOSPHERE / CHAMBER DESCRIPTION
- Exposure apparatus: 0.5 m3 Hinners type chambers
- Method of holding animals in test chamber: stainless steel wire mesh cages within the exposure chambers
- Source and rate of air: constant flow of alcohol mixed with known volume of heated compressed air causing instant vapourisation; mixture introduced into mainstream of chamber airflow upstream from an orifice; resulting turbulance produced uniform mixing
- Method of conditioning air: no data
- Temperature, humidity, pressure in air chamber: 25 +- 1 deg C, 50 +- 15%, no data on pressure
- Air flow rate: 0.5 m3/minute
- Air change rate: no data
- Treatment of exhaust air: no data

TEST ATMOSPHERE
- Brief description of analytical method used: Miran 1A infrared analyser, concentrations recorded every hour; charcoal tube samples 2 days/week and analyzed by gas chromatography
- Monitored continuously

VEHICLE (if applicable)
- not applicable

Analytical verification of doses or concentrations:

yes

Details on analytical verification of doses or concentrations:

Miran 1A infrared analyser, concentrations recorded every hour; charcoal tube samples 2 days/week and analyzed by gas chromatography

Details on mating procedure:

- Sperm positive females used, no other information

Duration of treatment / exposure:

days 1-19 of gestation

Frequency of treatment:

7 hours/day

Duration of test:

20 days

No. of animals per sex per dose:

15 pregnant females

Control animals:

yes

Details on study design:

Dose selection rationale: highest achievable concentration as a vapour at a temperature below 27 deg C (higher concentrations would have resulted in aerosol production)
- Rationale for animal assignment (if not random): "assigned without bias"

Maternal examinations:

CAGE SIDE OBSERVATIONS: Yes, no details (presumably daily) - "further, subjective observations of maternal animals did not provide evidence of toxicity"

DETAILED CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS: No

BODY WEIGHT: Yes
- Time schedule: daily for the first week and weekly thereafter, means presented for days 0, 7, 14 and 20 of gestation

FOOD CONSUMPTION AND COMPOUND INTAKE: Yes
- Time schedule: week 1, week 2, week 3 (days 7, 14 and 20 of gestation)

WATER CONSUMPTION AND COMPOUND INTAKE (if drinking water study): Yes
- Time schedule: week 1, week 3, week 3 (days 7, 14 and 20 of gestation)

POST-MORTEM EXAMINATIONS: No

OTHER:

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 early resorptions: No
- Number of late resorptions: No
- Other:
Total number of resorptions
Number of live foetuses

Fetal examinations:

- External examinations: Yes: [all per litter]
- Soft tissue examinations: Yes: [half per litter]
- Skeletal examinations: Yes: [half per litter]
- Head examinations: No
- Other:
foetal body weight and sex

Statistics:

Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and analysis of variance (ANOVA); statistical significance at p<=0.05; independent variable = exposure group; one-way MANOVA/ANOVA for litter data, with individual ANOVAs if significant MANOVA, with Bonferroni corrections for individual exposure groups if significant ANOVA; ANOVA for weight data using a litter per exposure group x day design; MANOVA/ANOVA for feed and water consumption data using a litter per exposure group x week design; for ANOVAs, Greenhouse-Geisser estimate of Box's epsilon used to correct within-litter main effects and interactions for ANOVAs

Indices:

no data

Historical control data:

resorption: up to 1.3 per litter

Details on maternal toxic effects:

Maternal toxic effects:no effects

Details on maternal toxic effects:
No clinical signs of toxicity; no effect on maternal body weight or water intake; food intake significantly higher than controls (127 +- 12 g vs. 117 +- 13 g); no effect on number of corpora lutea (17 +- 1, treated; 14 +- 4 controls); presumably no effect on number of implantations (no data presented, but endpoint measured according to methods); slight but statistically significant increase in total resorptions (1.3/litter in treated group, 0.4/litter in controls) but the frequency was within the historical control range.

Dose descriptor:

NOAEC

Effect level:

3 500 mg/m³ air (analytical)

Basis for effect level:

other: maternal toxicity

Details on embryotoxic / teratogenic effects:

Embryotoxic / teratogenic effects:no effects

Details on embryotoxic / teratogenic effects:
No effects on: litter size (mean, treated and control, 15), sex ratio (treated 8F,7M; controls 7F, 8M), grossly visible abnormalities, external or soft tissue abnormalities, male or female foetal weight (means, treated males 3.19 g, females 3.05g; control males 3.28 g, females 3.19 g); small, not statistically significant, effect on skeletal abnormalities - reversible delay in ossification of caudal vertebrae, sternum, metacarpals, and hindpaw phalanges (indicative of growth retardation but not accompanied by effects on foetal weight; data not presented).

Dose descriptor:

NOAEC

Effect level:

3 500 mg/m³ air (analytical)

Basis for effect level:

other: teratogenicity

Abnormalities:

not specified

Developmental effects observed:

not specified

Conclusions:

In a reliable study, an NOAEC of 3500 mg/m3 (the highest achievable concentration in the test system) was determined in the rat for maternal toxicity and developmental toxicity after administration by inhalation for 7 hours/day on gestation days 1 to 19.

Executive summary:

In a study performed with the analogue Hexanol, an NOAEC of 3500 mg/m3 (the highest achievable concentration in the test system) was determined in the rat for maternal toxicity and developmental toxicity after administration by inhalation for 7 hours/day on gestation days 1 to 19. No effects were observed in any reproductive paramaters. A NOAEL of 14000 mg/m3 was also set for Pentanol under the same experiment conditions in the same study with no effects on rat development.

Effect on developmental toxicity: via oral route

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Effect on developmental toxicity: via inhalation route

Endpoint conclusion:

no adverse effect observed

Dose descriptor:

NOAEC

14 000 mg/m³

Species:

rat

Toxicity to reproduction: other studies

Additional information

Developmental toxicity

Justification for read-across with hexanol (see detailed justification in section 13):

Based on the available data on aliphatic alcohol, it is shown that there is an inverse relationship between chain lenth and toxicity. The shorter chain alcohol tends to induce more pronounced effects when compared to materials with a longer chain lenth. We considered that the study performed with hexanoland pentanol represented a worst case for assessment of heptanol developmental toxicity.

Hexanol or Pentanol were evaluated in a reliable rat developmental study by inhalation (Nelson, 1989), an NOAEC of 3500 mg/m3 (the highest achievable concentration in the test system) was determined in the rat for maternal toxicity and developmental toxicity after administration of Hexanol by inhalation for 7 hours/day on gestation days 1 to 19. A NOAEL of 14000 mg/m3 was also set for Pentanol under the same experiment conditions in the same study with no effects on rat development. According to the authors it is highly unlikely that concentrations as high as they achieved would be observed in occupational environments.

Justification for classification or non-classification

 

Based on the lack of effect on male and female fertility, on reproductive organs and prenatal paramaters at dose-level of 1000 mg/kg/day of heptanol in the OECD 422 guideline study, no classification for fertilityis warranted according to EU Directive 67/584/EEC and EU regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP).

 

Based on the lack of effects on embryonic and fetal development in the inhalation developmental rat study at the maximum attainable concentration of 3500 mg/m3 of hexanol and 14000 mg/m3 of pentanol,no classification for developmental toxicity is required for heptanol according to  EU regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP).