Ernst Hansen

Toxicity study of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) in combination with acetone in rats

In two separate studies with exposure duration 9 weeks or 4 weeks, male Wistar rats were dosed with di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) by gavage and exposed to drinking water with or without acetone (0.5% wt/v in the 9-week study, 1.0% wt/v in the 4-week study). In the 9-week study the doses of DEHP were 0, 125, 250, 500 or 1000 mg/kg b.wt. In the 4-week study the doses of DEHP were increased to 1000, 5000 and 10,000 mg/kg b.wt. In the 9-week study, the relative liver weight was increased in the rats exposed to 500 and 1000 mg/kg b.wt. No interaction of DEHP and acetone was observed in any of the measured parameters. In the 4-week study DEHP, at the highest dose level, resulted in severe general toxicity. The group exposed to DEHP in combination with acetone was more affected. Male fertility was decreased. Body weight was decreased, and the relative weight of the liver, kidney, heart, brain and adrenals increased. The relative weight of the testes decreased in the 5000 and 10,000 mg/kg b.wt. groups. The weight of seminal vesicles and epididymals decreased at 10,000 mg/kg b.wt. In animals exposed to 5000 and 10,000 mg DEHP/kg b.wt. a severe atrophy of the seminiferous tubules and a slight diffuse Leydigs cell hyperplasia was observed. The cellular debris and conglomerates of desquamated cells found in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules were immunostained positive for vimentin. This indicates that Sertoli cell cytoplasm is included in the conglomerates an interesting finding not previously described. No specific interaction of DEHP and acetone was observed in any of the measured parameters.

Study on toxicity of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) in pregnant gilts and their foetuses

An embryotoxicity study on butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) was carried out in SPF pigs (Danish Landrace). BHA was incorporated in the diet and administered to pigs in doses of 0, 50, 200 and 400 mg/kg body wt/day from mating (artificial insemination) to day 110 of the gestation period, when the foetuses were removed. Significant lower weight gain was observed in the dams dosed 400 mg/kg body wt/day. Absolute and relative organ weight for the liver and thyroid gland showed a dose-related increase, BHA neither affected the reproduction data nor the incidence of defects in the foetuses.

A study of the teratogenicity of butylated hydroxyanisole on rabbits

A teratogenicity study on butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) was carried out in SPF New Zealand White rabbits. BHA was given by gavage from day 7--18 of the gestation period in doses of 0, 50, 200 and 400 mg/kg body wt./day. The fetuses were removed on day 28. No effect related to the treatment with BHA was observed on the number of corpora luteae, implantations, fetuses dead or alive, or on gross malformations, skeletal and internal malformations, and on the weight of the fetuses.