Winfried Flucke

Toxicological and metabolic studies of methyl n-butylketone, 2,5-hexanedione, and 2,5-hexanediol in male rats

Abstract Comparative studies with repeated oral administration (400 mg/kg/day) of methyl n-butylketone, 2,5-hexanedione, or 2,5-hexanediol were carried out on male rats. The neurotoxic effects of these compounds as well as their metabolism were studied. Repeated oral doses of 2,5-hexanedione and 2,5-hexanediol caused paresis after 5 and 10 weeks, respectively. However, after repeated doses of methyl n-butylketone only a weakness of the hindlimbs was observed after 17 weeks. In the further course of the study, this symptom disappeared and the animals recovered. It was shown that there was a relationship between the concentration of the 2,5-hexanedione excreted with the urine and the onset of the neuropathy.