ACRYLIC-ACID - 2-GENERATION REPRODUCTION TOXICITY STUDY IN WISTAR RATS WITH CONTINUOUS ADMINISTRATION IN THE DRINKING-WATER

In a two-generation reproduction toxicity study, groups of 25 male and 25 female Wistar rats (for both F-0 and F-1 generations) received acr ylic acid (AA) in the drinking water at concentrations of 0 (control), 500, 2500 and 5000 ppm for at least 70 days prior to mating, through mating, gestation, lactation and to weaning. The study continued throu gh to weaning of the F-2 offspring at 21 days of age. Achieved intakes of AA for the F-0 and F-1 parents during premating ranged from 46 (50 0 ppm) to 502 (5000 ppm) mg/kg/day. AA had no adverse effects on ferti lity and reproductive performance of the parent rats at doses up to 50 00 ppm. General systemic toxicity was apparent with reduced body weigh ts, food and water consumption in F-0 parents at 5000 ppm and in F-1 p arents at 2500 and 5000 ppm; the only treatment-related pathological f inding was a minimal hyperkeratosis of the limiting ridge of the fores tomach with a minimal oedema of the submucosa of the glandular stomach in both parental generations at 5000 ppm. Dose-related signs of devel opmental toxicity were detected in F-1 and F-2 PUPS at 2500 and 5000 p pm in the form of retarded growth and some delay in the eye/auditory c anal opening in F-2 pups, but there was no evidence that AA had an adv erse influence on pup morphology. Thus, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) is 5000 ppm for fertility and reproductive performance of the parents, 2500 ppm (F-0 parents) or 500 ppm (F-1 parents) for ge neral systemic toxicity and 500 ppm for developmental toxicity. (C) 19 97 Elsevier Science Ltd.