An evaluation of the toxicities of 2 '-fluorouridine and 2 '-fluorocytidine-HCl in F344 rats and woodchucks (Marmota monax)

The toxicities of 2'-fluorouridine (2'-FU) and 2'-fluorocytidine-HCl (2'-FC ) were separately evaluated in 2 species, male Fischer 344 (F334) rats and woodchucks. Particular attention was focused on the ability of these nucleo sides to induce toxicities similar to those induced by the antiviral drug f ialuridine (FIAU). 2'-FU or 2'-FC was administered to F344 male rats by int ravenous injection at doses of 5, 50, and 500 mg/kg/day for 90 consecutive days and to male and female woodchucks at doses of 0.75 and 7.5 mg/kg/ day for 90 consecutive days. Clinical chemistry, hematology, and urinalysis (wo odchuck only) profiles were assessed during and at the termination of the s tudy. At necropsy, organs were weighed and tissues collected for routine hi stologic analysis. Cytochrome c oxidase activity, citrate synthase activity , and mitochondrial DNA content were measured, and micronucleus formation i n the bone marrow (rats only) was evaluated. No adverse clinical effects we re observed in either species. Rats treated with high doses of either 2'-FU or 2'-FC had body weights that were 90% of those of controls. 2'-FU and 2' -FC both induced a moderate decrease in the median lymphocyte count, and 2' -FC and 2'-FU induced a mild increase in mean corpuscular hemoglobin and me an corpuscular volume. Both compounds caused slight to moderate, reversible , histologic changes in the spleen and thymus. In the woodchuck, 2'-FC caus ed a slight increase in mean absolute lymphocytes, and 2'-FC and 2'-FU slig htly increased hepatic periportal vacuolation and/or mononuclear cell infil tration. In summary, neither compound showed evidence of the toxicity induc ed by fialuridine in either species. Although compound effects were observe d, none of these effects were considered to be adverse, and the no-observed adverse effect level was determined to be 500 mg/kg/day for both compounds in the male F344 rat and 7.5 mg/kg/day in the woodchuck.