Female Fischer 344 (F344)/N rats (10 per exposure group) were exposed to 2-
butoxyethanol (BE) vapors (0. 31, 62.5, 125, 250, or 500 ppm 6 h/d, 5 d/wk,
for 13 weeks) to characterize its prechronic toxicity. Dental lesions cons
isting of bilateral multifocal dental pulp thrombosis, pulp infarction, and
odontoblast infarction were noted in the maxillary incisors of 3 of 3 rats
from the 500-ppm group that were sacrificed when moribund during the first
week of exposure. In addition, 1 rat from the 500-ppm group that was sacri
ficed on day 31 had similar unilateral incisor lesions but with additional
findings consistent with a unilateral maxillary incisor fracture. In contra
st, rats sacrificed after 13 weeks of exposure lacked dental lesions. In co
nclusion, BE has the potential to cause pulp thrombosis and odontoblast inf
arction in female rats. The apparent variability in response to BE noted in
moribund sacrificed vs terminally sacrificed mts was attributed to develop
ment of tolerance to BE-induced hemolysis and subsequent incisor regenerati
on.