© 1986 Oxford University Press
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Developmental Toxicity of Diethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether (diEGME)
*Divis, on of Biomedical and Behavioral Science, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Centers for Disease Control Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
Intox Laboratories, Inc. Redfield, Arkansas 72132
Developmental Toxicity of Diethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether (diEGME). HARDIN, B. D., GOAD, P. T., AND BURG, J. R. (1986). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 6, 430–439. Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether (diEGME) was one of 15 glycols tested in CD-1 mice using a short-term in vivo reproductive toxicity assay (Chernoff/Kavlock test). Because results were strongly suggestive of potential reproductive toxicity, a teratology study was conducted in Sprague-Dawley rats. Time-mated females were orally dosed on Days 7–16 of gestation with diEGME in distilled water. Doses of 0, 1000, 1495, 2235, 3345, and 5175 mg/kg/day were used in a preliminary dose-finding study. At 5175 mg/kg/day, two of nine rats died, five of five litters were totally resorbed, and maternal extra gestational body weight gain was reduced. At 3345 mg/kg/day, six of nine litters were resorbed but there were no deaths and extra gestational body weight gain was not affected. Visceral and skeletal examinations revealed a dose-related increase in malformations, primarily of the ribs and cardiovascular system. Subsequently, pregnant rats were similarly dosed with 0, 720, or 2165 mg/kg/day. Neither dose was maternally toxic, but fetal body weights and the number of live implantations were significantly reduced at 2165 mg/kg/day. Rib malformations were seen in 9.1% (control), 42.9% (720 mg/kg/day, p < 0.05), and 80.0% (2165 mg/kg/day, p < 0.001) of litters. Cardiovascular malformations occurred in 0.0, 4.8, and 7 1.4% (p < 0.001) of liners. Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether thus was teratogenic in rats at all doses tested, producing a dose-dependent series of malformations similar to those produced by other members of the glycol ether family.