Abstract |
In a subchronic toxicity study, male and female Charles River CD rats (5/sex/group) were exposed by oral gavage to dichloromethane at dose levels of 0, 100, 300, 600 or 1200 mg/kg/day for 14 consecutive days. There were significant differences between treated and control animals in the following: slight decrease in activity (300 mg/kg/day), decreased activity, dyspnea, loss of righting reflex, ptosis of the eyelids, ataxia and prostration (600 and 1200 mg/kg/day), tremors for all rats and convulsions for 1 rats at 1200 mg/kg/day, mortality (3 male and 5 female rats died at 600 mg/kg/day, 4 male and 5 female rats died at 1200 mg/kg/ day), and slight to moderate dose- related decrease in body weight gain and food consumption (all surviving treated male rats). No treatment related gross pathologic lesions were seen in surviving rats sacrificed at the termination of the experiment form the 100, 300 or 600 mg/kg/day groups. Many of the rats which died at 600 and 1200 mg/kg/day had compound related congestion of the meninges of the brain and gastrointestinal tract congestion and hemorrhage. Document includes: Dichloromethane Fourteen Day Range Finding Study in Dogs. Dichloromethane Ninety Day Oral Toxicity Study in Dogs. Dichloromethane and Ninety Day Oral Toxicity Study in Rats. |