title: Effects of subchronic exposure of rats to 2-methoxyethanol or 2-butoxyethanol: thymic atrophy and immunotoxicity.
abstract: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to either 2000 or 6000 ppm of 2-methoxyethanol (ME) or 2-butoxyethanol (BE) and females were exposed to either 1600 or 4800 ppm of these compounds in the drinking water for 21 days. Body weights were decreased in male rats exposed to the high doses of both chemicals, while body weights of females exposed to either dose of BE were decreased. Male and female rats exposed to either concentration of ME had a dose-related reduction in thymus weights. Testis weight was significantly lower in male rats exposed to the high dose of ME. Dose-related increases in natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxic activities and decreases in specific antibody production were observed in all rats treated with ME. Rats exposed to the low dose of BE also had enhanced NK cell activity. Splenocyte production of interferon-gamma was decreased in male rats exposed to either dose of ME and in females treated with the high dose of ME. Spleen cell numbers were reduced in males exposed to the high dose of ME and females given either dose of ME. It appears that the immune system is a sensitive target of ME but not BE. The effects of ME on immune function differ depending on the immune parameter assessed. Enhanced NK cell activity may partially explain the observations of others that certain glycol ethers have antitumor effects in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Toxicology, University of Idaho, Moscow 83843.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Exon
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Mather
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bussiere
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Talcott
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D001284:Atrophy / Q000139:chemically induced; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004326:Drinking / Q000187:drug effects; D005026:Ethylene Glycols / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D007372:Interferons / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007372:Interferons; C005219:methyl cellosolve; C017096:n-butoxyethanol