title: Chronic bioassay of benzyl chloride in F344 rats and (C57BL/6J x BALB/c)F1 mice.
abstract: Benzyl chloride was administered to groups of 52 male and 52 female F344 rats and (C57BL/6J x BALB/c)F1 mice at two dose levels by gavage in corn oil three times a week for 2 years. Survivors were sacrificed a few weeks later and examined histopathologically. On the basis of a subchronic study at a range of doses, the doses of benzyl chloride in the chronic study were 100 and 50 mg/kg body weight for mice and 30 and 15 mg/kg body weight for rats. In mice of both sexes there was a high and statistically significant incidence of carcinomas and papillomas of the forestomach. In the livers of male mice, but not of females, there was a significantly increased incidence of hepatocellular neoplasms at the low dose but not at the maximally tolerated dose (MTD). In rats the only neoplasms showing a statistically significant increase compared with controls were C-cell neoplasms of the thyroid gland in females. A significant incidence of neoplasms was not found in the forestomachs of F344 rats, but it is possible that true MTD was not used for rats.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lijinsky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001593:Benzyl Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000139:chemically induced; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced; D010212:Papilloma / Q000139:chemically induced; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012737:Sex Factors; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D001593:Benzyl Compounds; C021292:benzyl chloride