Evaluation of propylene oxide for mutagenic activity in 3 in vivo test systems.
Propylene oxide (CAS No. 75-56-9) was tested for mutagenic activity following vapor exposure using 3 in vivo test systems. Rat dominant lethal and mouse sperm-head morphology assays were conducted using males exposed to propylene oxide at 300 ppm in a dynamic exposure chamber for 7 h per day on 5 consecutive days. A sex-linked recessive lethal test in Drosophila melanogaster employed a 24-h static exposure to propylene oxide at 645 ppm. Male mice were killed 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 weeks post-exposure for evaluation of sperm-head morphology. Propylene oxide exposure did not result in an increase in abnormal forms. Male rats were mated with 2 virgin females per week for 6 weeks following exposure. A statistically significant increase in preimplantation losses and a statistically significant reduction in the number of living implants in the first post-exposure week did not appear to be treatment related. A highly significant increase in sex-linked recessive lethal mutations was observed in two germ cell stages (mature sperm and developing spermatocytes). These results warrant continued caution in potential human exposure to propylene oxide.
D000818:Animals; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000187:drug effects; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D004988:Ethers, Cyclic / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005799:Genes, Dominant / Q000187:drug effects; D005804:Genes, Lethal / Q000187:drug effects; D005808:Genes, Recessive / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens; D009154:Mutation; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D004988:Ethers, Cyclic; D009153:Mutagens; C009068:propylene oxide