NTP Study Reports
Abstract for TOX-43 - Chloroanilines
TOX-43
Comparative Toxicity Studies of o-, m-, and p-Chloroanilines (CAS Nos.
95-51-2; 108-42-9; and 106-47-8*) Administered by Gavage to F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice
Chlorinated anilines
are used as intermediates in the manufacture of dyes, drugs, and
agricultural agents. In comparative 13-week studies conducted
to determine the structure-toxicity relationships of o-,
m-, and p-chloroaniline, groups of 10 male and 10
female F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice were administered
0, 10, 20, 40, 80, or 160 mg o- or m-chloroaniline
per kilogram body weight in dilute hydrochloric acid by gavage.
Animals were evaluated for hematology, clinical chemistry, histopathology,
and reproductive system effects. Genetic toxicity studies of o-
and m-chloroaniline in vivo and in vitro
were also conducted. The results of the o- and m-chloroaniline
studies were compared to results from the p-chloroaniline
studies performed previously under similar experimental conditions
by the same laboratory; doses in the p-chloroaniline studies
were 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg for rats and 0, 7.5, 15, 30,
60, and 120 mg/kg for mice.
The hematopoietic
system was the target of o-, m-, and p-chloroaniline
in rats and mice. Neither the o- nor the p- isomer
had an adverse effect on survival; the death of one female rat
in the 160 mg/kg m-chloroaniline group during week 12 was
possibly secondary to methemoglobinemia. The final mean body weights
and weight gains of male rats in the highest dose group in each
study and female mice in the 160 mg/kg group in the o-chloroaniline
study were significantly less than those of the respective controls.
Clinical findings of toxicity included a transient bluish discoloration
of the genital and footpad regions in rats administered o-
or m-chloroaniline and tremors in rats and mice administered
o-chloroaniline and in mice administered m-chloroaniline;
these effects occurred primarily in the 80 and 160 mg/kg groups.
Methemoglobin concentrations were increased in dosed rats and
mice in all studies and resulted in a secondary anemia; the severity
of the anemia increased with increasing dose. Microscopic lesions
considered related to chemical administration in rats and mice
included hemosiderin pigmentation in the bone marrow, kidney,
liver, and spleen; hematopoiesis in the liver and spleen; and
erythroid cell hyperplasia in the bone marrow. These lesions reflected
the response to hemolytic anemia and methemoglobinemia induced
by the chloroanilines. A comparative analysis of the results suggests
that p-chloroaniline is the most potent of the chloroaniline
isomers in the induction of methemoglobin formation in rats and
mice, followed by m-chloroaniline and then by o-chloroaniline.
This order of potency was also observed for changes in other hematology
parameters and in spleen weights, gross and microscopic lesions,
and the severity of hemosiderin deposition.
Although the o-,
m-, and p- isomers of chloroaniline all exhibit
genetic toxicity, the profiles of activity among the three isomers
are not identical. p-Chloroaniline was mutagenic in all
assays in which it was tested, including the Salmonella
assay, the mouse lymphoma assay, in vitro Chinese hamster
ovary cell cytogenetics assays, and the in vivo mouse bone
marrow micronucleus assay; in contrast, o- and m-chloroaniline
gave mixed results among the various assays in which each was
tested.
In conclusion, chloroaniline isomers are hematotoxic and have the same pattern of toxicity in rats and mice. Hematotoxicity occurred at all doses in these studies. p-Chloroaniline induces the most severe hematotoxic effect, followed by m-chloroaniline, then o-chloroaniline. Each of the three isomers is more toxic to rats than to mice. p-Chloroaniline is clearly genotoxic in various test systems, while the results for the o- and m- isomers are inconsistent and indicate weak or no genotoxic effects.
Synonyms:
o-aminochlorobenzene: 2-chlorobenzenamine, 2-chloroaniline,
2-chlorophenylamine
m-aminochlorobenzene:
3-chlorobenzenamine, 3-chloroaniline, 3-chlorophenylamine
p-aminochlorobenzene:
4-chlorobenzenamine, 4-chloroaniline, 4-chlorophenylamine
*Note: The hydrochloride form of p-chloroaniline was used for comparison - see p-chloroaniline hydrochloride (CAS: 20265-96-7)
Report Date: March 1998
Growth & Survival Curves for NTP 13-Week Toxicity Studies
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