NTP Study Reports
Abstract for TR-462 - Molybdenum Trioxide
TR-462
Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of
Molybdenum Trioxide (CAS No. 1313-27-5) in F344 Rats and
B6C3F1 Mice (Inhalation Studies)
Chemical Formula: MoO3
Molybdenum is an essential element for the function of nitrogenase in plants and as a cofactor for enzymes including xanthine oxidoreductase, aldehyde oxidase, and sulfide oxidase in animals. Molybdenum trioxide is used primarily as an additive to steel and corrosion-resistant alloys. It is also used as a chemical intermediate for molybdenum products; an industrial catalyst; a pigment; a crop nutrient; components of glass, ceramics, and enamels; a flame retardant for polyester and polyvinyl chloride resins; and a reagent in chemical analyses. Molybdenum trioxide was nominated by the NCI for toxicity and carcinogenicity studies as a representative inorganic molybdenum compound. The production of molybdenum trioxide is the largest of all the molybdenum compounds examined.
Male and female F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice were exposed to molybdenum trioxide (approximately 99% pure) by inhalation for 14 days, 13 weeks, or 2 years. Genetic toxicology studies were conducted in Salmonella typhimurium and cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells.
14-DAY STUDY IN RATS
Groups of five male and five female F344/N rats were exposed to 0, 3, 10, 30, 100, or 300 mg molybdenum trioxide/m3. Rats were exposed for 6 hours per day, 5 days per week, for a total of 10 exposure days during a 14-day period. All rats survived to the end of the study. The final mean body weights of male rats exposed to 100 mg/m3 and male and female rats exposed to 300 mg/m3 were significantly lower than those of the control groups. Male rats exposed to 300 mg/m3 lost weight during the study. There were no clinical findings related to exposure to molybdenum trioxide. No chemical-related lesions were observed.
14-DAY STUDY IN MICE
Groups of five male and five female B6C3F1 mice were exposed to 0, 3, 10, 30, 100, or 300 mg molybdenum trioxide/m3. Mice were exposed 6 hours per day, 5 days per week, for a total of 10 exposure days during a 14-day period. All mice survived to the end of the study. Final mean body weights of male and female mice exposed to 300 mg/m3 were significantly lower than those of the control groups. Male mice exposed to 300 mg/m3 lost weight during the study. There were no clinical findings related to exposure to molybdenum trioxide. No chemical-related lesions were observed.
13-WEEK STUDY IN RATS
Groups of 10 male and 10 female F344/N rats were exposed to molybdenum trioxide by inhalation at concentrations of 0, 1, 3, 10, 30, or 100 mg/m3 for 6.5 hours per day, 5 days per week, for 13 weeks. All rats survived to the end of the study. The final mean body weights of exposed rats were similar to those of the control groups. No clinical findings related to molybdenum trioxide exposure were observed. There were no significant chemical-related differences in absolute or relative organ weights, hematology or clinical chemistry parameters, sperm counts or motility, or liver copper concentrations between control and exposed rats. No chemical-related lesions were observed.
13-WEEK STUDY IN MICE
Groups of 10 male and 10 female B6C3F1 mice were exposed to molybdenum trioxide by inhalation at concentrations of 0, 1, 3, 10, 30, or 100 mg/m3 for 6.5 hours per day, 5 days per week, for 13 weeks. All mice survived to the end of the study. The final mean body weights of exposed mice were similar to those of the control groups. There were no chemical-related clinical findings. There were no significant differences in absolute or relative organ weights or sperm counts or motility between control and exposed mice. There were significant increases in liver copper concentrations in female mice exposed to 30 mg/m3 and in male and female mice exposed to 100 mg/m3 compared to those of the control groups. No chemical-related lesions were observed.
2-YEAR STUDIES IN RATS
Groups of 50 male and 50 female F344/N rats were exposed to molybdenum trioxide by inhalation at concentrations of 0, 10, 30, or 100 mg/m3. Rats were exposed for 6 hours per day, 5 days per week, for 106 weeks.
Survival, Body Weights,
and Special Studies
Survival
rates of exposed male and female rats were similar to those of
the control groups. Mean body weights of exposed groups of male
and female
rats were similar to those of the control groups throughout the study. There was a significant exposure-dependent increase in blood molybdenum concentration in exposed rats. Blood concentrations of molybdenum in exposed male rats were greater than those in exposed female rats. There were no toxicologically significant differences in bone density or curvature between control and exposed rats.
Pathology
Findings
The incidences
of alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma or carcinoma (combined) were increased
in male rats with a marginally significant positive trend. No
increase in the incidences of lung neoplasms occurred in female
rats. Incidences of chronic alveolar inflammation in male and
female rats exposed to 30 or 100 mg/m3 were significantly greater
than those in the control groups. No nasal or laryngeal neoplasms
were attributed to exposure to molybdenum trioxide. Incidences
of hyaline degeneration in the nasal respiratory epithelium in
30 and 100 mg/m3 males and in all exposed groups of females were
significantly greater than those in the control groups. The incidences
of hyaline degeneration in the nasal olfactory epithelium of all
exposed groups of females were significantly greater than that
in the control group. In the larynx, incidences of squamous metaplasia
of the epithelium lining the base of the epiglottis in all exposed
groups of male and female rats were significantly greater than
those in the control groups and increased with increasing exposure
concentration.
2-YEAR STUDY IN MICE
Groups of 50 male and 50 female B6C3F1 mice were exposed to molybdenum trioxide by inhalation at concentrations of 0, 10, 30, or 100 mg/m3. Mice were exposed for 6 hours per day, 5 days per week, for 105 weeks.
Survival,
Body Weights, and Special Studies
The
survival rate of male mice exposed to 30 mg/m3 was marginally
lower than that of the control group; survival rates of 10 and
100 mg/m3 males and of all exposed groups of females were similar
to those of the control groups. Mean body weights of exposed male
mice were generally similar to those of the control group throughout
the study. Mean body weights of exposed female mice were generally
greater than those of the control group from week 11 until the
end of the study. There was a significant exposure-dependent increase
in blood molybdenum concentration in exposed mice. There were
no toxicologically significant differences in bone density or
curvature between control and exposed mice.
Pathology
Findings
The
incidences of alveolar/bronchiolar carcinoma in all exposed groups
of males were significantly greater than that in the control group.
Incidences of alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma in females in the 30
and 100 mg/m3 groups were significantly greater than that in the
control group. Incidences of alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma or carcinoma
(combined) in 10 and 30 mg/m3 males and in 100 mg/m3 females were
significantly greater than those in the control groups and exceeded
the historical control ranges for 2-year NTP inhalation studies.
Incidences of metaplasia of the alveolar epithelium of minimal severity in the centriacinar region of the lung were significantly increased in all exposed groups of mice. The incidences of histiocyte cellular infiltration in all exposed groups of males were significantly greater than that in the control group. Incidences of hyaline degeneration of the respiratory epithelium of the nasal cavity in 100 mg/m3 males and females and hyaline degeneration of the olfactory epithelium of the nasal cavity in 100 mg/m3 females were significantly greater than those in the control groups. The incidences of squamous metaplasia of the epithelium lining the base of the epiglottis were significantly increased in all exposed groups of males and females. In both male and female mice, the incidences of hyperplasia of the laryngeal epithelium in level II of the larynx increased with increasing exposure concentration. The increase was statistically significant only in mice exposed to 100 mg/m3 with 82% of male and 70% of female mice affected.
GENETIC TOXICOLOGY
Molybdenum trioxide was not mutagenic in any of five strains of Salmonella typhimurium, and it did not induce sister chromatid exchanges or chromosomal aberrations in cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells in vitro. All tests were conducted with and without S9 metabolic activation enzymes.
CONCLUSIONS
Under the conditions of these 2-year inhalation studies, there was equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity of molybdenum trioxide in male F344/N rats based on a marginally significant positive trend of alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma or carcinoma (combined). There was no evidence of carcinogenic activity of molybdenum trioxide in female F344/N rats exposed to 10, 30, or 100 mg/m3. There was some evidence of carcinogenic activity of molybdenum trioxide in male B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of alveolar/bronchiolar carcinoma and adenoma or carcinoma (combined). There was some evidence of carcinogenic activity of molybdenum trioxide in female B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma and adenoma or carcinoma (combined).
Exposure of male and female rats to molybdenum trioxide by inhalation resulted in increased incidences of chronic alveolar inflammation, hyaline degeneration of the respiratory epithelium, hyaline degeneration of the olfactory epithelium (females), and squamous metaplasia of the epiglottis.
Exposure of male
and female mice to molybdenum trioxide by inhalation resulted
in increased incidences of metaplasia of the alveolar epithelium,
histiocyte cellular infiltration (males), hyaline degeneration
of the respiratory epithelium, hyaline degeneration of the olfactory
epithelium (females), squamous metaplasia of the epiglottis, and
hyperplasia of the larynx.
Synonyms: Molybdic oxide; molybdic
trioxide; molybdic anhydride; molybdenum (VI) oxide; molybdenum
peroxide; molybdic acid anhydride; molybdenum anhydride; natural
molybdite; molybdena
Male F344/N Rats |
Female F344/N Rats |
Male B6C3F1 Mice |
Female B6C3F1 Mice | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Doses | 0, 10, 30, or 100 mg/m3 | 0, 10, 30, or 100 mg/m3 | 0, 10, 30, or 100 mg/m3 | 0, 10, 30, or 100 mg/m3 | |
Body weights | Exposed groups similar to control group |
Exposed groups similar to control group |
Exposed groups similar to control group |
Exposed groups greater than control group | |
2-Year survival rates | 17/50, 10/50, 16/50, 17/50 |
28/50, 24/50, 24/50, 23/50 |
36/50, 33/50, 25/50, 37/50 |
25/50, 31/50, 33/50, 35/50 | |
Nonneoplastic effects | Lung: chronic inflammation, alveolus (2/50, 3/50, 25/50, 47/50) Nose: hyaline degeneration, respiratory epithelium (2/50, 7/49, 48/49, 49/50) Larynx: squamous metaplasia, epiglottis (0/49, 11/48, 16/49, 39/49) |
Lung: chronic inflammation, alveolus (14/50, 13/50, 43/50, 49/50) Nose: hyaline degeneration, respiratory epithelium (1/48, 13/49, 50/50, 50/50); hyaline degeneration, olfactory epithelium (39/48, 47/49, 50/50, 50/50) Larynx: squamous metaplasia, epiglottis (0/49, 18/49, 29/49, 49/50) |
Lung: metaplasia, alveolar epithelium (0/50, 32/50, 36/49, 49/50); histiocyte infiltration, cellular (2/50, 16/50, 9/49, 9/50) Nose: hyaline degeneration, respiratory epithelium (11/50, 13/50, 11/49, 41/50) Larynx: squamous metaplasia, epiglottis (0/50, 26/49, 37/48, 49/50); hyperplasia (1/50, 3/49, 6/48, 41/50) |
Lung: metaplasia, alveolar epithelium (2/50, 26/50, 39/49, 46/49) Nose: hyaline degeneration, respiratory epithelium (26/49, 23/50, 28/49, 48/49); hyaline degeneration, olfactory epithelium (22/49, 14/50, 14/49, 36/49) Larynx: squamous metaplasia, epiglottis (1/49, 36/50, 43/49, 49/50); hyperplasia (1/49, 1/50, 7/49, 35/50) | |
Neoplastic effects | None | None | Lung: alveolar/ bronchiolar carcinoma (2/50, 16/50, 14/49, 10/50); alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma or carcinoma (11/50, 27/50, 21/49, 18/50) | Lung: alveolar/ bronchiolar adenoma (1/50, 4/50, 8/49, 9/49); alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma or carcinoma (3/50, 6/50, 8/49, 15/49) | |
Uncertain findings | Lung: alveolar/ bronchiolar adenoma (0/50, 0/50, 0/50, 3/50); alveolar/bronchiolar carcinoma (0/50, 1/50, 1/50, 1/50); alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma or carcinoma (0/50, 1/50, 1/50, 4/50) |
None | None | None | |
Level of evidence of carcinogenic activity |
Equivocal evidence | No evidence | Some evidence | Some evidence | |
Genetic toxicology | |||||
Salmonella typhimurium gene mutations: | Negative with and without S9 in strains TA97, TA98, TA100, TA1535, and TA1537 | ||||
Sister chromatid exchanges Cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells in vitro: |
Negative with and without S9 | ||||
Chromosomal aberrations Cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells in vitro: |
Negative with and without S9 | ||||
Report Date: April 1997
Pathology Tables, Survival and Growth Curves from NTP 2-year Studies
Target Organs & Incidences from 2-year Studies
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