Teratogenicity of 2-Ethoxxethanol by Dermal Application

Abstract

Undiluted 2-ethoxyethanol or water (control) was applied to the skin of pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats on days 7–16 of gestation (sperm = day 1). Applications were made 4 times daily in volumes of 0.25 or 0.50 ml 2-ethoxyethanol. Females exhibited ataxia following treatment of the high-dose group, and weight gain was significantly (p<0.001) reduced in the last half of gestation. Litters were collected by caesarian section on day 21 of gestation, and fetuses were examined for external defects. Half of the fetuses were cleared and stained in alizarin red S for skeletal examinations, and half were examined for visceral defects by the Wilson technique. Intrauterine death was 100% in the high-dose group. In the lower dosage group, there was a significant increase in the number of pregnant females with 100% dead implants (p<0.001), a significant reduction in the number of live fetuses per litter (p<0.001), a significant reduction in fetal body weight (p<0.001), and a significant increase in the incidence of skeletal variations (p<0.05) and cardiovascular malformations (p<0.05).