Teratogenicity of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, 2-ethylhexanol, 2-ethylhexanoic acid, and valproic acid, and potentiation by caffeine

Valproic acid-induced placental and teratogenic effects in rats

Studies on teratogenicity and pathology of the cenceptus were conducted in Sprague-Dawley rats treated with 600, 800, and 1,000 mg/kg valproic acid po on day 13 of pregnancy. Each of the three doses was maternotoxic and caused (1) resorptions and/or abortions, reduction in the number of live fetuses per litter and mean fetal weight, and defects of the tail, rib and phalanx; and (2) degenerative changes in the labyrinth (thrombosis, angiectasis in the maternal lacunar network, necrosis of cytotrophoblasts and suppressed proliferation of fetal capillaries), reduced diameter nearing obliteration of umbilical vessels, with or without karyorrhexis of embryonic tissues. The lesions in the placental labyrinth were specific but, in the embryonic tissues, they were generalized. It was postulated that the vascular lesions in the labyrinth and umbilicus may have influenced embryonic development by reducing maternoembryonic gaseous and nutritional exchange.

Murine teratology and pharmacokinetics of the enantiomers of sodium 2-ethylhexanoate

A mouse model for the induction of exencephaly with sodium (+/-)-2-ethylhexanoate has been developed using multiple administration regimes. With three consecutive administrations at one-half-day intervals, the most sensitive time to induce exencephaly was Gestational Days 8-9. Using the racemic substance it was determined that the SWV strain was more sensitive to the induction of exencephaly than the C57BL/6NCrlBR strain. The enantiomers of 2-ethylhexanoic acid were separated via preparative HPLC to greater than 99.8% optical purity, and greater than 99% purity according to a gas chromatographic analysis. It was demonstrated that the (R)-enantiomer is a more potent teratogen than the (S)-enantiomer for the induction of exencephaly as well as malformations of other organ systems. Pharmacokinetic analyses for each of the enantiomers were performed in maternal plasma, maternal muscle, and embryo. The pharmacokinetics showed that the peak concentration (Cmax) for both enantiomers in the three compartments was approximately equivalent and was attained within 15 min following the third administration. The area under the concentration versus time curve values for the two enantiomers were approximately 10% higher for the (R)-antipode because of a slightly slower elimination of this compound. There was negligible (or no) racemization of the two enantiomers in the biological samples. The results suggest that teratologic differences in the enantiomers of sodium 2-ethylhexanoate are not due to differences in the concentrations of these antipodes in the embryo, but more likely result from the specific interaction of the enantiomers with chiral molecules in the embryo.

Enantioselectivity in the induction of peroxisome proliferation by 2-ethylhexanoic acid

The stereoselectivity of the peroxisome proliferation potency of 2-ethylhexanoic acid (2-EHA), a metabolite of the plasticizer di-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, was investigated in vitro. The enantiomers of 2-EHA were prepared via the semipreparative HPLC resolution of their diastereoisomeric (+)-(R)-1-phenylethylamine derivatives and the subsequent hydrolytic cleavage. Monolayers of hepatocytes were incubated 3 days with solution of (-)-(R), (+)-(S), and (+/-)-2-EHA. The peroxisome proliferation potency was measured by means of determination of the peroxisomal palmitoyl coenzyme A oxidation. The theoretical induction component due to each enantiomer were calculated from the experimental data considering the enantiomeric purities of the acids. The (+)-(S)-enantiomer was found to be the most potent inducer e.g., the eutomer, while the (-)-(R) was the distomer. The eudismic ratio was about 1.6 and the racemic mixture exhibited an intermediary potency. These results, obtained in vitro in conditions avoiding confounding factors such as pharmacokinetics, suggest that the peroxisome proliferation induced by 2-ethylhexanoic acid is a stereoselective phenomenon.

Review of drug-induced limb defects in mammals

The objective of this paper was to illustrate the spectrum of possible limb malformations in mammals resulting from drug exposure. A bibliography of 171 papers from 20 journals was generated from which pertinent data (drug used, limb defects reported, predominant defect location) were tabulated. These data should provide a basis for predictions about types of defects that might be expected in further studies and for judging postulated drug-induced human limb defects. However, direct extrapolation to humans is inappropriate. The following trends were observed: 1) Distal limb defects (autopod) are almost twice as common as proximal limb defects (stylopod and zygopod). 2) Ectrodactyly is the single most common type of limb defect, accounting for over half of the autopod defects. 3) Ectrodactyly is almost twice as common in the hindlimb as in the forelimb. 4) Postaxial ectrodactyly is over twice as common as preaxial ectrodactyly in the forelimb, but preaxial ectrodactyly is four times more common in the hindlimbs. 5) Polydactyly occurs with approximately equal frequency in forelimbs and hindlimbs, and preaxial polydactyly is most common in both fore and hindlimbs. 6) Polymelia (supernumerary limbs) occurred in one case, and may have been a spurious result. 7) Either transverse hemimelia is greatly underreported in teratology studies or it essentially does not occur. We have concluded that, at least in some cases, acetazolamide, adenine, 1,7-dimethylxanthine, and xanthine derivative aminophylline, retinoic acid, acetoxy-methyl-methylnitrosamine, aspirin, and cadmium can all cause unilateral defects.

Developmental toxicity of valproic acid

Valproic acid is a very effective anticonvulsant agent widely used in the management of various forms of epilepsy. Administration of the drug during pregnancy results in increased incidence of congenital abnormalities in both humans and experimental animals. In recent years, a significant number of research efforts have attempted to define the contributory role of valproic acid to the impairment of normal prenatal growth and development. The present report summarizes current knowledge that has emerged from clinical and research studies. The specific topics include: the placental transfer of valproic acid; the teratogenic potential; structure-teratogenicity and dose-response relationships; species and strain differences; biochemical changes evoked by the drug in the fetus.

Asymmetric synthesis and teratogenic activity of (R)- and (S)-2-ethylhexanoic acid, a metabolite of the plasticizer di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate

The stereoselectivity of the teratogenic activity of 2-ethylhexanoic acid (EHXA), a metabolite of the widely-used plasticizer di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, was investigated. The enantiomers of EHXA were prepared via asymmetric synthesis with the aid of the chiral auxiliaries (R)- and (S)-1-amino-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine (RAMP, SAMP). The aqueous solutions of the sodium salts of (R)- and (S)-EHXA and the racemic EHXA [+/- )-EHXA) were injected each morning and evening of day 7 and 8 of gestation in the NMRI mouse (500 mg/kg, i.p.), a period highly sensitive in regard to the production of neural tube defects (exencephaly) by branched-chain carboxylic acids. (S)-EHXA did not yield any teratogenic or embryotoxic response in this model, while (R)-EHXA was highly teratogenic (59% of living fetuses exhibited exencephaly) and embryotoxic (as indicated by embryolethality and fetal weight retardation); the exencephaly rate induced by (+/- )-EHXA was between those of the two enantiomeres (32%). It is therefore likely that stereoselective interactions of the enantiomers of EHXA with chiral molecules in the embryo are decisive in regard to the teratogenic response. This first example of the stereoselectivity of the teratological activity of an environmental pollutant suggests that the safety of man-made chemicals can be improved by the use of pure enantiomers instead of racemates.

Sister chromatid exchanges in adult epilepsy patients on valproate monotherapy

Sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) were studied in peripheral lymphocyte cultures of 13 adult male patients with epilepsy treated chronically with valproate (VPA) and in their matched controls. No statistically significant differences in SCE level were found between the patient and control groups, indicating a lack of mutagenic potential of VPA within the therapeutic dose range.

Valproic acid developmental toxicity and pharmacokinetics in the rhesus monkey: an interspecies comparison

This study was undertaken to assess the developmental toxicity and drug distributional and metabolic characteristics of prenatal valproic acid (VPA) exposure in rhesus monkeys. Oral administration of 20-600 mg/kg/day VPA (approximately 1-15 X human therapeutic dose) to 33 animals on variable gestational days (GD) during organogenesis resulted in dose-dependent developmental toxicity manifested as increased embryo/fetal mortality, intrauterine growth retardation, and craniofacial and skeletal defects. Biphasic plasma elimination curves were observed for total and free VPA on the first (GD 21) and last (GD 50) days of treatment in the 100- and 200-mg/kg/day dose groups. VPA exhibited dose-independent elimination kinetics at the plasma concentrations observed in this study. There was no significant change in pharmacokinetic parameters (maternal plasma elimination rate, area under the curve, peak plasma concentration) between the first and last days of treatment at either dose level. Placental transfer studies indicated that embryos were exposed to half the free VPA concentrations present in maternal plasma on GD 37. Comparisons of interspecies sensitivity to VPA-induced developmental toxicity in the mouse, rat, monkey, and man are made.