A subchronic inhalation toxicity study of a matacil formulation in the albino rat

Abstract The subchronic toxicity of a new formulation of Matacil (aminocarb) was assessed by exposing male and female Sprague-Dawley rats via a nose-only technique to a respirable (2.0- to 4.1-μm diameter) aerosol at chamber concentrations of 22.5, 45, and 90 μg of insecticide/liter of air for 2 hr/day for 30 consecutive days. Control groups were exposed to a vehicle aerosol or to room air. Randomly selected rats of each group were bled after 8, 15, and 30 days of treatment, and after a 30-day recovery period. Routine clinical laboratory investigations (hematology, blood chemistry, and urinalysis) were conducted during treatment. Other parameters measured included body weight, feed intake, plasma, red blood cell count, brain cholinesterase activity, and hepatic and renal carboxylesterase activities. Organ weights were recorded at necropsy and routine histopathological evaluation was performed. Mild muscle tremors were observed occasionally in the intermediate- and high-dose groups. Treated females, but not males, demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of cholinesterase activity, though within treatment groups, there were no differences associated with the number of days of treatment. Enzyme values had returned to baseline levels by 30 days post-treatment. Hepatic carboxylesterase activity was significantly reduced only in male rats at the highest dose. Lung weights were increased in vehicle and Matacil-treated groups. Histological studies indicated that these changes were a nonspecific tissue response to a heavy burden of an oil-based irritant, which was partially resolved by 30 days post-treatment. The results showed that, at the concentrations tested, the formulation produced little or no acute symptoms and minimal long-term sequellae.