Comparative dermal toxicity of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and diisopropylcarbodiimide in rodents

• Published in: Cutaneous and ocular toxicology 2012-09, Vol.31 (3), p.177-187
• Main Authors: Surh, Inok, Behl, Mamta, Elmore, Susan A., Chhabra, Rajendra S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Carbodiimides - toxicity; carcinogenicity; Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide; Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide - toxicity; diisopropylcarbodiimide; Female; Male; Mice; p53; ras; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; skin; Skin - drug effects; toxicity
• ISSN: 1556-9527; 1556-9535
• DOI: 10.3109/15569527.2011.629384

Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) and Diisopropylcarbodiimide (DIC) are two representative chemicals in the carbodiimide class of chemicals used in industry as stabilizing agents. There is a potential of dermal exposure to these agents in chemical, pharmaceutical and recombinant DNA industries. The National Toxicology Program conducted a number of animal studies to characterize toxicity and carcinogenicity of DIC and DCC. Dermal administration of DCC and DIC in F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice for 90-days induced skin irritation at the site of application in a dose-dependent manner. Microscopically, dose-dependent increases in epidermal hyperplasia and chronic inflammation were observed. We further evaluated the effects of dermal exposure of DCC and DIC in p53 haploinsufficient and Tg.AC mouse models. Results revealed the skin as the primary target of DCC and DIC exposure as indicated by dose - dependent skin lesions (hyperplasia, inflammation and necrosis). DCC induced squamous cell papillomas in Tg.AC mice but did not induce any neoplastic lesions in p53 haploinsufficient mice. Dermal application of DIC did not induce any neoplastic lesions in Tg.AC mice and p53 haploinsufficient mice. Based on these studies, it was predicted that DIC would be negative and DCC positive for carcinogenic activity in the traditional two-year bioassay. In the subsequent studies, the carcinogenic potential of DIC only in F344 rats and B6C3F1 mice in a traditional 2-year chronic carcinogenicity bioassay was evaluated by the dermal route. Findings revealed the skin as the major target organ of toxicity in both sexes in rats and in male mice. There were no neoplastic lesions observed in rats or mice with the administration of DIC. In rats, there were clinical signs of toxicity in the highest dose-group which included ataxia, excitability, impaired gait, low muscle tone, abnormal breathing, lethargy, and seizures. This was accompanied by non-neoplastic lesions in the brain and lung only at the highest dose level. In conclusion, both DIC and DCC are dermal toxicants. DIC did not have any carcinogenic activity in transgenic mouse models or in the traditional NTP two-year carcinogenicity studies in F344 rats and B6C3F1 mice. DCC was positive in the Tg.AC mouse model and likely to be carcinogenic in the 2-year bioassay as well.