Objective: This study was designed to determine the genotoxicity of 2-methylfuran based on a multi-endpoint genotoxicity test system.
Methods: The SPF-grade male SD rats(n = 30) were randomized to six treatment groups, i. e. 4 treatment groups(25, 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg), a control group(vegetable oil) and a positive groups(N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea, 80 mg/kg). All treatments were administrated by gavage for continuous 3 days. Tail vein blood for comet assay was collected at 3 h after the final administration. Pig-a gene mutation assays were performed on days 0(one day before gavage), 14 and 28. Micronucleus tests in peripheral blood using flow cytometry were performed on days 0 and 4.
Results: A statistically significant increase in tail intensity was observed at 150 mg/kg for peripheral blood in comet assay. There was no significant difference among the groups in mutant cell frequency of erythrocytes and reticulocytes at 2 timepoints in Pig-a gene mutation assay, and no significant difference among the groups in the frequency of micronucleus in micronucleus test.
Conclusion: The result of genotoxicity tests suggested that 2-methylfuran was probably not mutagenic in vivo after acute exposure.
Keywords: 2-methylfuran; Pig-a gene mutation assay; comet assay; genotoxicity; micronucleus test.