Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Gender differences in the metabolism of 1,3-butadiene to butadiene diepoxide in Sprague-Dawley rats

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/381366· OSTI ID:381366

1,3-Butadiene (BD), a gaseous compound used in the production of rubber, is a potent carcinogen in mice and a weak carcinogen in rats. The mechanism of BD-induced carcinogenicity is thought to involve genotoxic effects of its reactive epoxide metabolites butadiene monoepoxide (BDO) and butadiene diepoxide (BDO{sub 2}). Studies in our laboratory have shown that levels of the epoxides, particularly BDO{sub 2}, are greater in mice-the more sensitive species-than rats. While both epoxides are genotoxic in a number of assays, BDO{sub 2} is mutagenic in TK6 human lymphoblastoid cells at concentrations approximately 100-fold lower than BDO. Species differences in carcinogenicity of BD have posed a dilemma to investigators deciding which animal model is most appropriate for BD risk assessment.

Research Organization:
Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Inst., Albuquerque, NM (United States). Inhalation Toxicology Research Inst.
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76EV01013
OSTI ID:
381366
Report Number(s):
ITRI--146; ON: DE96008986
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English