One-year toxicity of orally administered acrolein to the beagle dog

Forty-eight dogs were separated into four groups of six males and six females. Acrolein (0.1% aqueous) was administered in gelatin capsules to three of these groups at dosing levels of 0.1, 0.5 and 1.5 mg kg-1 day-1 based on results of a range-finding study. After 4 weeks, the high dose was increased to 2 mg kg-1 day-1. The fourth group received deionized water in the same number of gelatin capsules as the high-dose group. Dosing was 7 days per week for 53 weeks. Blood and biochemical measurements were made pretest and at 3-month intervals thereafter. At termination, all dogs were subjected to full necropsy and histological examination. The major test effect noted was frequent vomiting after dosing. This was observed to be dose-dependent and the frequency decreased with time, indicating an adaptive effect. One mid-dose female died during the test and was diagnosed as having died of severe bronchial pneumonia, probably a result of vomitus aspiration. Serum albumin, calcium and total protein values were depressed in high-dose animals throughout the study. Some variability in red blood cell parameters and coagulation times were noted but the significance of these effects was not obvious.