Inactivity of glycerol formal in a mouse micronucleus assay: relationship to its teratogenicity

Glycerol formal (GF) has been reported to be teratogenic to the rat. Its mechanism of action in this respect has not been defined, but it has been discussed within the context of its being a possible slow formaldehyde-releasing agent. In order to evaluate this possibility, the hydrolysis of GF has been studied, and its activity as a mouse bone marrow clastogen assessed using the micronucleus assay. Neither was hydrolysis observed, nor was the test agent active as a clastogen in vivo. It is therefore concluded that the teratogenic activity of GF is unlikely to be associated with the release of formaldehyde in utero. However, GF bears a close structural similarity to the rodent teratogen, ethyleneglycol monomethylether (EGME), and this may provide a basis for understanding its teratogenic activity and for predicting similar activity for other cyclic ether alcohols.