Teratologic evaluation of liquid propellant (XM46) in the rat

The Army has proposed using a liquid propellant (XM46) composed of hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN) and triethanolammonium nitrate (TEAN) in its Advanced Field Artillery System. This study was undertaken to determine the potential threat to the unborn fetus should female Army personnel become exposed to this compound during pregnancy. Timed pregnant rats (Crl:CD Charles River Laboratories, Inc.) were purchased on day 4 of pregnancy and divided into a control and four dose groups of 25-28 animals each. Animals were dosed orally with XM46 on days 6-15 of pregnancy at the rate of 0.0, 162.5, 325 and 650 mg kg-1 body wt day-1. Cesarean section was performed on gestation day 20. Maternal body weight was significantly reduced in the 650 mg kg-1 day-1 dose group on days 5-20 of pregnancy. Likewise, maternal food consumption was significantly reduced in the high-dose animals during the dosing period. There were no exposure-related differences in fetal weight, number, sex or frequency of malformations observed in fetuses between control and treated dams. The results of this study indicate that XM46 is not a teratogen in the rat.