Abstract

In a study in which male rats have been exposed to 0, 200, 600, 2000, 6000 and 20000 mg di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (DEHA)/kg diet for 2 weeks, body weight and liver weight and a number of enzyme parameters which are related with peroxisome proliferation (palmitoyl coenzyme-A oxidase (PCO), enoyl coenzyme-A hydratase (ECH), carnitine acetyl transferase (CAT) and lauric acid hydroxylase (LAH) have been determined in liver homogenates. No effect has been observed on the liver weight. The highest dose group showed a significant decrease in the body weight. PCO, CAT and LAH showed no effect up to 2000 mg DEHA/kg diet. ECH, an enzyme involved in the beta-oxidation, was more sensitive with a dose-without-effect (DWE) of 200 mg DEHA/kg diet. Therefore an overall no-observed-effect-level of 200 mg DEHA/KG diet was defined equal to 20.1 mg DEHA/kg b.w.day.