User Guide to Thresholds and Classification - Environmental ...

242User Guide for Thresholds and Classificationsevaluated in conjunction with maternal bodyweights when determining whether the effects noted arereflective of maternal toxicity or, more simply, the unpalatability of the test material in feed or water.Clinical evaluations (including clinical signs, markers, and haematology and clinical chemistry studies)The observation of an increased incidence of significant clinical signs of toxicity in treated dams relativeto the control group may be useful in evaluating maternal toxicity. If this is to be used as the basis for theassessment of maternal toxicity, the types, incidence, degree, and duration of clinical signs should bereported in the study. Examples of frank clinical signs of maternal intoxication include coma, prostration,hyperactivity, loss of righting reflex, ataxia, or laboured breathing.Post-mortem dataIncreased incidence and/or severity of post-mortem findings may be indicative of maternal toxicity. Thiscan include gross or microscopic pathological findings or organ weight data; for example, absolute organweight, organ-to-bodyweight ratio, or organ-to-brain weight ratio. When supported by findings of adversehistopathological effects in the affected organ(s), the observation of a significant change in the averageweight of suspected target organ(s) of treated dams, compared with those in the control group, may beconsidered evidence of maternal toxicity.16.2.5. Animal and experimental dataInternationally accepted test methods are available, including methods for developmental toxicity testing (forexample, OECD Test Guideline 414, International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirementsfor Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) Test Guideline S5A, 1993), methods for peri- andpost-natal toxicity testing (for example ICH Test Guideline S5B, 1995) and methods for one- or twogenerationtoxicity testing (for example, OECD Test Guidelines 415 and 416).Results obtained from screening tests (for example, OECD Test Guidelines 421 (reproduction/developmentaltoxicity screening test) and 422 (combined repeated dose toxicity study with reproduction/developmenttoxicity screening test)) can also be used to justify classification, although it is recognised that the quality ofthis evidence is less reliable than that obtained through full studies.Adverse effects or changes, seen in short- or long-term repeated dose toxicity studies, which are judgedlikely to impair reproductive function and occur in the absence of significant generalised toxicity, may beused as a basis for classification (for example, histopathological changes in the gonads).Evidence from in vitro assays or non-mammalian tests and from analogous substances using structureactivity relationships, can contribute to the procedure for classification. In all cases of this nature, expertjudgement must be used to assess the adequacy of the data. Inadequate data should not be used as aprimary support for classification.It is preferable that animal studies are conducted using routes of administration that relate to the potentialroute of human exposure. However, in practice, reproductive or developmental toxicity studies are commonlyconducted using the oral route, and such studies are usually suitable for evaluating the hazardous propertiesof the substance with respect to reproductive or developmental toxicity. However, if it can be conclusivelydemonstrated that the clearly identified mechanism or mode of action has no relevance for humans or theJanuary 2012 EPA0109