Evaluation of the toxic effect of 2-diethylaminoethyl chloride hydrochloride

Introduction. Experimental toxicological studies of industrial chemical compounds are a mandatory step in the elaboration of sanitary and hygienic standards. Among the wide variety of substances used by the industry, a special place is occupied by 2-diethylaminoethyl chloride hydrochloride (DACH), an intermediate product in the synthesis of many drugs. Despite the fact that there is data on the quantitative indices of the DAHG toxicity, information on the specific features of its toxic effect on the body is absent.

The purpose of the investigation was to study the toxic effect of 2-diethylaminoethyl chloride hydrochloride on the body in experimental animals.

Material and methods. The toxic effect of DAHG was studied on white outbred rats and mice under acute and subacute intragastric exposure regimens. The specificity of the toxic DACH effect was studied in a subacute experiment on rats (oral administration of 0.1 LD₅₀ 5 times a week). The condition of the animals was assessed by functional parameters, biochemical blood indices, and histological studies of internal organs. The obtained results were processed using the Statistica 10.0.

Results. The average lethal doses of DAHG when administered intragastrically, it was 16 mg/kg for rats and 230 mg/kg for mice. In the subacute experiment, a decrease in motor activity in the labyrinth was revealed. In the blood serum in animals that survived the poisoning, a decrease in the activity of AST and cholinesterase, a one and a half-fold increase in the level of urea was noted. Leukopenia with relative lymphocytosis was noted in the peripheral blood. Morphological changes were observed as follows: in the brain – vascular congestion and neuronal edema; in the liver – moderate fatty degeneration; in the kidneys – granular degeneration of the epithelium of the convoluted tubules; in the small intestine – phenomena of epithelial irritation.

Limitations. In vivo experiments conducted in accordance with the Guidelines for the protection of experimental animals limit their number in accordance with the ethical requirements for in vivo experiments.

Conclusion. 2-Diethylaminoethyl chloride hydrochloride according to LD₅₀ values belongs to the substances of hazard class II. The activity of AST and cholinesterase, the concentration of blood urea and the analysis of white blood parameters are markers of the risk of developing pathological disorders in the body upon contact with DACH. The results of morphological studies indicate the possibility of damage to the brain, liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract upon prolonged contact even with small doses of 2-diethylaminoethyl chloride hydrochloride. The obtained information on the specifics of the toxic effect of DACH is recommended for use in the elaboration of the measures to create safe working conditions.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee of the Research Institute for Complex Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases (Protocol of the Meeting No. 4 §2 dated November 18, 2021). The keeping, feeding and removing animals from the experiment were carried out in accordance with the requirements of the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes (ETS N 123, Strasbourg, March 18, 1986).

Contribution:
Gorokhova L.G. – concept and design of the study, collection of material and data processing, statistical processing, writing the text;
Mikhailova N.N. – writing the text, editing;
Kazitskaya A.S. – collection of material and data processing, statistical processing;
Zhukova A.G. – collection of material and data processing, statistical processing, writing the text.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: April 21, 2025 / Revised: May 20, 2025 / Accepted: June 26, 2025 / Published: August 20, 2025

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