Acute Oral Toxicity of Diethyleneglycol Dinitrate (DEGDN) in ICR Mice

The Department of Defense is considering the use of diethyleneglycol dinitrate DEGDN, triethyleneglycol dinitrate TEGDN, or trimethylolethane trinitrate TMETN as a replacement for nitroglycerin in munition formulations. The acute oral toxicity of diethyleneglycol dinitrate DEGDN was determined in male and female ICR mice by using the oral gavage single-dose method. The median lethal dose MLD or - S.E. for male mice was 1395 or - 59 mgkc and 1321 or - 74 mgkg for female mice. Clinical signs produced by DEGDN included inactivity, twitching, tremors, hypertonia, squinting, hunched posture, depression of grasping and righting reflexes, rough coat, increased startle reflex, hyperactivity, moribund conditionprostration, and various stains in the perianal and abdominal areas. The duration of clinical signs was acute. Most animals were exhibiting signs by 2 hours after dosing and hac either died or cleared by 72 hours after dosing. According to the classification scheme of Hodge and Sterner, these results place DEGDN in the slightly toxic class. Keyword Propellants.