Olfactory mucosal necrosis in rats following acute intraperitoneal administration of 1,2-diethylbenzene, 1,2-diacetylbenzene and 2,5-hexanedione

- 1,2-DEB (200 mg/kg, i.p.) induced necrosis in the olfactory epithelium.
- 1,2-DAB (40 mg/kg, i.p.) caused the same lesions as those induced by 1,2-DEB.
- 2,5-HD (1 g/kg) caused the same lesions as those induced by 1,2-DEB and 1,2-DAB.
- 1,3-DEB and 1,4-DEB (800 mg/kg) and n-hexane (2 g/kg) did not affect the nasal mucosa.
- CYP2E1 and/or CYP2F4 may be responsible for the metabolic activation of 1,2-DEB.

1,2-Diethylbenzene (1,2-DEB) is used in the manufacture of some plastics. Exposure to 1,2-DEB has been shown to induce peripheral neuropathy in rats. This neurotoxicity is thought to be caused by a metabolite, 1,2-diacetylbenzene (1,2-DAB), a γ-diketone-like compound. 1,2-DEB was previously shown to be extensively and rapidly taken up by the nasal mucosa in male rats. In the present study, the nasal mucosa in rats exposed to 1,2-DEB and 1,2-DAB were examined histologically. Results were compared to sections from rats exposed to two other DEB isomers - 1,3-diethylbenzene (1,3-DEB) and 1,4-diethylbenzene (1,4-DEB) - and to two other neurotoxic compounds - n-hexane and its γ-diketone metabolite, 2,5-hexanedione (2,5-HD). A single intraperitoneal dose of 1,2-DEB (200 mg/kg) induced time-dependent necrosis in the olfactory epithelium and Bowman's glands, with lesions appearing from the earliest observation time (4 h) in the dorsomedial olfactory mucosa. Lesions spread through the lateral and ventral parts of the ethmoturbinates over the following days. The dorsal and medial zones of the nasal cavity started to regenerate from 72 h after treatment, with the new epithelium showing metaplasia. One month after treatment, most of the olfactory epithelium had returned to normal. 1,2-DAB (40 mg/kg) caused the same lesions as those observed after treatment with 1,2-DEB. Treatment with 2,5-HD (1 g/kg) also caused lesions of the olfactory epithelium, mainly at level IV. However, these were comparatively less severe than those observed after exposure to 1,2-DEB. In contrast, intraperitoneal injection of 1,3-DEB (800 mg/kg), 1,4-DEB (800 mg/kg) and n-hexane (2 g/kg) did not affect the nasal mucosa. Pretreatment of rats with 5-phenyl-1-pentyne, an inhibitor of CYP2F2 and CYP2E1 completely inhibited the olfactory toxicity caused by 1,2-DEB. These results suggest that metabolic activation of 1,2-DEB may be responsible for the toxicity observed.