Results of peroxisome induction studies on tri(2-ethylhexyl)trimellitate and 2-ethylhexanol.

The results of these studies demonstrate that Tri(2-ethylhexyl)trimellitate (TOTM) produces the sam spectrum of morphological and biochemical changes in the rat liver as di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP). TOTM, however, was much less potent in its action, with a dietary level of 2.0%, causing less peroxisome proliferation and enzyme induction than 0.67% DEHP. Also, these studies show that the level of peroxisome induction in rats given TOTM is less than in those receiving a metabolically equivalent dose of 2-ethylhexanol (2-EH). Furthermore, on a molar basis, effects were lower than with DEHP. A "monoester effect" of the kind attributed to MEHP, a metabolite of DEHP, was not seen with TOTM.