Short-term toxicity of trans,trans-muconaldehyde.

Toxicological and biochemical effects of muconaldehyde, a six-carbon diene dialdehyde, were evaluated in 6- to 9-week-old CD-1 male mice. The LD50 of trans,trans-muconaldehyde was 6.7 and 7.1 mg/kg body wt when calculated by two different methods. Administration of trans,trans-muconaldehyde (2 mg/kg, ip) daily for 10 and 16 days resulted in a statistically significant decrease in red blood cell count, hematocrit, hemoglobin, bone marrow cellularity, and hepatic total and free sulfhydryl content. There was an increase in white blood cell count and spleen weight at 16 days. Similar effects, but of much lesser magnitude, were observed when the mice were given the same total dose of 2 mg/kg divided into three daily ip injections of 0.67 mg/kg trans,trans-muconaldehyde for 10 and 16 days. This alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde is a potent bone marrow toxin in mice.