Methoxychlor is carcinogenic for the liver of C3H and BALB/c mice and Osborne-Mendel rats, and possibly for the liver of dogs.
Methoxychlor is also carcinogenic for the testis of BALB/c male mice, bone of B6C3F1 female mice, and the ovary of Osborne-Mendel female rats. The incidences of
carcinomas of the liver were increased in C3H male mice and BALB/c male and female mice fed
methoxychlor. There also was an increase in
malignant neoplasms at all sites in BALB/c male and female mice. C3H and BALB/c male mice were more susceptible to the carcinogenic effects of
methoxychlor than were female mice. BALB/c mice were more susceptible than C3H mice. Osborne-Mendel male and female rats developed significant incidences of
carcinomas of the liver. The incidence of
sarcomas of the spleen and abdomen, mostly
hemangiosarcomas, was increased in male rats.
Neoplasms of the pituitary, adrenals, and mammary gland were also increased in
methoxychlor-treated female rats. Miniature swine given
methoxychlor developed
chronic renal disease in relatively short periods of time. There also was
hyperplasia of the mammary gland and uterus, suggesting an
estrogen-like effect on those organs.
Methoxychlor applied to the skin of rabbits caused a dose-related
atrophy of the testes, as well as
chronic renal disease.
Atrophy of the testes and
chronic renal disease could not be evaluated in mice and rats because of insufficient data.