13 NONCLINICAL TOXICOLOGY
13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility
Carcinogenesis
Long-term studies in animals to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of alfentanil have not been conducted.
Mutagenesis
Alfentanil was not mutagenic in the in vitro bacterial reverse mutation assay (Ames test) or clastogenic in the in vivo micronucleus assay.
Impairment of Fertility
Female rats were treated with intravenous alfentanil beginning 14 days prior to mating and throughout gestation with doses of 0.08, 0.31, or 1.25 mg/kg (2.3, 9, or 36.3 times the human daily dose of 335 mcg/day based on body surface area, respectively) prior to mating with non-dosed males. Maternal toxicity was noted in all animals (decreased weight gain in all groups and mortality in the two highest dose groups). There was no clear effect on female fertility.
Male rats were treated intravenously with doses of 0.08, 0.31, or 1.25 mg/kg (2.3, 9, or 36.3 times the human daily dose of 335 mcg/day based on body surface area, respectively) beginning 56 days prior to mating with non-dosed females. There was reduced pregnancy rate in the untreated females mated to the high dose males; however, there was also paternal toxicity was noted in all animals (decreased weight gain in all groups and mortality in the two highest dose groups).