A ninety-day oral toxicity study of a new type of processed gum arabic, from Acacia tree (Acacia senegal) exudates, in F344 rats.

This study was designed to evaluate and characterize any subchronic toxicity of a new type of gum arabic (SUPER GUM [Acacia(sen)SUPER GUM]), a naturally processed polysaccharide exudate from gum acacia trees (Acacia senegal), when administered to both sexes of F344 rats at dietary levels of 0 (control), 1.25%, 2.5%, and 5.0% (10 rats/sex/group). During the study, the treatment had no effects on clinical signs, survival, body weights, and food and water consumption, or on findings of urinalysis, ophthalmology, hematology, or blood biochemistry. Gross pathology and histopathology exhibited no differences of toxicological significance between control and treated rats. Increased relative cecum (filled) weights, evident in both sexes of 5.0% group and females of 1.25% and 2.5% groups, were considered to be a physiological adaptation. Thus, the results indicated the toxic level of SUPER GUM to be more than 5.0%, and the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was concluded to be 5.0% (3,117 mg/kg body weights/day for males, and 3,296 mg/kg body weights/day for males) from the present study.

Dose response in butylated hydroxyanisole induction of forestomach carcinogenesis in F344 rats.

Groups of 50 6-week-old male F344 rats were given a powdered diet containing 0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, or 2% butylated hydroxyanisole [(BHA) CAS: 25013-16-5] for 104 weeks. The highest dose--2% BHA--induced significant increase in the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the forestomach. Papillomas of the forestomach developed in 20 and 100% of the rats given diets containing 1 and 2% BHA, respectively. The incidence of epithelial hyperplasia of the forestomach increased with the increased BHA doses, to 100% incidence at the highest dose. Thus the incidences of proliferative and neoplastic lesions of the forestomach were dose dependent.

Organ-specific promoting effects of phenobarbital sodium and sodium saccharin in the induction of liver and urinary bladder tumors in male F344 rats.

Studied were conducted to determine whether initial treatment with N-2-fluorenylacetamide (2-FAA) or N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN) followed by treatment with either phenobarbital sodium (PB) or sodium saccharin (SS) induced or enhanced liver and/or bladder tumorigenesis. Male inbred F344 rats were given 0.05% PB and 5.0% SS in the diet for 32 weeks after 4-week administration of 0.02% 2-FAA treatment and induced hyperplastic liver nodules after BBN treatment. The SS significantly enhanced induction of bladder hyperplasias, but not papilloma after BBN treatment, and induced bladder hyperplasias after 2-FAA treatment. However, PB had no effect on the bladder and SS had no effect on the liver after either 2-FAA or BBN treatment. The data indicate that although 2-FAA and BBN have tumor-initiating effects in the liver and urinary bladder, the tumor-promoting effects of PB and SS are organ-specific. The tumor-promoting effect of PB for the liver is relatively greater than that of SS for the urinary bladder.

Aging and urinary bladder carcinogenesis induced in rats by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine.

The effect of age on induction of carcinogenesis by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine [(BBN) CAS: 3817-11-6] in the urinary bladder epithelium was examined in 130 male and 130 female F344 rats. Rats of both sexes 6, 52, and 98 weeks old were given 0.025% BBN in their drinking water for 20 weeks. Then approximately half the rats were sacrificed, while the rest were maintained without further treatment for 10 weeks. Examination of the rats revealed an age-related increase in the induction of urinary bladder carcinoma, although the total intakes of BBN and urinary excretions of its proximate carcinogen were not age related. Rats treated with BBN at 98 weeks of age developed more squamous cell carcinomas and invasive carcinomas than the 2 younger groups. This study demonstrated an increased risk of urinary bladder carcinogenesis with age in animals.

Promotion of 2-(ethylnitrosamino)ethanol-induced renal carcinogenesis in rats by nephrotoxic compounds: positive responses with folic acid, basic lead acetate, and N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide but not with 2,3-dibromo-1-propanol phosphate.

The promoting effects of nephrotoxic chemicals, folic acid (FA), N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide (NDPS), 2,3-dibromo-1-propanol phosphate (Tris-BP), and basic lead acetate (LAB), on 2-(ethylnitrosamino)ethanol (EHEN)-induced renal carcinogenesis were examined in F344 rats. The rats were treated with 0.1% EHEN in their drinking water for 1 week and then given one of the nephrotoxic chemicals for 35 weeks. FA was injected sc once a week at a dose of 300 mg/kg for the first 8 weeks and thereafter at 100 mg/kg. NDPS, Tris-BP, and LAB were mixed in the diet at concentrations of 0.5, 0.01, and 0.1%, respectively. At week 3 the right kidney was removed to enhance renal neoplasia. Renal cell tumor incidence was significantly increased by both FA and LAB and was slightly increased by NDPS, whereas Tris-BP had no effect. The data show that FA, LAB, and NDPS are promoters of EHEN-induced renal carcinogenesis.

Induction of invasive carcinomas in the accessory sex organs other than the ventral prostate of rats given 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl and testosterone propionate.

The promotion effects of testosterone propionate (TP) on prostate carcinogenesis were investigated in F344 rats given the prostatic carcinogen, 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB). One group of animals received s.c. DMAB injections at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight at 2-week intervals for a total of 10 injections along with s.c. implantations of TP-containing Silastic tubes. A second experimental group of rats was given DMAB at the same dose and intervals but each injection of DMAB was combined with 3 prior consecutive daily 100-mg/kg body weight s.c. injections of TP. After cessation of carcinogen administration, animals in these two groups received TP implants from week 21 to the end of the experiment. All surviving animals were killed at week 56 and accessory sex gland tumor incidences were compared to those in DMAB alone and other appropriate control groups. The groups given TP plus DMAB and subsequent long term administration of TP developed lesions of the dorsolateral prostate, seminal vesicles, and coagulating glands which were all invasive adenocarcinomas. Incidences were 84.2% (16 of 19 rats) and 66.7% (12 of 18 rats), respectively. Macroscopic large tumors were induced in 13 animals among which 8 demonstrated metastasis to the abdominal cavity, liver, or lung. None of the control groups except for the group given TP injections plus DMAB had equivalent tumors. Development of carcinomas of the ventral prostate, which were all of in situ type, were not increased by subsequent treatment with TP. These data thus clearly showed that TP can exert strong enhancing effects on tumor development in the dorsolateral prostate, seminal vesicles, and coagulating glands but not in the ventral prostate.

Roles of urinary sodium ion concentration and pH in promotion by ascorbic acid of urinary bladder carcinogenesis in rats.

Since the sodium salt of ascorbic acid (AA) promoted two-stage urinary bladder carcinogenesis in rats, whereas AA itself did not, the roles of the urinary sodium ion concentration and pH on urinary bladder carcinogenesis were investigated. Male F344 rats were given 0.05% N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine in their drinking water for 4 weeks and then treated with basal diet containing 5% AA plus 3% sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), 5% AA, 3% NaHCO3 or 5% sodium L-ascorbate (SA), 5% SA plus 1% ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) or 1% NH4Cl, or no added chemical for 32 weeks. NaHCO3 significantly increased the induction of neoplastic and preneoplastic lesions of the urinary bladder. Like SA, AA plus NaHCO3 induced high incidences of neoplastic and preneoplastic lesions of the urinary bladder, whereas AA alone did not. NH4Cl reduced the promoting activity of SA in urinary bladder carcinogenesis. These results suggest important roles for urinary sodium ion concentration and pH in modulating urinary bladder carcinogenesis. Moreover, AA was found to act as a copromoter under conditions of increased urinary pH and sodium ion concentration.

Promotion by L-ascorbic acid of urinary bladder carcinogenesis in rats under conditions of increased urinary K ion concentration and pH.

Dietary administration of 5% L-ascorbic acid plus 3% K2CO3 to male F344 rats clearly enhanced the development of preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions of the urinary bladder initiated with N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine. Promotion of carcinogenesis by L-ascorbic acid and K2CO3 was associated with changes in urinary parameters: elevation of pH, increased K+ concentration, and increase in total ascorbic acid.

L-ascorbic acid amplification of bladder carcinogenesis promotion by K2CO3.

The dose dependence of K2CO3 promotion of two-stage urinary bladder carcinogenesis and the amplifying effects of additional L-ascorbic acid (AsA) administration were investigated. Male F344 rats were given 0.05% N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine in their drinking water for 4 weeks and then fed basal diet containing K2CO3 at levels of 0, 1, 1.5, 2.2, and 3% with or without 5% AsA or 3% NaHCO3 supplementation from weeks 5 to 8 (4 weeks) and weeks 12 to 20 (9 weeks). During weeks 9 to 11 (3 weeks), the rats were fed 3% uracil in their diet. For controls, rats without N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine treatment were given either 3% K2CO3, 5% AsA, or both plus the uracil treatment. The total observation period was 20 weeks. K2CO3 dose dependently increased the numbers of the putative preneoplastic lesion, papillary or nodular hyperplasia, and papillomas in rats initiated with N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine. AsA (5%), while itself exerting no promoting effect, amplified the enhancing influence of K2CO3 on the induction of papillary or nodular hyperplasia and papillomas. The dose-dependent elevation of urinary pH and K+ concentration was associated with K2CO3 treatment with or without AsA. Thus, increased urinary pH and K+ concentration appear to play important roles in K2CO3 promotion, and AsA amplifies this promotion.

L-ascorbic acid amplification of second-stage bladder carcinogenesis promotion by NaHCO3.

The dose dependence of NaHCO3 promotion of urinary bladder carcinogenesis and the effects of additional L-ascorbic acid (AsA) administration were investigated subsequent to initiation. Male F344 rats were given 0.05% N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine in their drinking water for 4 weeks and then, starting 3 days after cessation of carcinogen treatment, received basal diet containing NaHCO3 at levels of 0, 0.375, 0.75, 1.5, and 3.0% with or without a 5% AsA supplement for 32 weeks. NaHCO3 dose-dependently increased the incidence and numbers of urinary bladder carcinomas in rats initiated with N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine. 5% AsA, while itself exerting no promoting effect, amplified the enhancing influence of NaHCO3 on induction of urinary bladder carcinomas. The same dose-dependent elevation of urinary pH and Na+ concentration was associated with NaHCO3 treatment with or without AsA. NaHCO3 significantly increased DNA synthesis in the urinary bladder epithelium and the additional treatment with AsA was associated with a significant further elevation. Thus, increased urinary pH and Na+ concentrations appear to play important roles in NaHCO3 promotion and AsA amplified this promotion. NaHCO3 treatment, with or without AsA, induced cellular proliferation, although it is unclear whether this is an essential factor.

The prostate: a target for carcinogenicity of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) derived from cooked foods.

Prostate tissues obtained from rats given a food-derived carcinogen, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), at a dose of 400 ppm in the diet for 52 weeks were histopathologically evaluated and found to contain prostate carcinomas limited to the ventral lobe in 18 of 27 cases. Atypical hyperplasias were also detected in the ventral and anterior prostate as well as the seminal vesicles. 32P-Postlabeling analysis of DNA demonstrated that PhIP-DNA adducts are produced in all lobes of the prostate of rats receiving PhIP. The findings indicate that PhIP is carcinogenic to rat prostate in addition to the previously demonstrated targeting of the colon and mammary glands, providing evidence of a possible role of PhIP in human prostate carcinogenesis and highlighting the potential importance of PhIP for man.

Immunohistochemical demonstration of carcinogen-DNA adducts in tissues of rats given 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP): detection in paraffin-embedded sections and tissue distribution.

A polyclonal antibody against 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP)-DNA adducts was raised for their immunohistochemical demonstration in paraffin-embedded sections. Specificity of this antibody was confirmed by competitive ELISA. Positive signals were immunohistochemically detected in acetone-fixed but not in formalin- or ethanol-fixed sections from F344 rats treated by gavage with a single dose of PhIP at 37.5-300 mg/kg and killed at 1, 2, and 7 days thereafter. Dose-dependent positive staining was observed in almost all organs of both sexes, including the colon, prostate, and mammary gland but largely independent of the tumor response. Repair activity, judged by disappearance of adducts with time, differed according to the organ or cell type. One exception was hepatocytes, the liver incidentally being a nontarget organ. The results suggest that the generated antibody is applicable for detection of cells targeted by PhIP in paraffin-embedded sections and also for the investigation of the mechanisms of PhIP-carcinogenesis.

A 90-day oral toxicity study of beta-carotene derived from Blakeslea trispora, a natural food colorant, in F344 rats.

A subchronic oral toxicity study of beta-carotene derived from Blakeslea trispora, a natural food colorant, was performed with groups of 10 male and 10 female F344 rats fed the agent at dietary levels of 0%, 0.2%, 1.0% and 5.0% for 90 days. There were no treatment-related adverse effects with regard to body weight, food and water consumption, urinalysis, ophthalmology, hematology, serum biochemistry, and organ weight data. On clinical observation, red coloring of fur was noted in both sexes of the 1.0% and 5.0% group rats, with red feces observed in all treated group animals, and necropsy revealed all rats of the treated groups to have reddish coloration of the contents of the gastro-intestinal tract, due to the pigmentation and thus lacking toxicological significance. On histopathological examination, sporadic spontaneous lesions known to occur in this strain of rats were the only findings, with no specific relation to the test substance. Thus, the no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) was judged to be a dietary level of at least 5.0% (3127 mg/kg body weight/day for males, 3362 mg/kg body weight/day for females) for beta-carotene derived from B. trispora under the present experimental conditions.

Thirteen-week feeding study of thaumatin (a natural proteinaceous sweetener), sterilized by electron beam irradiation, in Sprague-Dawley rats.

This study was designed to evaluate and characterize any subchronic toxicity of thaumatin sterilized by electron beam irradiation (5.0 kGy) when administered at dietary levels of 0% (control), 0.3%, 1.0% and 3.0% to groups of 10 male and 10 female Crj: CD (SD) IGS rats for 13 weeks. Separate groups of both sexes received 3.0% non-irradiated thaumatin. There were no treatment-related clinical signs or adverse effects on the survival rate, body weight, food consumption, water consumption and urinalysis, ophthalmology, haematology, or blood biochemistry data. No treatment-related alterations in gross pathology or organ weights were found in any group. On histopathological examination, sporadic spontaneous lesions known to occur in this strain of rats were the only findings, with no specific relation to the test substance. Thus, the no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) was judged to be a dietary level of at least 3.0% (2502 mg/kg body weight/day for males, 2889 mg/kg body weight/day for females) for electron beam irradiated thaumatin under the present experimental conditions. It was concluded that electron beam-irradiation of thaumatin does not cause changes of any toxicological significance.

Inhibitory potential of acetaminophen and o-, m-, p- aminophenols for development of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase-positive liver cell foci in rats pretreated with diethylnitrosamine.

The inhibitory potential of treatment with acetaminophen (AAP) and 3 different isometric forms of monoaminophenols (o-, m-, p-AP) for the development of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase-positive (gamma-GT+) liver cell foci was examined in an in vivo short-term assay system. Rats were initially given a single intraperitoneal injection of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and fed test compounds from week 2 until they were killed at week 6, all rats being subjected to two-thirds partial hepatectomy at week 3. All 4 compounds exerted obvious inhibition of the development of gamma-GT foci with both number and area (mm2) being reduced. AAP proved the most potent agent whereas dose-related inhibitory potential was observed within the 2 doses of p-AP treated.

Modification by alpha-tocopherol, propyl gallate and tertiary butylhydroquinone of urinary bladder carcinogenesis in Fischer 344 rats pretreated with N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine.

The promoting activity of 3 antioxidants, alpha-tocopherol (alpha-TP), propyl gallate (PG) and tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) in urinary bladder carcinogenesis initiated by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN) in male F344 rats was examined. Rats, 6-week-old, were treated with 0.05% BBN in the drinking water for 4 weeks and then administered 1.50, 0.75 or 0.38% alpha-TP, 1.0% PG or 2.0% TBHQ in the diet for 32 weeks. The urinary bladder of all animals was examined histologically after the total 36 experimental weeks. The incidence of papillary or nodular hyperplasia (PN hyperplasia) of the urinary bladder was significantly higher in the rats treated with BBN followed by 2.0% dietary TBHQ that in controls initiated with 0.05% BBN followed by control diet. This result indicates that TBHQ has weak promoting activity in urinary bladder carcinogenesis. alpha-TP and PG did not demonstrate a promoting effect for urinary bladder lesions.

Proliferative response of renal pelvic epithelium in rats to oral administration of ortho-phenylphenol, sodium ortho-phenylphenate and diphenyl.

Changes in DNA synthesis levels and morphology as observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy in rat renal papilla and pelvis following oral administration of ortho-phenylphenol (OPP), sodium ortho-phenylphenate (OPP-Na) and diphenyl, were investigated in F344 rats. OPP and OPP-Na treatment for 4 weeks was associated with elevated DNA synthesis in both renal papilla and pelvis, in addition to distinct morphological cell surface alterations. Sequential light microscope observation revealed induction of renal papillary necrosis from week 4, followed by regeneration hyperplasia at weeks 16 and 24, but no changes in the renal pelvis in the OPP case. OPP-Na not only similarly affected the renal papilla, but also brought about development of hyperplasia in the renal pelvis. No proliferative response of the kidney was apparent in rats fed diphenyl. The present study indicated that the proliferative responses in the renal pelvic epithelium following OPP-Na are similar to those induced by this chemical in the urinary bladder, and that in both cases they are indicative of promoting or carcinogenic potential.

Lobe specific effects of testosterone and estrogen on 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl-induced rat prostate carcinogenesis.

We have previously shown that chronic administration of a pharmacological dose of testosterone propionate (TP) after treatment with the carcinogen, 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB), results in development of invasive and metastatic adenocarcinomas arising from the dorso-lateral and anterior prostate, as well as the seminal vesicles. Co-administration of ethinyl estradiol (EE) with TP increased the yield of carcinomas in the lateral and anterior lobes. In the present experiment, male F344 rats were treated with DMAB for 20 weeks and then co-administered a pharmacological dose of TP together with various doses of EE for 40 weeks. Without hormone(s) administration, carcinomas were confined to the ventral prostate and all were of intra-acinar type. TP administration suppressed development of the ventral prostate carcinomas but caused invasive carcinomas of the lateral and anterior lobes and of seminal vesicles and intra-acinar carcinomas in the dorsal prostate. The appearance of carcinomas in the lateral and anterior prostate was increased by co-administration of EE in a dose-related fashion but carcinomas of the seminal vesicles were inversely reduced. The suppressive influence of TP on ventral carcinoma development was overcome by only the highest dose of EE. It is concluded that estrogen can modify the enhancing effects of TP on induction of rat prostate and seminal vesicle carcinomas in a dose-related fashion with lobe specificity.

Dose and sex dependent effects of 2-acetylaminofluorene, 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene and DL-ethionine in induction of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-positive liver cell foci in rats.

The dose-dependent and sex-related effects of 3 hepatocarcinogens were investigated by measuring the number and area of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) positive foci appearing in the liver. For this, three different doses of 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF), 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (3'-Me-DAB) and DL-ethionine (ethionine), respectively, were given to F344 rats of both sexes for 6 weeks after a single injection of diethylnitrosamine (DEN). The inductions of gamma-GT positive foci by 2-AAF and 3'-Me-DAB were clearly dose-dependent, but with 2-AAF this was clearer in males than females. Ethionine had less clear dose-dependent effects in both males and females. Under these conditions, the minimal effective doses of 2-AAF, 3'-Me-DAB and ethionine, respectively, were 0.0008%, 0.0024% and 0.05% in males and 0.004%, 0.012% and 0.05% in females. The results indicate that these 3 carcinogens had clear dose-dependent effects in the induction of gamma-GT positive foci when given for a short period in the promotive stage and that male rats were more susceptible than females to 2-AAF.

Bladder epithelial hyperplasia in F344 rats after intravesical instillation of the antitumor chemotherapeutic agents Adriamycin and mitomycin C.

The effects of intravesical instillation of the antineoplastic antibiotics, Adriamycin or mitomycin C, on the urinary bladder epithelium of female F344 rats were evaluated using a combined immunohistochemical and morphological approach. Four weeks treatment with Adriamycin or mitomycin C induced an increase of DNA synthesis and was associated with simple hyperplasia characterized by elevated nuclear cytoplasmic ratios, cytomegaly and pleomorphism. Under the scanning electron microscope (SEM), luminal cell surface alterations such as pleomorphic microvilli were observed. Severity of the lesions was greatest in the Adriamycin group and although treatment of the saline vehicle alone also brought about development of simple hyperplasia, this was very slight and not accompanied by cellular pleomorphism. The present results demonstrated that intravesical instillation of antineoplastic agents can cause a proliferative response and cytotoxicity after only short-term treatment and suggest that this chemotherapy could itself play a possible role in promotion of bladder carcinogenesis or cancer development.