Preferable sites and orientations of transgene inserted in the adenovirus vector genome: The E3 site may be unfavorable for transgene position.

The adenovirus vector (AdV) can carry two transgenes in its genome, the therapeutic gene and a reporter gene, for example. The E3 insertion site has often been used for the expression of the second transgene. A transgene can be inserted at six different sites/orientations: E1, E3 and E4 sites, and right and left orientations. However, the best combination of the insertion sites and orientations as for the titers and the expression levels has not sufficiently been studied. We attempted to construct 18 AdVs producing GFP or LacZ gene driven by the EF1α promoter and Cre gene driven by the α-fetoprotein promoter. The AdV containing GFP gene at E3 in the rightward orientation (GFP-E3R) was not available. The LacZ-E3R AdV showed 20-fold lower titer and 50-fold lower level of fiber mRNA than the control E1L AdV. Notably, we found four aberrantly spliced mRNAs in the LacZ-E3L/R AdVs, probably explaining their very low titers. Although the transgene expression levels in the E4R AdVs were about threefold lower than those in the E1L AdVs, their titers are comparable with that of E1L AdVs. We concluded that E1L and E4R sites/orientations are preferable for expressing the main target gene and a second gene, respectively.

[Surgical repair of traumatic rupture of the discending aorta through 'L'-thoracotomy].

Acute blunt aortic rupture occurs frequently at the aortic isthmus and emergency operation is usually required. A 33-year-old man was suffered with blunt traumatic thoracic aortic injury caused by traffic accident and emergency operation was performed due to hemodynamic instability. The patient was operated through 'L'-thoracotomy (upper part sternotomy and antero-lateral thoracotomy). Cardiopulmonary bypass was initiated with right femoral vein drainage and right femoral arterial return and converted to standard cardiopulmonary bypass with the ascending aorta return and right atrium appendage drainage when the discending aorta was re-ruptured. It stabilized the circulation of upper body, especially brain. The post-operative course was uneventful. The 'L'-thoracotomy can provide good operative exposure for the aortic isthmus and stabilize the circulation of the brain with standard cardiopulmonary bypass and clamping the descending aorta.

Spontaneous tumors in ACI/N rats.

One hundred ninety-five spontaneous tumors, developing in 55 male and 209 female ACI/N rats in 169 weeks, were studied. The incidence was 56% (31/55) in males and 52% (108/209) in females; their average survival time was 113 and 108 weeks, respectively. These neoplasms were found in all organ systems except those of the sensory and locomotor systems. In the males, interstitial cell tumors of the testis (45.5%, 25/55) were most frequent, followed by those in the adrenal (16.4%, 9/55) and pituitary glands (5.5%, 3/55), skin (5.5%, 3/55), and urinary bladder (3.6%, 2/55). In female rats, tumors of the pituitary gland (21.1%, 44/209), uterus (12.9%, 27/209), mammary gland (11.1%, 23/209), adrenal gland (5.7%, 12/209), urinary bladder (4.8%, 10/209), thymus and lymph nodes (4.3%, 9/209), subcutaneous tissues (1.4%, 3/209), heart (1.4%, 3/209), vagina (1.0%, 2/209), and salivary gland (1.0%, 2/209) were detected. In addition, tumors of the glandular stomach, small intestine, spleen, trachea, lacrymal gland, ovary, brain, kidney, thyroid, and bone marrow were detected in 1 female each, and those of the small intestine, spleen, lung, and peritoneum in 1 male rat each. Only 6 adenocarcinomas of the uterus, 3 lymphatic leukemias, 1 cortical carcinoma, and 1 mesothelioma of 195 tumors observed in the present studies metastasized to remote organs.

Leukemias and vaginal tumors induced in female Donryu rats by continuous administration of 1-butyl-3,3-dimethyl-1-nitrosourea in the drinking water.

Three groups of Donryu rats, each consisting of 36 females, were continuously given solutions of 1-butyl-3,3-dimethyl-1-nitrosourea as drinking water (400 ppm for group A, 200 ppm for group B 100 ppm for group C). Of the 100 rats that survived at least 122 experimental days, 64 developed leukemia and 38 had vaginal tumors. Leukemias were preponderant in animals of groups A and B; vaginal tumors appeared in group C.

Relation between development of leukemia and duration of N-nitroso-N-ethylurea treatment in DONRYU rats.

N-Nitroso-N-ethylurea (NEU; CAS: 759-73-9) is a strong leukemogen that induces erythroblastic leukemia in inbred DONRYU rats. In the present experiments, relationships between development of leukemia, duration of NEU treatment, and sequential changes in the hematopoietic organs during carcinogen administration were examined. In experiment 1, groups of rats were given a 400-ppm NEU solution for 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 weeks, and the resultant incidence of leukemias was 0, 26, 40, 75, 95, and 100%, respectively. Of the various types of leukemia, the erythroblastic type was observed in 0, 0, 20, 40, 95, and 90% of rats, respectively. The average latent period showed an inverse correlation with the duration of NEU treatment. In experiment 2 the animals were divided into carcinogen-treated and control groups, and rats were sacrificed periodically for histopathologic examination. In the experimental group, the bone marrow became hypoplastic soon after commencement of NEU treatment and at the 6th week became severely aplastic, thereafter recovering slightly. At the 10th week, 2 rats out of 5 examined were leukemic. Relationships between incidence of leukemia, duration of NEU treatment, and sequential changes of the bone marrow during carcinogen administration are discussed.

Carcinogenicity of potassium bromate administered orally to F344 rats.

The carcinogenicity of potassium bromate, a food additive and a neutralizer in permanent waving, was tested by adding it to the drinking water of F344 rats for 110 weeks. Groups of 53 males and 53 females, each, were given solutions of 500 or 250 ppm of potassium bromate or distilled water. A concentration of 500 ppm markedly inhibited an increase of body weight of male rats. The mean survival time was shortest for males given 500 ppm (88.1 +/- 18.1 wk); the survival times of other groups were 101-104 weeks. The percentage survival in week 104 was relatively high in all groups, and it was 77.4% for males and 66.0% for females in the control group. High incidences of renal cell tumors (in males and females given 500 or 250 ppm) and mesotheliomas of the peritoneum (in males given 500 ppm) were observed. The incidences of these tumors in test groups were significantly higher than those in controls (P less than .001). It was concluded that, when orally administered under the conditions of this experiment, potassium bromate was carcinogenic to F344 rats.

High incidences of pheochromocytomas after long-term administration of retinol acetate to F344/DuCrj rats.

The carcinogenicity of retinol acetate [(RAC) CAS: 127-47-9], a synthetic derivative of retinol, was tested by continuous oral administration in the drinking water of F344/DuCrj rats for 104 weeks. Groups of 50 male and 50 female rats were given solutions of 0.25 or 0.125% RAC in the form of gelatinized beadlets suspended in distilled water. Control groups consisting of the same numbers of rats were given 0.25% of placebo beadlets. All of the surviving animals were killed at 108 weeks, 4 weeks after the cessation of the RAC treatments. The survival rates were 72-84% and were sufficiently high for statistical comparison of all groups. Inhibition of body weight gain was marked in females of the high-dose group. Higher incidences of malignant pheochromocytomas, benign pheochromocytomas, and hyperplasias of the adrenal medulla were observed in the RAC-treated groups. The combined incidences of tumors of the adrenal medulla in males and females of the high-dose groups and the incidence in females of the low-dose group were significantly higher than the incidence in the controls. Conversely, statistically significant decreases were found in the incidences of the mammary gland tumors in males of the high-dose group, of thyroid tumors in females of the high-dose group, and of clitoral gland tumors in females of both high- and low-dose groups. It was concluded that RAC given orally possesses potential for increasing the incidence of pheochromocytomas in male and female F344 rats in a dose-related manner under the conditions of this bioassay.

Selective mutation of codons 204 and 213 of the p53 gene in rat tumors induced by alkylating N-nitroso compounds.

Kidney and esophageal tumors induced by alkylating N-nitroso compounds in rats contain a high incidence (75-100%) of G----A transition mutations in the p53 gene. These are almost selectively (89%) located in the first base of codon 204 and the second base of 213, leading to amino acid substitutions Glu----Lys and Arg----Gln, respectively. In contrast to human neoplasms, a considerable fraction of rat kidney and esophageal tumors carries multiple p53 mutations. All nephroblastomas induced by transplacental exposure to N-nitrosoethylurea and 56% of esophageal tumors induced by N-nitrosomethylurea showed double mutations in codons 204 and 213 of exon 6. The selective targeting of p53 codons by alkylating nitrosamines may provide a basis for molecular epidemiological studies on this class of chemical carcinogens.

Identification and analysis of CXCR4-positive synovial sarcoma-initiating cells.

Synovial sarcoma accounts for almost 10% of all soft tissue sarcomas, and its prognosis is poor with 5-year survival rates at 36%. Thus, new treatments and therapeutic targets for synovial sarcoma are required. Tumor-initiating cells have been defined by the ability for self-renewal and multipotent differentiation, and they exhibit higher tumorigenic capacity, chemoresistance and radiation resistance, expecting to be a new therapeutic target. In synovial sarcoma, the presence of such stemness remains largely unclear; thus, we analyzed whether synovial sarcoma possessed tumor-initiating cells and explored specific markers, and we discovered that synovial sarcoma cell lines possessed heterogeneity by way of containing a sphere-forming subpopulation highly expressing NANOG, OCT4 and SOX2. By expression microarray analysis, CXCR4 was identified to be highly expressed in the sphere subpopulation and correlated with stem-cell-associated markers. Inhibition of CXCR4 suppressed the cell proliferation of synovial sarcoma cell lines in vitro. The tumor-initiating ability of CXCR4-positive cells was demonstrated by xenograft propagation assay. CXCR4-positive cells showed higher tumorigenicity than negative ones and possessed both self-renewal and multipotent differentiation ability. Immunohistochemical analysis of 39 specimens of synovial sarcoma patients revealed that CXCR4 strongly correlated with poor prognosis of synovial sarcoma. Thus, we conclude that CXCR4 is the marker of synovial sarcoma-initiating cells, a new biomarker for prognosis and a new potential therapeutic target.

Promoting effects of 6-mercaptopurine on carcinogenesis in various organs of F344 rats.

Possible promoting effects of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) on carcinogenesis in various organs, including the hematopoietic system, were investigated in female F344 rats, using a 2-stage carcinogenesis model. 6-MP was given as a dietary supplement (50 ppm) for 35 weeks subsequent to wide-spectrum initiation with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU). Various tumors were observed in the carcinogen-initiated groups. No significant influence of 6-MP on their development, including the occurrence of leukemia, was apparent. However, the incidences of some proliferative lesions in the lung, intestine and kidney were slightly higher in the ENU/6-MP group than the ENU group. Further studies may be needed on promoting effects of 6-MP, based on dose-effect relation using several 6-MP doses and/or other initiators.

Possible mechanisms underlying mammary carcinogenesis in female Wistar rats by nitrofurazone.

Mechanisms underlying mammary carcinogenesis in female rat given nitrofurazone (NF) were examined. Experiment I: female Wistar rats were divided into three groups, and given diets containing 0, 500 or 1000 ppm NF for 5 weeks. At terminal sacrifice, body and uterus weights were the same in all groups, although ovary weights in NF-treated animals were significantly higher than in control animals, the increase being dose-dependent. Serum prolactin (PRL) concentrations in NF-treated groups at 17:00 h on the day of proestrus were also dose-dependently higher than that in control group. Experiment II: a two-stage rat mammary carcinogenesis protocol was performed. Rats were divided into four groups, Groups 2 and 4 being treated by 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene (DMBA) at 7-weeks-old. Groups 3 and 4 were given diets containing 1000 ppm of NF between 8 and 27 weeks of age, when all surviving rats were autopsied. DMBA-treated animals demonstrated mammary tumors at high incidences, 91.1 and 90.5%, respectively, in Groups 2 and 4, no tumor development being observed without the initial carcinogen exposure (Groups 1 and 3). The mean tumor weights and the mean numbers of tumors per tumor-bearing rats in Group 4 were increased as compared with Group 2, albeit not significantly. Serum PRL (proestrus day at 17:00 h) and progesterone (PG) (diestrus day at 10:00 h) concentrations in NF-treated animals (Groups 3 and 4) were significantly higher than those in untreated rats (Groups 1 and 2). These results suggest that increases of serum PRL and PG concentrations by NF may be the most important factors regarding its promotion of mammary tumor growth and/or enhancement of mammary carcinogenesis in female rats.

Hepatotoxicity and consequently increased cell proliferation are associated with flumequine hepatocarcinogenesis in mice.

It has been reported that flumequine (FLU) induces hepatic tumors in mice when given orally for 18 months. We investigated possible underlying mechanisms using a two-stage mouse hepatocarcinogenesis model. After initiation with a single intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg/kg body weight diethylnitrosamine (DEN) or saline, male CD-1 mice were given 4000 ppm FLU in the diet or 500 ppm phenobarbital (PB) in drinking water for 9, 19, 24 or 30 weeks. Toxicity, evidenced by centrilobular swollen and polar hepatocytes with fatty droplets, infiltration of inflammatory cells and increased numbers of mitosis in hepatocytes, was apparent in the livers of mice treated with FLU at all time points, but its severity declined towards the termination. FLU did not induce cytochrome P-450 enzymes such as 1A1, 2B1 and 3A2 as assessed immunohistochemically, while positive expression of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was increased in hepatocytes of both DEN + FLU and FLU groups compared with the relevant controls. In animals given PB, eosinophilic swelling of hepatocytes was prominent, and the hepatocytes showed strongly positive reactions for CYP 1A1 and 3A2. Altered cell foci were induced in the livers of FLU-treated animals both with and without DEN initiation, especially the former, and their development paralleled the degree of hepatic toxicity. These results suggest that FLU hepatocarcinogenicity in mice is dependent on hepatotoxic damage and consequently increased cell proliferation. Oxidative damage to DNA may also be a crucial factor.

Transplacental administration of diethylstilbestrol (DES) causes lesions in female reproductive organs of Donryu rats, including endometrial neoplasia.

The effects of transplacental administration of diethylstilbestrol (DES) on female reproductive organs were investigated using Donryu rats. The animals were given subcutaneous injections of DES dissolved in olive oil at doses of 0.01 or 0.1 mg/kg on days 17 and 19 of gestation. In female offspring, clinical signs, body weights and estrous cycles were continuously assessed until all survivors were killed at month 18. A low mean litter size and shortening of period of pregnancy were recognized in the 0.1 mg/kg group. Disorder and/or suspension of the estrous cycle (so called persistent estrus) also appeared very early in the 0.1 mg/kg group. Macroscopically, the incidences of hypoplasia of the oviduct, cystic dilatation of the uterus and small size of the uterine cervix were higher in the 0.1 mg/kg group than those in the control group. Histologically, in the ovary, the incidence and degree of atrophy were increased in both 0.01 and 0.1 mg/kg groups. In the uterus, total incidences of endometrial hyperplasias were about the same in all groups. However, endometrial adenocarcinomas were dose-dependently increased in the treated groups, the incidence in the 0.1 mg/kg group being significant, compared to that in the control. In the vagina, mucification was more prominent in the treated animals, especially at the higher dose, but no tumors were observed. The present results indicate that prenatal exposure to DES can produce uterine adenocarcinomas in rats, as reported earlier for mice, although its carcinogenic activity is not so strong. Increase of endometrial adenocarcinoma incidence might depend on hormonal imbalance resulting from the ovarian atrophy due to transplacental treatment of DES.

Inhibitory effects of uterine endometrial carcinogenesis in Donryu rats by tamoxifen.

The effects of tamoxifen (TAM) on uterine carcinogenesis were investigated in female Donryu rats. The effects were initiated by a single intrauterine treatment with N-ethyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (ENNG) at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight via the vagina at 10 weeks of age. TAM tubes (cholesterol tubes containing 50% TAM) were implanted into the backs of the rats for 13 months (full TAM group) or for the second-half of this period (half TAM group). In the control group treated with ENNG alone, various proliferative lesions were induced in the uterine endometrium and the incidence of endometrial adenocarcinomas was about 30%. In contrast, the uteri in both TAM-treated groups showed severe atrophy and the incidences of uterine proliferative lesions were limited to a few endometrial hyperplasias in the half TAM group. Most of the vaginas in both TAM-treated groups showed mucification, while cornification was common in the vaginal epithelium of controls. The ovaries demonstrated similar atrophy with cystic follicles and no corpora lutea in all groups. Other estrogen responsive endocrine organs, such as the pituitaries and adrenals, were small in the TAM-treated groups. Serum estrogen levels in the TAM-treated groups were lower than in the control group but progesterone levels did not differ. These results indicated that TAM acts as an anti-estrogen on the adult rat uterus, inhibiting the development of endometrial adenocarcinomas initiated by ENNG.

Time-dependent promotion activity of 17beta-estradiol on uterine carcinogenesis in mice initiated with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea.

The time-dependent promotion activity of 17beta-estradiol (E2) by initiation with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) on induction of mouse uterine endometrial proliferative lesions was examined. Illumination-induced persistent estrous female CD-1 mice were divided into five groups at 9 weeks of age. At 10 weeks of age, mice in all groups (n=25) were given a single intra-uterine administration of ENU (50 mg/kg), dissolved in polyethylene glycol. Animals in Groups 2 to 5 were then implanted s.c. with an E2 pellet at 9, 11, 14 and 17 weeks of age. The implants were left in place for 8 weeks and then taken out. At the termination of the experiment (week 15 after the ENU-treatment), all surviving mice were killed and the development of uterine proliferative lesions were assessed. All groups demonstrated endometrial hyperplasias and adenocarcinomas and the incidences of the latter in ENU plus E2 treated animals (Groups 2 to 5; 36, 48, 35 and 36%, respectively) were significantly higher compared to 8% for Group 1, without any variation with the age at E2 treatment. However, the incidences of adenocarcinomas plus severe hyperplasias increased from Groups 1 to 5 (28, 40, 56; P<0.05, 61; P<0.05 and 80%; P<0.01, respectively), indicating that promotion effects of E2 on induction of uterine proliferative lesions in the uterine endometrium become more pronounced with the interval after ENU initiation.

Rapid and high yield induction of endometrial adenocarcinomas in CD-1 mice by a single intrauterine administration of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea combined with chronic 17 beta-estradiol treatment.

Induction of uterine endometrial adenocarcinomas in mice by N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) and 17 beta-estradiol (E2) was examined. Illumination-induced persistent estrous CD-1 mice were divided into three groups at 10 weeks of age. Group 1 was given a single intra-uterine administration of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 1 week later, while Groups 2 and 3 received ENU (12.5 mg/kg), dissolved in PEG, in the same manner. Group 3 mice were also implanted with E2 pellets s.c. 1 week previously, and thereafter the pellets were renewed every 8 weeks throughout the experiment. At the termination (week 15 after the ENU treatment), all surviving mice were killed and the development of uterine proliferative lesions was assessed. All groups demonstrated endometrial hyperplasias, the severity being greatest in the ENU plus E2-treated animals (Group 3). The incidence of adenocarcinomas in Group 3 (20/29, 69%) was significantly higher than in Group 1 (0/25, 0%) or 2 (0/29, 0%). At 10 weeks after the ENU-treatment, serum E2 and progesterone concentrations in Group 3 were significantly higher and lower, respectively, than those in Groups 1 and 2. Consequently, the E2/progesterone (E2:P) ratio in Group 3 was significantly increased. These results indicate that a continuing high level of serum E2 and low level of progesterone are important for endometrial adenocarcinoma development in mice, with an increased E2:P ratio acting as a promoter for development of the endometrial lesions initiated by ENU treatment.

Toxicity and carcinogenicity of potassium bromate--a new renal carcinogen.

Potassium bromate (KBrO3) is an oxidizing agent that has been used as a food additive, mainly in the bread-making process. Although adverse effects are not evident in animals fed bread-based diets made from flour treated with KBrO3, the agent is carcinogenic in rats and nephrotoxic in both man and experimental animals when given orally. It has been demonstrated that KBrO3 induces renal cell tumors, mesotheliomas of the peritoneum, and follicular cell tumors of the thyroid. In addition, experiments aimed at elucidating the mode of carcinogenic action have revealed that KBrO3 is a complete carcinogen, possessing both initiating and promoting activities for rat renal tumorigenesis. However, the potential seems to be weak in mice and hamsters. In contrast to its weak mutagenic activity in microbial assays, KBrO3 showed relatively strong potential inducing chromosome aberrations both in vitro and in vivo. Glutathione and cysteine degrade KBrO3 in vitro; in turn, the KBrO3 has inhibitory effects on inducing lipid peroxidation in the rat kidney. Active oxygen radicals generated from KBrO3 were implicated in its toxic and carcinogenic effects, especially because KBrO3 produced 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine in the rat kidney. A wide range of data from applications of various analytical methods are now available for risk assessment purposes.

Long-term in vivo carcinogenicity tests of potassium bromate, sodium hypochlorite, and sodium chlorite conducted in Japan.

Long-term in vivo carcinogenicity tests of potassium bromate (KBrO3), sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), and sodium chlorite (NaClO2) have been conducted in Japan from 1977 to 1985. In these investigations, groups of approximately 50 male and 50 female F344 rats or B6C3F1 mice were given solutions of the compounds as their drinking water ad libitum at two dose levels determined on the basis of preliminary 13-week tests. Control animals were given distilled water. The carcinogenic potential of KBrO3 was tested by administering doses of 500 or 250 ppm to rats for 110 weeks. Significantly elevated incidences of renal cell tumors in males and females and mesotheliomas of the peritoneum in males as compared to controls were observed. When female mice were given KBrO3 at doses of 1000 or 500 ppm for 78 weeks, no significant differences in tumor incidences between experimental and control groups were apparent. NaClO was administered to male and female rats, respectively, at doses of 1000 or 500 ppm and 2000 or 1000 ppm for 104 weeks. In mice, NaClO was given at doses of 1000 or 500 ppm to either sex for 103 weeks. The incidences of tumors in NaClO-treated and control animals of both sexes were not significantly different in both rat and mouse studies. NaClO2 was given to rats of both sexes at a dose of 600 or 300 ppm for 85 weeks. No statistically significant differences were observed in the incidences of tumor formation between NaClO2-treated and control groups of both sexes. NaClO2 was administered to mice at a concentration of 500 or 250 ppm for 85 weeks. In males, the combined incidences of hyperplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinomas of the liver in a low-dose group, and adenomas and adenocarcinomas of the lung in a high-dose group, were marginally increased compared to controls (p less than 0.05). However, these incidences in treated males were within the range of values of historical control data in our program. We concluded that KBrO3 was carcinogenic in rats of both sexes. NaClO was not carcinogenic in either rats and or mice under the conditions of the present studies. Although NaClO2 was shown to be noncarcinogenic in rats, the results for mice were evaluated as inconclusive. Also the results of two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis using KBrO3, NaClO, and NaClO2 are presented. The necessity for further testing of oxidant chemicals to determine potential carcinogenic and/or promoting effects is suggested in view of the recently proposed role of active oxygen species in carcinogenesis.

Experimental induction of ovarian Sertoli cell tumors in rats by N-nitrosoureas.

Spontaneous ovarian tumors are very rare in ACI, Wistar, F344 and Donryu rats; the few neoplasms found are of the granulosa/theca cell type. Ovarian tumors were also rare in these strains of rats when given high doses of N-alkyl-N-nitrosoureas continuously in the drinking water for their life-span; however, relatively high incidences of Sertoli cell tumors or Sertoli cell tumors mixed with granulosa cell tumors were induced in Donryu rats after administration of either a 400 ppm N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea solution in the drinking water for 4 weeks or as a single dose of 200 mg N-propyl-N-nitrosourea per kg body weight by stomach tube. Typical Sertoli cell tumors consisted of solid areas showing tubular formation. The tubules were lined by tall, columnar cells, with abundant, faintly eosinophilic, often vacuolated cytoplasm, and basally oriented, round nuclei, resembling seminiferous tubules in the testes. In some cases, Sertoli cell tumor elements were found mixed with areas of granulosa cells. The induction of ovarian Sertoli cell tumors in Donryu rats by low doses of nitrosoureas may provide a useful model for these tumors in man.