Diet Induced Obesity Increases the Risk of Colonic Tumorigenesis in Mice

A large body of epidemiological data indicates that obesity increases the risk of colon cancer in humans. There are limited studies using rodent models where the relationship between obesity and colon cancer has been studied. In this study, wild-type diet-induced obese (DIO) mice and lean wild-type controls were used to investigate the influence of obesity on the risk of colon cancer. We hypothesized that the obese phenotype would exhibit increased colonic tumorigenesis. Colon cancer was chemically induced by injecting the mice with azoxymethane (AOM) at levels that we experimentally determined to result in equivalent AOM concentrations in circulating blood. Risk of colon cancer was assessed via microscopic examination of entire colons for aberrant crypts, aberrant crypt foci and proliferation levels. The DIO mice were found to have significantly more aberrant crypts and aberrant crypt foci as well as increased proliferation of colonocytes per mouse compared to wild-type control mice, supporting the epidemiological data that obesity increases the risk of colonic tumorigenesis.     

Abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, and colon carcinogenesis are increased in mutant mice lacking gastrin gene expression

BACKGROUND: The authors recently reported that gastrin gene knockout (GAS-KO) mice had an increased risk for colon carcinogenesis in response to azoxymethane (AOM) compared with their wild type (WT) littermates. In the current report, the authors discuss the predisposition of GAS-KO mice to develop obesity and metabolic hormonal changes that may contribute to their increased risk of colon carcinogenesis. METHODS: The weight and deposition of fat was monitored in the mice over a 14 month period, using magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. Changes in plasma concentrations of ghrelin, leptin, insulin, and glucose were assessed using radioimmunoassay analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Preneoplastic markers of colon carcinogenesis (aberrant crypt foci [ACFs]), in response to AOM, were measured in a subset of obese versus lean GAS-KO mice and were compared with the markers in WT mice. RESULTS: Increases in visceral adiposity were evident by age 2 months in GAS-KO mice, resulting in macroscopic obesity by age 7 months. Hyperinsulinemia and insulin:glucose ratios were increased significantly in GAS-KO mice as young as 1 month and preceded alterations in nonfasting leptin and ghrelin levels. The number of ACFs per mouse colon were increased significantly in the following order: obese GAS-KO mice > lean GAS-KO mice > WT mice. Fasting plasma insulin levels were 0.88 +/- 0.1 ng/mL, 1.45 +/- 0.3, and 2.76 +/- 0.9 ng/mL in the WT, GAS-KO lean, and GAS-KO obese mice, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The current results suggest the novel possibility that loss of amidated gastrins may increase adipogenesis, hyperinsulinemia, and colon carcinogenesis in GAS-KO mice. The increase in colon carcinogenesis may be due in part to hyperinsulinemia, increased obesity, and other associated hormone changes that were measured in GAS-KO mice.     

The effects of dietary selenomethionine on polyamines and azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypts

We evaluated the effects of dietary selenomethionine supplementation on colonic polyamine levels and the ability of L-selenomethionine supplementation to modulate the carcinogenic activity of azoxymethane (AOM) in the rat colon. Four-week-old male F344 rats were treated with 15 mg/kg body weight of AOM once a week for 2 weeks. Dietary selenomethionine at a concentration of either 1 or 2 ppm was administered in AIN-76A rodent diet to AOM-treated animals for 16 weeks. Aberrant crypt foci (ACF), precursor lesions of colon cancer, were investigated after the 16 week treatment course. Selenomethionine given in the diet at 2 ppm markedly reduced the number of aberrant crypt foci. The multiplicity of ACFs (i.e. the number of aberrant crypts/focus) and the percentage of microadenomas were also affected by selenomethionine in a dose dependent manner. However, evaluation of the colonic tissue polyamine levels between control and treated groups showed no significant difference. These results demonstrate that selenomethionine can modulate the development of AOM-induced premalignant lesions through a polyamine-independent mechanism.     

Aberrant crypt foci and colon tumors in F344 rats have similar increases in proliferative activity

Increased proliferative activity has been described frequently in the colons of animals treated with colon carcinogens and of patients at increased risk of colon cancer; it has been proposed as an intermediate biomarker of colon cancer. Aberrant crypt foci, microscopic lesions identified in whole-mount preparations of colons, are thought to be putative pre-neoplastic lesions. The present studies were carried out to evaluate the proliferative activity of aberrant crypt foci at several different time periods, and of tumors after a single dose of azoxymethane (AOM) in F344 rats. Rats were injected with 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BUdR) 1 hr before killing. Aberrant crypt foci and tumors were identified and marked in the whole-mount specimens, embedded in glycol methacrylate, and evaluated for histochemically demonstrable hexosaminidase activity. Hexosaminidase is known to be altered in over 95% of aberrant crypt foci. Serial sections were evaluated for BUdR incorporation immunohistochemically with a monoclonal antibody. The mean proliferative activity of aberrant crypt foci in the distal colons was found to be 'increased 3-to 4-fold over that of the adjacent normal crypts at every time period analyzed (4 to 36 weeks) and was comparable to that seen in benign and malignant colon tumors in the same animals. The observed increase in proliferative activity further supports the hypothesis that aberrant crypt foci are putative pre-neoplastic lesions. Similar aberrant crypt foci, identified in human colons at increased risk of colon cancer, may provide important biomarkers for this common human cancer.     

Inhibition of aberrant crypt growth by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents and differentiation agents in the rat colon

Aberrant crypts are aggregates of single to multiple colonic crypts evidencing hallmarks of dysplasia and may be the earliest detectable pathological lesions for colon cancer. The aberrant crypt assay has been developed in 2 protocols. In one, putative chemoprevention agents are tested for inhibitory effects when administered concomitantly with a carcinogen. In the other, the objective of this study, aberrant crypts were induced in F344 rats by parenteral injection of the colon carcinogen azoxymeth-ane (AOM) and allowed to develop for 4 weeks, when an average of 90-100 aberrant crypt foci per colon were found in the methylene blue-stained colon. Then, during the second 4 weeks of the experiment, aberrant crypts were allowed to further develop to a frequency of > 150 foci per colon, a time when multi-crypt foci were observed. During this time we tested the inhibitory effects of 4 analgesic drugs and 2 differentiation agents for effects of aberrant crypt growth and development. We found the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs piroxicam, aspirin and ibuprofen, but not acetaminophen, to be effective in suppressing aberrant crypt formation or the progression to foci of multiple aberrant crypts. Treatment with chemo-suppressing agents 13-cis-retinoic acid (13-cRA) and 4-hydroxy-phenretinamide (4-HPR), known differentiating agents, however, did suppress expansion of aberrant crypt foci, with 13-cRA being the much more potent agent.     

SHORT COMMUNICATION: Piroxicam-induced regression of azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypt foci and prevention of colon cancer in rats

Piroxicam has been shown to prevent azoxymethane (AOM)-inducedaberrant crypt foci and colon cancer in rats. In this communicationwe evaluate whether piroxicam can also cause regression of precancerouslesions identified as aberrant crypt foci, thus preventing theoccurrence of cancer. Male Fischer-344 rats were administered0.125g/kg piroxicam in theirdiet starting either 1 week priorto or 12 weeks after a single subcutaneous injection of AOM(30 mg/kg body wt). The yield of aberrant crypt foci and ofcolon adenomas and adenocarcinomas was determined at 5, 12,27 and 37 weeks after administering the AOM respectively. Whenpiroxicam was administered starting 1 week prior to AOM theyield of aberrant crypt foci at the three initial time pointswas reduced. When the administration of piroxicam was delayeduntil 12 weeks afterAOM the yield of aberrant crypt foci wasreduced from 53.8±8.1 foci/colon at 12 weeks to 11.1±2.0at 27 weeks. At 37 weeks after administering AOM the yield ofcolon tumors was 0.59±0.11 tumors/animal, while in ratsadministered piroxicam beginning either 1 week prior to or 12weeks after AOM the yield was similarly reduced to 0.14±0.07and 0.17±0.07 tumors/animal respectively. Thus piroxicamwas demonstrated not only to prevent, but also to cause regressionof aberrant crypt foci, both of which were associated with theprevention of colon tumors.     

Colonic aberrant crypt foci are associated with increased expression of c-fos: the possible role of modified c-fos expression in preneoplastic lesions in colon cancer.

Aberrant crypt foci represent the earliest detectable lesions of colon cancer. The expression of c-fos in these aberrant crypts was determined by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. These lesions were induced in the colonic epithelium with azoxymethane using the rat model system. Expression of c-fos was markedly increased in the aberrant colonic crypts. Increases of approximately 60 and approximately 70% in the proportion of epithelial cells labelled were observed in the early and advanced aberrant crypts respectively. This was found to be statistically significant (P less than 0.001). Consistent with cell proliferation patterns in the colonic crypts, the epithelial cells of the lower crypt had greater levels of c-fos mRNA than those of the upper part of the crypts. In addition, immunohistochemical staining with c-fos polyclonal antibodies demonstrated increased levels of c-fos protein in aberrant crypts. This combined approach using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry has shown that increased c-fos expression at the RNA level in these lesions is associated with increased amounts of c-fos protein. Since c-fos has been implicated in the process of cell proliferation and differentiation, modifications in its expression may be significant to understanding the mechanisms whereby preneoplastic lesions transform to neoplastic lesions in colon cancer.     

Monosodium glutamate-induced diabetic mice are susceptible to azoxymethane-induced colon tumorigenesis

Obese people and diabetic patients are known to be high risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), suggesting need of a new preclinical animal model, by which to extensively study the diverse mechanisms, therapy and prevention. The present study aimed to determine whether experimental obese and diabetic mice produced by monosodium glutamate (MSG) treatment are susceptible to azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon tumorigenesis using early biomarkers, aberrant crypts foci (ACF) and β-catenin-accumulated crypts (BCACs), of colorectal carcinogenesis. Male Crj:CD-1 (ICR) newborns were daily given four subcutaneous injections of MSG (2 mg/g body wt) to induce diabetes and obesity. They were then given four intraperitoneal injections of AOM (15 mg/kg body wt) or saline (0.1 ml saline/10 g body wt). Ten weeks after the last injection of AOM, the MSG-AOM mice had a significant increase in the multiplicity of BCAC (13.83 ± 7.44, P < 0.002), but not ACF (78.00 ± 11.20), when compare to the Saline-AOM mice (5.45 ± 1.86 of BCAC and 69.27 ± 8.06 of ACF). Serum biochemical profile of the MSG-treated mice with or without AOM showed hyperinsulinemia, hypercholesteremia and hyperglycemia. The mRNA expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R, P<0.01) was increased in the MSG-AOM mice, when compared with the mice given AOM alone. IGF-1R was immunohistochemically expressed in the BCAC, but not ACF, in the AOM-treated mice. Our findings suggest that the MSG mice are highly susceptible to AOM-induced colorectal carcinogenesis, suggesting potential utility of our MSG-AOM mice for further investigation of the possible underlying events that affect the positive association between obese/diabetes and CRC.     

Increased Cell Proliferation of Azoxymethane-induced Aberrant Crypt Foci of Rat Colon

Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) were induced in the colon of F344 rats by s.c. injection of azoxymethane (AOM) twice in a three day-interval and examined after 4 and 12 weeks. The number and crypt multiplicity of ACF in each section of rat colon increased during this period. Histologically, aberrant crypts consisted of proliferating atypical epithelial cells. Cell proliferation of ACF consisting of 4 aberrant crypts [ACF(4)] and 2 aberrant crypts [ACF(2)], and normal crypts in the colon of rats treated with AOM [normal crypts/AOM(+)] or saline [normal crypts/AOM(-)] was investigated by measurement of the mitotic index, proliferating cell nuclear antigen-labeling index (PCNA-LI), and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine-labeling index (BrdU-LI). All three parameters of the cell proliferative activity of ACF(4) were higher than those of normal crypts/AOM(+) and normal crypts/AOM(-). The PCNA-LI and BrdU-LI in ACF(2) were the same as those in ACF(4). These findings suggest that ACF have increased cell proliferative activity. The correlation of these three parameters confirmed that the PCNA-LI is also a useful parameter for evaluating cell proliferative activity in ACF. The presence of many cells stained by PCNA in the upper portion of ACF suggested that ACF have more G₁ phase cells, which readily respond to mitogenic stimulation, than G₀ phase cells, which are predominant in normal crypts.     

Tumor formation is correlated with expression of beta-catenin-accumulated crypts in azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis in mice

We have reported that β-catenin-accumulated crypts (BCAC) are independent of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the colonic mucosa of rats exposed to colorectal carcinogens, and we suggested that they may be premalignant lesions. In the present study, we performed a comparative study on the formation of the two types of early-appearing lesions (BCAC and ACF), and tumors of the colon in two mouse strains with different susceptibility to azoxymethane (AOM). SWR/J mice are known to be relatively susceptible to AOM, whereas AKR/J mice are reported to be virtually resistant. Both AKR/J and SWR/J mice, 6 weeks old, received subcutaneous injections of AOM (15 mg/kg body weight) once a week for 3 weeks, and were sacrificed at 16 and 41 weeks of age. Colons of the animals sacrificed at 16 and 41 weeks of age were processed to examine expression of the early-appearing lesions and neoplasms. Although AKR/J mice had a lower incidence of colonic tumors than SWR/J mice did, AKR/J mice showed a similar frequency of ACF to that in SWR/J mice. In both strains, ACF were detected at high frequency in the proximal colon, whereas tumors developed mainly in the distal colon. Importantly, the incidence of BCAC in SWR/J mice was significantly higher than that in AKR/J mice, and the highest frequency was observed in the distal segments of the colon. These results support the idea that BCAC are a reliable surrogate endpoint for colon carcinogenesis in mice.     

Development of aberrant crypt foci in the colons of ob/ob and db/db mice: evidence that leptin is not a promoter

Leptin is elevated in obesity and has been suggested to increase the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), although the evidence is conflicting. The objective of this study was to compare the susceptibility to colon carcinogenesis of db/db mice that have highly elevated circulating leptin and leptin-deficient ob/ob mice, both of which are obese. Seven-week-old male ob/ob, db/db, and WT mice received 4 weekly i.p. injections of 5 mg/kg azoxymethane (AOM) and were killed 14 wk later for the analysis of putative preneoplastic aberrant crypt foci (ACF). There were no differences in ACF number or multiplicity between ob/ob and db/db mice. Leptin has been shown to induce CYP2E1, the main enzyme that activates AOM, but we observed no differences in hepatic CYP2E1 activity or colonic CYP2E1 protein levels between ob/ob and db/db mice. We also induced ACF with 2 oral doses 3 d apart of 30 mg/kg methylnitrosourea (MNU), a direct-acting carcinogen. There were no differences in ACF number or multiplicity between the two groups of obese animals 5 wk following the last dose of MNU. The colonic mucosa of db/db mice expressed significantly lower mRNA levels of ObRa, the predominant short form of the leptin receptor, compared to ob/ob mice, and following i.p. injection with 1 mg/kg recombinant mouse leptin, exhibited significantly reduced p44/42 pMAPK compared to saline-treated controls. These results show that ObRa is functionally active in the colons of db/db mice. We conclude that leptin does not play a significant role in ACF development.     

Prevention by chemopreventive agents of azoxymethane-induced foci of aberrant crypts in rat colon.

Foci of aberrant crypts are putative preneoplastic lesions of colon cancer that can be detected in unsectioned colons stained with methylene blue. The ability of this assay to demonstrate chemopreventive activity was evaluated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received two subcutaneous injections 1 week apart, of 15 mg/kg azoxymethane each. The animals started to receive the test agents in their diet 1 week prior to the first injection of azoxymethane and continuously until killed 5 weeks later. The number of foci of aberrant crypts induced by the treatment of azoxymethane was reduced from 228 foci/animal without any chemopreventive agent to 151 foci/animal by N-acetylcysteine; to 121 foci/animal by dehydroepiandrosterone; to 161 by alpha-difluoromethylornithine; and to 121 by 1,2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate. The other agents (diallyl sulfide, ellagic acid and phenethyl isothiocyanate) did not significantly alter the number of foci/animal induced by azoxymethane. Animals that did not receive azoxymethane had an average of 0.72 foci/animal. Our results suggest that four of the tested agents might reduce azoxymethane-induced colon cancer, which requires confirmation. Further validation of the foci of aberrant crypt in the colon assay to screen chemicals for chemoprevention agents is warranted.     

High susceptibility to azoxymethane-induced colorectal carcinogenesis in obese KK-Ay mice

Obesity is associated with colon carcinogenesis. However, not much information is available regarding the mechanisms of obesity-associated colorectal cancer, and there are only few useful animal models for investigating the underlying mechanism between obesity and colorectal cancer. KK-A(y) mice exhibit severe obesity. Amount of visceral fat assessed by micro-computed tomography was almost 15 times higher than that of same aged C57BL/6J mice. Treatment with azoxymethane (AOM; 200 μg/mouse injected once a week for 3 times) resulted in markedly increased colon aberrant crypt foci (ACF) development (≈70 ACF/mouse) in KK-A(y) mice compared with lean C57BL/6J mice (≈9 ACF/mouse). Moreover, administration of AOM at a dose of 200 μg/mouse once a week for 6 times developed colorectal adenocarcinomas within only 7 weeks after the last AOM injection. The incidence of adenocarcinoma was 88% in KK-A(y) mice and was markedly higher than the 4% observed in C57BL/6J mice. The number of tumors/mouse was 7.80 in KK-A(y) mice and also markedly higher than the 0.12 in the C57BL/6J case. Interestingly, adenocarcinomas were observed in most of the AOM-treated KK-A(y) mice along with remarkable tumor angiogenesis, and some showed submucosal invasion. These results indicate that the KK-A(y) mouse, featuring intact leptin and leptin receptor Ob-Rbl, could be a useful animal model to investigate obesity-associated cancer.     

Suppression of Occurrence and Advancement of β-Catenin-accumulated Crypts, Possible Premalignant Lesions of Colon Cancer, by Selective Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitor, Celecoxib

Suppression of occurrence and advancement of premalignant lesions is important for cancer prevention. Our previous studies clarified that β-catenin-accumulated crypts, independent of aberrant crypt foci (ACF), are probably direct precursors of colon cancers in rats. Here we investigated the effects of a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, on the development of β-catenin-accumulated crypts in comparison with those on ACF. Male F344 rats were divided into 4 groups. Groups 1-3 were administered azoxymethane (AOM) s.c. at a dose of 15 mg/kg body weight, once weekly for 3 weeks to induce β-catenin-accumulated crypts. Groups 2 and 3 also received experimental diet containing celecoxib (500 and 1500 ppm, respectively) for 8 weeks, starting a week before the first dosing of AOM. At termination, the frequency and crypt multiplicity (number of crypts/lesion) of β-catenin-accumulated crypts of groups 2 and 3 were significantly less than that of group 1. Furthermore, numbers of silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs)/nucleus in β-catenin-accumulated crypts were also decreased by exposure to celecoxib. In this study, celecoxib had greater effects on the frequency and growth of β-catenin-accumulated crypts than on those of ACF. These findings represent additional evidence that β-catenin-accumulated crypts are premalignant lesions of colon cancer. The results also suggest that β-catenin-accumulated crypts could be a novel target for evaluation of possible chemopreventive agents against colon carcino-genesis, and indicate that possible chemopreventive effects of celecoxib on the initial stage of colon carcinogenesis may be related to modulation of cell proliferation activity in such early lesions.     

Expression of ras oncogene mRNA and protein in aberrant crypt foci.

The expression of the ras oncogene in aberrant crypt foci was studied by both in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical approaches. Aberrant crypt foci are hypothesized to represent the earliest identifiable microscopic lesions of colon cancer in rodent colons. Sprague-Dawley male rats were injected with azoxymethane (20 mg/kg s.c.) once. Twelve weeks later, aberrant crypt foci were identified topographically, microdissected and processed for histology. In situ hybridization with an antisense oligomer of c-ras demonstrated increased expression of ras-specific RNA in aberrant crypts compared to normal crypts. A low amount of non-specific hybridization was obtained with the corresponding sense oligomer. The percentage of cells with grains (labeling index) was calculated in early and advanced aberrant crypt foci. This index was also calculated in normal appearing crypts. The labeling indices for the early and advanced aberrant crypt foci were significantly greater than that of normal crypts (18.0 and 25.0 versus 11.9). In the same tissue specimens, immunohistochemical staining for ras p21 with the monoclonal antibody (Y13-259) revealed strong staining intensity in early aberrant crypts (15/22) and advanced aberrant crypts (22/30) compared to normal crypts (3/50). The immunohistochemical results demonstrate the presence of elevated levels of ras p21 in the same tissue as increased levels of ras-specific message. This investigation provides the earliest demonstration of increased expression of the ras oncogene in precursor lesions of colon cancer possessing dysplastic features.     

SHORT COMMUNICATION: Inhibitory effects of d-limonene on the development of colonic aberrant crypt foci induced by azoxymethane in F344 rats

The modifying effect of the monoterpenoid d-limonene in drinkingwater on the development of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colonicaberrant crypt foci (ACF) was investigated in male F344 rats.The effects of d-limonene intake on ornithine decarboxylase(ODC) activity and on the silver stained nucleolar organizerregion protein (AgNOR) count in the colonic mucosa were alsoestimated. Animals were given 3 weekly s.c. injections of AOM(15mg/kg body wt) to induce ACF. These rats were treated withor without 0.5% d-limonene in the drinking water, starting 1week before the first dosing with AOM. All rats were killed2 weeks after the last AOM injection, to measure the numberof ACF, ODC activity and AgNOR count/ nucleus in the colon.In rats given AOM and d-limonene the frequencies of ACF andaberrant crypts/colon, and aberrant crypts/focus were significantlydecreased compared with those of rats given AOM alone (P <0.001, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001 respectively). Number ofAgNOR counts/nucleus of rats treated with AOM and d-limonenewas significantly smaller than that of rats treated with AOMalone (P < 0.001). These results suggest that the monoterpenoidd-limonene might be a chemopreventive agent for colonic carcinogenesisin rats.     

Suppression of occurrence and advancement of beta-catenin-accumulated crypts, possible premalignant lesions of colon cancer, by selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, celecoxib.

Suppression of occurrence and advancement of premalignant lesions is important for cancer prevention. Our previous studies clarified that beta-catenin-accumulated crypts, independent of aberrant crypt foci (ACF), are probably direct precursors of colon cancers in rats. Here we investigated the effects of a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, on the development of beta-catenin-accumulated crypts in comparison with those on ACF. Male F344 rats were divided into 4 groups. Groups 1 - 3 were administered azoxymethane (AOM) s.c. at a dose of 15 mg / kg body weight, once weekly for 3 weeks to induce beta-catenin-accumulated crypts. Groups 2 and 3 also received experimental diet containing celecoxib (500 and 1500 ppm, respectively) for 8 weeks, starting a week before the first dosing of AOM. At termination, the frequency and crypt multiplicity (number of crypts / lesion) of beta-catenin-accumulated crypts of groups 2 and 3 were significantly less than that of group 1. Furthermore, numbers of silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) / nucleus in beta-catenin-accumulated crypts were also decreased by exposure to celecoxib. In this study, celecoxib had greater effects on the frequency and growth of beta-catenin-accumulated crypts than on those of ACF. These findings represent additional evidence that beta-catenin-accumulated crypts are premalignant lesions of colon cancer. The results also suggest that beta-catenin-accumulated crypts could be a novel target for evaluation of possible chemopreventive agents against colon carcino-genesis, and indicate that possible chemopreventive effects of celecoxib on the initial stage of colon carcinogenesis may be related to modulation of cell proliferation activity in such early lesions.     

Characterisation of aberrant crypt foci in carcinogen-treated rats: association with intestinal carcinogenesis.

Carcinogen-treated rats develop foci of aberrant crypts in the colon (ACFs) that have been interpreted as preneoplastic lesions. To characterise ACFs further, we studied in the unsectioned colon of rats the number, multiplicity, some morphological characteristics and the type of mucin production in ACFs. In ACFs observed 115 days after the administration of 50 mg kg-1 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH), crypt multiplicity [number of aberrant crypts (AC) per focus] was positively correlated (P < 0.0001) with the reduction of goblet cells, and with luminal and nuclear alterations in the cells surrounding the lumen of the ACs. We studied mucin production in the unsectioned colon, demonstrating that ACFs producing sulphomucins (like the normal distal rat colon) were progressively reduced when ACF multiplicity increased, whereas ACFs containing sialomucins (correlated with an increased risk of colon cancer) or both sulphomucins and sialomucins increased with crypt multiplicity. We also studied ACFs in the colon and the occurrence of intestinal tumours in rats treated with azoxymethane (AOM; 64 mg kg-1). A significant association was found (P = 0.04) between tumours and the presence of ''large'' ACFs (AC/ACF > 14 crypts) and a borderline significant association (P = 0.057) between the presence of tumours and sialomucin-producing ACFs. We found no association between the number of ACFs, ACF multiplicity and the presence of tumours.     

Prevention of colonic preneoplastic lesions by the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFMTM in F344 rats

The experiments described here were aimed at developing novel probiotic strains that may aid in the reduction of colon cancer risk. We assessed the potential anticancer properties of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFMTM in male F344 rats using inhibition of the formation of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the colon as the measure of preventive efficacy. At 6 weeks of age, groups of rats were fed the experimental diets containing 0, 2% or 4% lyophilized cultures of L. acidophilus NCFMTM. At 7 weeks of age, all animals in each dietary group, except the vehicle-treated rats, were s.c. injected with AOM (15 mg/kg body weight) once weekly for two weeks. The vehicle-treated groups were given s.c. injections of normal saline. All rats were necropsied 10 weeks after the last AOM injection and ACF in formalin-fixed, methylene blue-stained colonic tissues were counted under the light microscope. The contents of the cecum were analyzed for bacterial beta-glucuronidase activity. Diet supplementation with the probiotic strain NCFMTM significantly suppressed AOM-induction of colonic ACF, in terms of total number, as well as crypt multiplicity and number of ACF/cm2 colon (P<0.01 - 0.001). NCFMTM inhibited AOM-induced colonic ACF formation in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01). A significant dose-dependent reduction of cecal beta-glucuronidase activities was observed in the rats fed 2% (P<0.04) and 4% (P<0.0001) NCFMTM. These results suggest that Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFMTM may potentially prevent colon cancer development. Further studies are warranted to determine the full potential of this probiotic strain in preclinical efficacy studies.     

Use of azoxymethane-induced foci of aberrant crypts in rat colon to identify potential cancer chemopreventive agents

Foci of aberrant and/or hexosaminidase-negative crypts in ratcolon are putative precancerous lesions that have been proposedas biomarkers for Short-term bioassays for chemical carcinogensand chemopreventive agents. The ability of a substance to reducethe yield of azoxymethane (AOM)- induced foci in the colon ofmale Fischer 344 rats, was evaluated as a screening assay forchemopreventive agents. Twenty-eight test agents were administeredcontinuously in the diet from the start of the experiments untilthe animals were killed 35 days later. AOM was s.c. administeredeither as 15 mg/kg body wt on days 7 and 14 or as 30 mg/kg bodywt on day 7 of the experiment. Foci of aberrant crypts wereevaluated in whole mounts of methylene blue-stained colons.AOM induced twice as many foci when administered between 8.40and 11.00 a.m. than between 2.45 and 5.55 p.m. Calcium saltsof carbonate, chloride and glucarate decreased the yield ofAOM-induced foci while the acidic salts of lactate and phosphatedid not inhibit the formation of foci. Dimethyl fumarate, fumaricacid, genistein, piroxicam, simethicone, sodium suramin andsulindac reduced the yield of AOM induced foci of aberrant cryptswith genistein being the most potent. Only piroxicam of thisgroup has previously been shown to inhibit colon cancer, whilethe rest have yet to be evaluated. Ibuprofen did not inhibitthe formation of foci, although it has been reported to inhibitAOM-induced colon cancer in rats. Piroxicam and sulindac appearedto reduce preferentially hexosaminidase-negative foci of aberrantcrypts, compared with those of apparently normal morphology.The AOM-induced foci of aberrant crypts assay appears suitablefor screening chemicals for chemopreventive action.