Spontaneous Renal Cell Tumors in Long-Evans Cinnamon Rats

Neoplastic lesions of the kidneys in untreated Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats of 57–118 weeks old (85 males and 34 females) and male F344 rats of 64–93 weeks old (59 males) were examined histologically. The incidences of renal cell tumors in male and female LEC rats were 6/80 (8%) in weeks 57–65, 3/19 (16%) in weeks 66–75, 3/8 (38%) in weeks 76–105 and 7/12 (58%) in weeks 106–118. Of these tumors, 13 were microscopic adenomas and 7 were renal cell carcinomas. The copper content of the kidneys was about three times higher in LEC rats than in F344 rats ( P <0.001), but the iron content of the kidneys was similar in the two strains.     

Role of Copper Accumulation in Spontaneous Renal Carcinogenesis in Long-Evans Cinnamon Rats

Spontaneous renal cell tumors in totals of 223 male and female Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats of 51–120 weeks old, 157 male F344 rats of 51–120 weeks old, and 14 male Long-Evans Agouti (LEA) rats of 51–70 weeks old were examined histologically. The incidences of renal cell tumors increased with age in male and female LEC rats, but no tumors developed in F344 or LEA rats. Dilated atypical tubules of the kidneys were observed at high incidence in aged LEC rats. Copper staining of LEC rat kidneys showed a positive reaction in proximal tubules of the cortex and the outer stripe of the medulla. The renal copper concentration of LEC rats reached a peak in the period of necrotizing hepatitis with renal tubular necrosis, and was higher than that in F344 rats for up to 106 weeks. In contrast, the renal iron concentration of LEC rats was lower than that in F344 rats except in the period of necrotizing hepatitis. Long-term treatment of LEC rats with d -penicillamine, a copper-chelating agent, inhibited accumulation of copper, but not iron, in the kidneys, and inhibited the development of karyomegaly of proximal tubules and dilated atypical tubules. These results suggest that persistent copper accumulation after toxic necrosis of tubules is the major cause of spontaneous renal carcinogenesis in LEC rats.     

High Sensitivity of LEC Rats with Chronic Hepatitis to Hepatocarcinogenesis: Decreases in Unscheduled and Replicative DNA Synthesis of the Hepatocytes

We carried out the following three experiments to clarify the mechanism of hepatocarcinogenesis in Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats. (1) Sensitivity to diethylnitrosamine (DEN): LEC rats (8 and 25 weeks old) without and with hepatitis and age-matched F344 rats were administered an intraperitoneal injection of a low dose of DEN. Eight weeks after the injection, the numbers of glutathione-S-transferase placental-form (GST-P)-positive foci in the 33-week-old LEC rat liver were significantly higher than those in the livers of the other three groups of rats. (2) Potential for unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS): Isolated hepatocytes of 25-week-old LEC rats with chronic hepatitis showed about one-third the level of UDS induced by UV irradiation, as compared to that of age-matched F344 rats, while no significant difference was found between the UDS of isolated hepatocytes of 8-week-old LEC rats and age-matched F344 rats. (3) Potential for proliferation: Isolated hepatocytes from 8-week-old LEC rats responded well to epidermal growth factor (EGF) in culture, to almost the same degree as F344 rat hepatocytes, while a remarkable decrease in the responsiveness of hepatocytes isolated from 25-week-old LEC rats to EGF was found. These results suggested that LEC rat hepatocellular carcinoma could be naturally initiated after the onset of hepatitis by carcinogens contaminating food and the environment, probably due to the reduction of DNA repair activity, after which initiated hepatocytes selectively proliferate in response to growth stimuli endogenously produced as a result of continuous loss of hepatocytes (chronic hepatitis), because of a decrease in growth activity of non-initiated hepatocytes.     

Gene Expression of Placental Glutathione S-Transferase in Hereditary Hepatitis and Spontaneous Hepatocarcinogenesis of LEC Strain Rats

Liver tissues of LEG rats, which develop fulminant hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma (hepatoma), were examined by Northern blot analysis using a cDNA probe of rat placental glutathione S -transferase (GST-P). GST-P gene expression was observed not only during hepatocarcinogenesis but also in fulminant hepatitis before development of chronic hepatitis and hepatoma in LEC rats. Cholangiofibrosis in LEC rats also showed high GST-P expression. A transplantable cell line derived from spontaneous LEC hepatoma exhibited a remarkably high expression. By contrast, very weak expression was observed in the livers of young LEC rats before development of hepatitis and control strain rats. Thus, spontaneous hepatic lesions in LEC rats may provide a new clue to elucidate the mechanism of GST-P gene expression.     

Induction of Aldose Reductase Gene Expression in LEC Rats during the Development of the Hereditary Hepatitis and Hepatoma

We examined age-related changes in the protein and the mRNA expression of aldose reductase in livers of Long-Evans with a cinnamon-like color (LEC) rats, which develop hereditary hepatitis and hepatoma with aging, using Long-Evans with an agouti color rats as controls. The levels of the protein and mRNA of aldose reductase increased after 20 weeks, at the stage of acute hepatitis, and were maintained at 60 weeks of age, while those of aldehyde reductase seemed to be constant at all ages. The expression of aldose reductase was marked in cancerous lesions in hepatoma-bearing LEC rat liver compared to uninvolved surrounding tissues. These results indicated that elevation of aldose reductase accompanied hepatocarcinogenesis and may be related to the acquisition of immortality of the cancer cells through detoxifying cytotoxic aldehyde compounds.     

Inhibitory Effects of Benzyl Isothiocyanate and Benzyl Thiocyanate on Diethylnitrosamine-induced Hepatocarcinogenesis in Rats

The effects of two aromatic thiocyanates, benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) and benzyl thiocyanate (BTC), on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis were examined in rats. A total of 108 male ACI/N rats, 5 weeks old, were divided into 6 groups (18 rats in each). Group 1 was given a single i.p, injection of DEN (200 mg/kg body weight) one week after the start of the experiment and then kept on the basal diet until the end of the experiment (1 year). Groups 2 and 3 were treated with DEN and received dietary BITC (100 ppm) or BTC (100 ppm), respectively, throughout the experimental duration. Groups 4 and 5 were not given the carcinogen and were fed the diet containing BITC or BTC, respectively. Group 6 was kept on the basal diet alone and served as a control. Liver neoplasms were seen in Groups 1, 2 and 3. Incidence and average number of liver neoplasms in Group 2 were significantly smaller than in Group 1 ( P <0.0005 and P <0.001, respectively). The incidence of liver neoplasms in Group 3 was slightly lower than in Group 1, although the difference was not statistically significant. The numbers of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive foci in Group 2 and γ-glutarnyltranspepridase (GGT)-positive foci in Groups 2 and 3 were significantly smaller than those in Group 1 ( P <0.001). The average and unit areas of GST-P- or GGT-positive foci in Group 2 or 3 were also significantly smaller than those in Group 1 ( P <0.05). These results suggest that BITC and BTC are chemopreventive agents for DEN-induced liver tumorigenesis.     

Low Susceptibility of Long-Evans Cinnamon Rats to N-Butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-nitrosamine-induced Urinary Bladder Carcinogenesis and Inhibitory Effect of Urinary Copper

We studied the susceptibilities to N -butyl- N -(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN)-induced urinary bladder carcinogenesis of male Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC), F344 and Long-Evans Agouti (LEA) rats. Male rats ( n =21) were given 0.1% BBN in their drinking water from week 6, 8 and 10 for one week, and killed in week 56. The incidences of transitional cell tumors (papillomas plus carcinomas) in BBN-treated LEC and F344 rats were 12% and 76%, respectively ( P < 0.001, experiment 1), and those in LEC and LEA rats were 11% and 95%, respectively ( P < 0.001, experiment 2). When male LEC and F344 rats were given 0.1% BBN in their drinking water for 7 days, the intake of BBN and the urinary concentration of its active metabolite, N -butyl- N -(3-carboxypropyl)nitrosamine (BCPN), were higher in the LEC rats ( P < 0.01). The urinary pHs of untreated LEC and F344 rats were similar between week 6 and 30. The urinary copper concentration was lower in LEC rats before jaundice than in F344 rats, but its concentrations in 28- and 50-week-old LEC rats were 1.7 and 2.3 times those in F344 rats. In a two-stage carcinogenesis study using F344 rats, i.p. injections of cupric nitrilotriacetate increased urinary copper excretion, and inhibited BBN induced bladder carcinogenesis. In a two-stage carcinogenesis study using LEC rats, oral administration of D-penicillamine decreased urinary copper excretion, and increased BBN-induced bladder cancer, although the difference was not significant. These data show that LEC rats are resistant to bladder carcinogenesis and suggest that urinary copper has a significant role in their resistance.     

Long-Evans A and C Rat Strains Susceptible to Clastogenic Effects of Chemicals in the Bone Marrow Cells

The Clastogenic responses to direct- and indirect-acting carcinogens in bone marrow cells of LEA, LEC, Wistar and SD rats were compared. The frequency of chromosome aberrations (CA) induced by n -butyl-N-nitrosourea or methylmethanesulfonate (MMS), which does not need metabolic activation, was significantly higher in both LEA and LEC rats than in Wistar or SD rats. When bone marrow cells of each rat strain were exposed to MMS in vitro , they also showed the same tendency in CA frequency. Therefore, the high sensitivity of both LEA and LEC rats to the Clastogenic effects of direct-acting carcinogens seems to result from the sensitivity of the bone marrow cells themselves. On the other hand, the CA frequency induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) or aflatoxin bi (AFB₁), which requires metabolic activation, was lower in LEC rats than in the other 3 strains. The CA frequency induced by DMBA or AFB₁ in LEC rats fed Cu-free diet since birth (Cu-free LEC rats) was higher than that in LEC rats given normal diet and lower than that in LEA rats, although the difference was statistically significant only between Cu-free LEC rats and LEC rats treated with DMBA. The copper concentrations in the livers of LEA, Cu-free LEC and LEC male rats aged 4 weeks were 5.0 ±0.4, 33 ±7.7 and 106±3.4 μg/g wet weight, respectively. These results suggest that the lower sensitivity of LEC rats to the Clastogenic effects of indirect-acting carcinogens may be due to the effect of the large amount of copper accumulated in LEC rat liver.     

Chemopreventive Effects of Taurine on Diethylnitrosamine and Phenobarbitalinduced Hepatocarcinogenesis in Male F344 Rats

Modifying effects of taurine, a naturally occurring organosulfur compound, on diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and phenobarbital (PB)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis were examined in rats. Male F344 rats, 5 weeks old, were divided into 8 groups. Rats of groups 1 through 5 were given i.p. injections of DEN (100 mgAg body weight) once a week for 3 weeks from one week after the start of the experiment. Of them, animals of group 2 received taurine mixed in a basal diet at a concentration of 2000 ppm for the initial 4 weeks, and those of groups 3 and 5 were given the agent starting 4 weeks after the beginning of experiment until the end (24 weeks). Rats in groups 1, 4, 7 and 8 were kept on the basal diet throughout the experiment (24 weeks). Group 6 was given taurine throughout the experiment and group 8 was treated as a vehicle control. Animals of groups 1,2, 3 and 7 received PB in drinking water at a dose of 500 ppm from one week after the end of carcinogen or vehicle treatment. Liver neoplasms were recognized only in DEN-treated groups. The incidence and average number of liver neoplasms of group 3 were significantly lower than those of group 1. The number of glutathione S-transferase placenta! form (GST-P)-positive foci of group 2 or 3 was significantly smaller than that of group 1 ( P < 0.01 or P < 0,005). The average and unit areas of GST-P-positive foci in groups 2 and 3 were also significantly smaller than those in group 1 ( P < 0.005 and P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001 and P < 0.001, respectively). In this study, the level of ornithine decarboxylase activity in non-neoplastic liver tissue was reduced by taurine treatment in both the initiation and postinitiation phases. These results suggest that taurine could be a chemopreventive agent for liver neoplasia.     

Chemopreventive Effects of Scordinin on Diethylnitrosamine and Phenobarbital-induced Hepatocarcinogenesis in Male F344 Rats

Modifying effects of scordinin, a biological active component in garlic, on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)- and phenobarbital (PB)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis were examined in rats. Male F344 rats, 5 weeks old, were divided into 8 groups. After a week, groups 1-5 were given DEN (100 mg/ kg body weight, i.p.) once a week for 3 weeks, whereas groups 6-8 received vehicle treatment. Group 2 was given 600 ppm scordinin-containing diet in the initiation phase. From 4 weeks after the start of experiment, groups 3 and 5 were fed scordinin, and groups 1-3 and 7 received drinking water containing 500 ppm PB. Group 6 was given scordinin diet alone throughout the experiment (24 weeks). The incidences of hepatocellular adenoma and carcinoma were significantly smaller in group 3 than those in group 1 (P<0.005 and P<0.05, respectively). The average numbers of liver neoplasms in groups 2 and 3 were significantly smaller than in group 1 (P<0.01 and P<0.0001, respectively). Glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive foci were also significantly decreased by scordinin treatment in the initiation or promotion phase. Scordinin significantly decreased the mean number of nucleolar organizer regions' protein (AgNORs)/nucleus in hepatocellular adenoma and carcinoma. AgNORs/nucleus in the non-lesional area was also significantly decreased by scordinin treatment during the promotion phase. These results suggest that scordinin is a promising chemopreventive agent for liver neoplasia.     

Hereditary Low Level of Plasma Ceruloplasmin in LEC Rats Associated with Spontaneous Development of Hepatitis and Liver Cancer

Both young (5 weeks old) and old (61 100 weeks old) hereditary hepatitis LEC rats showed a markedly low level of plasma ceruloplasmin (Cp) ferroxidase activity as compared with that of age-matched LEA and BN strain rats. This trait was genetically examined hy the use of (BN × LEC) F₁ hybrid and (F₁× LEC) backcross rats. The F₁ hybrids never developed hepatitis and showed a similar level of Cp to that found in the parental BN rats. Among the backcross rats with about 1:1 segregation rate for hepatitis, affected rats had a remarkably decreased level of Cp, as found in LEC rats, whereas unaffected rats exhibited a similar level of Cp to that of BN, F₁ and LEA rats. These results indicate that the low level of Cp is heritable in a single autosomal recessive mode in LEC rats. The observed tight link between the low Cp level and the hepatitis in LEC rats suggests that defective copper metabolism may he associated with the occurrence of hepatitis in LEC rats, since Cp is a copper-binding protein primarily involved in copper transport from the liver.     

Suppressive Effect of Irsogladine Maleate on Diethylnitrosamine-initiated and Phenobarbital-promoted Hepatocarcinogenesis in Male F344 Rats

Modifying effects of irsogladine maleate (IRG) on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis were examined in male F344 rats. Six-week-old rats were divided into 8 groups. Groups 1 through 4 were given a single i.p. injection of DEN (200 mg/kg body weight) at the start of the experiment, whereas groups 5 through 8 received a single i.p. injection of saline as the vehicle treatment. Groups 1 and 8 were kept on the basal diet and distilled water throughout the experiment (36 weeks). Groups 2 and 7 were exposed to 500 ppm phenobarbital (PB) in the drinking water, starting one week after the carcinogen or vehicle treatment. Groups 3 and 5 were fed the diet mixed with 125 ppm IRG from one week after DEN or vehicle treatment. Groups 4 and 6 were given 125 ppm IRG-containing diet and drinking water with 500 ppm PB after the carcinogen or vehicle treatment. Liver neoplasms developed in groups 1 (1/15 rats, 7%) and 2 (14/14 rats, 100%). However, no liver tumors were found in rats of groups 3 through 8. Incidence and average number of liver neoplasms in group 4 (0/14 rats, 0%) were less than those in group 2 ( P <0.0001). The number of glutathione S -transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive liver cell foci in group 3 or 4 was significantly smaller than that in the appropriate control ( P <0.01, P <0.001, respectively). The average and unit areas of these foci in group 4 were also significantly smaller than those in group 2 ( P <0.001, P <0.05, respectively). These results suggest that IRG could be a chemopreventive agent for rat liver carcinogenesis.     

Hepatocyte Growth Factor Enhancement of Preneoplastic Hepatic Foci Development in Rats Treated with Diethylnitrosamine and N-Ethyl-N-hydroxyethylnitrosamine

Effects of hepatocyte growth factor were investigated in a two-stage rat liver carcinogenesis protocol. Male F344 rats were first treated with diethylnitrosamine (200 mg/kg, i.p.) and then, starting two weeks later, with N-ethyl-N-hydroxyethylnitrosamine (EHEN) for 6 weeks at a dose of 0.01% in drinking water. Hepatocyte growth factor, which was injected i.v. at a dose of 200 μg/kg body weight one (at week 3) or two times (at weeks 3 and 4) during EHEN administration, significantly increased the development of preneoplastic glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive foci. Although the observed effects of hepatocyte growth factor were weaker than that of the two-thirds partial hepatectomy (PH) performed at week 3, the present results suggest that the enhancing effects of PH performed during the promotion stage may be largely mediated through induction of hepatocyte growth factor.     

Inhibitory Effect of Chlorophyllin on Diethylnitrosamine and Phenobarbital-induccd Hepatocarcinogenesis in Male F344 Rats

Modifying effects of chlorophyllin (CHL) on the diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-phenobarbital (PB) hepatocarcinogenesis model were examined in rats. Five-week-old male F344 rats were divided into 8 groups. Groups 1 through 5 were given i.p. injections of DEN (100 mg/kg body weight) once a week for 3 weeks beginning one week after the start of the experiment, while groups 6 through 8 received vehicle treatment. Groups 1, 2, 3 and 7 received drinking water with 500 ppm PB from one week after the end of carcinogen or vehicle treatment. CHL-containing diet (2000 ppm) was given to group 2 during the initiation phase and to groups 3 and 5 during the promotion and the post-initiation phase, respectively. Group 6 was given the experimental diet alone throughout the experiment (24 weeks). Liver neoplasms were present in DEN-treated groups and PB treatment promoted liver tumorigenesis. The incidences of adenoma in groups 2 and 3 were significantly smaller than in group 1 (P<0.05 and P<0.02), although the reductions in the incidences of liver cell cancer were not significant. The average numbers of liver neoplasms/rat in group 2 were significantly smaller than in group 1 (P<0.05-P<0.005), Glutathione S -transferase placental form-positive foci were also significantly decreased by CHL treatment (P<0.05 and P<0.001). DEN and PB exposure increased liver ornithine decarboxylase activity and this increase was significantly inhibited by feeding of CHL during the initiation phase (P<0.001). These results suggest that CHL is a chemopreventive agent for liver neoplasia.     

Abnormal Copper Accumulation in Non-cancerous and Cancerous Liver Tissues of LEC Rats Developing Hereditary Hepatitis and Spontaneous Hepatoma

We studied the copper concentrations in the non-cancerous and cancerous liver tissues of LEC rats with hereditary hepatitis and spontaneous hepatoma by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Copper concentration in the non-cancerous livers of 29-month-old male LEC rats was comparable to that in the livers of LEC rats aged 2, 3 and 8 months whose hepatic copper concentrations were more than 40 times those of normal LEA rats. Copper concentration in spontaneously developed hepatocellular carcinomas of the 29-month-old male LEC rats was lower than that in the surrounding non-cancerous liver tissues, but was still more than 39 times that of 8-month-old male LEA rats. These findings suggest that in LEC rats an abnormal copper metabolism may be maintained during the process of hepatic carcinogenesis.     

Two-dimensional Electrophoretic Analysis of Hepatitis-associated Polypeptides in Liver of LEC Rats Developing Spontaneous Hepatitis

High-resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in combination with silver staining was used to analyze between 800 and 1000 cytosolic and particulate polypeptides from age-matched livers of normal male Long-Evans rat with Agouti coat color (LEA) and Long-Evans rat with Cinnamon-like coat color (LEC) rats with hereditary trait of hepatitis at ages long before, immediately prior to, and just after the onset of hepatitis. Although the electrophoretic patterns of polypeptide expression were very similar with respect to the overall spot patterns, a number of polypeptides which differed either qualitatively or quantitatively were noted. Two constitutively expressed cytosolic polypeptides, P29.5 (M_r 29.5 kDa/pI 6.73) and P30 (30 kDa/6.70), were not detected in livers of LEC animals at any age. In the normal LEA rats both P29.5 and P30 were detected as early as one day after birth and both were expressed at similar concentrations at all ages. In the LEC rats P30-C (30 kDa/6.68) was constitutively expressed in close proximity to the expected position of P30, and P30-C was not detected in the LEA rats. By means of non-equilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis two relatively basic polypeptides were detected in the LEC rats. P18ne was detected immediately prior to and P27ne immediately after the clinical manifestation of hepatitis. Experiments in F₁ backcross ([LEA × LEC] × LEC) animals, however, failed to demonstrate any genetic link between either the expression or lack of expression of P29.5, P30, P30-C, or P18ne and hepatitis development. P27ne was detected in all backcross animals exhibiting hepatitis, but was never observed in LEC rats prior to the onset of hepatitis. Although we were unable to identify any unique loss of expression of polypeptides which are genetically linked to hepatitis susceptibility in LEC rats, specific subsets of quantitatively modulated polypeptides were detected.     

Elevated Level of 8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine in DNA of Liver, Kidneys, and Brain of Long-Evans Cinnamon Rats

Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEG) rats, a mutant strain originating from Long-Evans rats, spontaneously develop hereditary hepatitis followed by hepatocellular carcinoma. The hepatic disorder in LEC rats is associated with their abnormal copper metabolism; metal-catalyzed reactions often give rise to oxygen radicals, which may be related to the carcinogenesis. By means of high-pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection, cellular DNA damage caused by oxygen radicals can be assessed in terms of the amount of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (oh⁸dG). We assayed the amount of oh⁸dG in DNA of liver, kidneys, and brain of LEC and Long-Evans Agouti (LEA) control rats in seven groups (n=3 to 6) aged from 5 weeks to 24 months. Control rats, a healthy sibling line, were age-matched. The amount of oh⁸dG was correlated with the severity of the age-related clinical symptoms in LEC rats. The amount was higher in LEC rats than in the controls, especially in the liver at the acute stage of hepatitis. These findings suggest that oxygen radicals may be important in the carcinogenesis that occurs in LEC rats.     

Modulating Effects of Diets High in ω-3 and ω-6 Fatty Acids in Initiation and Postinitiation Stages of Diethylnitrosamine-induced Hepatocarcinogenesis in Rats

The effects of sardine fish oil or corn oil on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis were investigated in male F344 rats. Starting at 5 weeks of age, animals were divided into 11 groups and fed 23.5% corn oil (HCO) (groups 1 and 7) or 5% corn oil (LCO) (groups 2 and 8), 22.5% sardine oil + 1% corn oil (FO) semipurified diet (groups 3 and 9) or basal diet (CE-2) (groups 4–6, 10 and 11). At 6 weeks of age, all animals except the vehicle-treated groups were given DEN (200 mg/kg body weight, i.p. once weekly for 3 weeks). One week after the final exposure to DEN, groups 1–3 were changed to the basal diet, and groups 4–6 were switched to the HCO, LCO or FO diet, respectively. Animals in groups 1–3 and 10 were given drinking water containing 0.05% phenobarbital (PB). Liver sections from the animals at the termination of the experiment (24 weeks) were doubly stained for glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P) and silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs). The multiplicity of hepatocellular neoplasms of group 1 was significantly larger than that of group 2 or 3. The number of GST-P-positive foci of group 2 or 3 was significantly smaller than that of group 1. Among the groups fed the experimental diets in the post initiation phase (groups 4–6), no significant difference was found in the incidence of liver tumors. AgNORs values of the enzyme-altered foci in rats of the HCO diet groups were larger than those of the other diet groups. These results indicate that the enhancing effect of a high dose of corn oil in hepatocarcinogenesis is mainly present during the initiation phase but not during post initiation phase, and fish oil rich in polyunsaturated ω-3 fatty acids could inhibit DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.     

Enhancing Effects of Organosulfur Compounds from Garlic and Onions on Hepatocarcinogenesis in Rats: Association with Increased Cell Proliferation and Elevated Ornithine Decarboxylase Activity

Four organosulfur compounds from garlic and onions were examined for modifying effects on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced neoplasia of the liver in male F344 rats using the medium-term bioassay system based on the two-step model of hepatocarcinogenesis. Carcinogenic potential was scored by comparing the numbers and areas per cm² of induced glutathlone S-transfcrasc placental form-positive foci. Isothiocyanic acid isobutyl ester (IAIE), dipropyl trisulfide (DPT), and allyl mercapton (AM) exerted enhancing effects on their development, while dimethyl trisulfide also tended to increase them. To investigate possible mechanisms of the modifying influence, sequential changes in ornithine decarboxylase activity (ODC) over 24 h were measured in AM-treated liver tissue without prior DEN initiation. The activity started to increase by 4 h after AM-treatment, and reached maximum at 16 h, compared to controls. Spermidine/spermine N¹-acetyltransferase activity was not significantly changed. An increase in proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells followed the elevation of ODC activity. These results suggest that IAIE, DPT, and AM promote rat hepatocarcinogenesis and their promoting effect might be caused by increased cell proliferation with increased poly-amine biosynthesis. In evaluating relationships between diet and cancer, it is thus appropriate to consider not only a possible protective role of garlic and onions, but also enhancing effects.