The effects of neonatal androgenization on mammary gland mitotic rate and susceptibility of carcinogen-induced mammary dysplastigenesis and tumorigenesis in LEW/Mai rats.

The influence of neonatal testosterone propionate treatment (androgenization) on mammary gland mitotic rate (MR) and susceptibility to 7,12-dimethylbenz(alpha)anthracene (DMBA) carcinogenesis was studied in female LEW/Mai rats. Mammary gland MR in androgenized rats was significantly lower than MR in normal rats at all ages studied. Treatment of androgenized rats with DMBA resulted in a significant increase in mammary gland MR in comparison with untreated androgenized rats. MR in DMBA-treated androgenized rats was similar to MR in DMBA-treated normal rats at most intervals after the introduction of the carcinogen. Although mammary epithelial MR in androgenized rats was significantly lower than that of normal rats of comparable age, no evidence of a decrease in susceptibility of mammary epithelium in androgenized rats to DMBA carcinogenesis was found. Instead, androgenized rats had a higher incidence of DMBA-induced mammary dysplasias, with no change in their morphologic or histologic features, than did normal rats; and there was no change in the incidence, latency, or histopathologic appearance of DMBA-induced mammary tumors in androgenized versus normal rats.     

Genistein and daidzein, in combination, protect cellular integrity during 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) induced mammary carcinogenesis in Sprague-Dawley rats

The status of glycoconjugates (protein bound hexose, hexosamine, sialic acid and fucose) in plasma or serum serve as potential biomarkers for assessing tumor progression and therapeutic interventions. Aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of two major soy isoflavones, genistein and daidzein, in combination on the status of glycoconjugates in plasma, erythrocyte membrane and mammary tissues during 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) induced mammary carcinogenesis in female Sprague-Dawley rats. A single subcutaneous injection of DMBA (25 mg rat(-1)) in the mammary gland developed mammary carcinoma in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Elevated levels of plasma and mammary tissue glycoconjugates accompanied by reduction in erythrocyte membrane glycoconjugates were observed in rats bearing mammary tumors. Oral administration of genistein + daidzein (20 mg + 20 mg kg(-1) bw/day) to DMBA treated rats significantly (p< 0.05) brought back the status of glycoconjugates to near normal range. The present study thus demonstrated that genistein and daidzein in combination protected the structural integrity of the cell surface and membranes during DMBA-induced mammary carcinogenesis.     

DMBA-induced mammary pathologies are angiogenic in vivo and in vitro

We have previously shown that human pre-invasive diseases of the breast are angiogenic. In addition, normal epithelium from women with coincident or subsequent invasive breast cancer is more vascular than normal epithelium from women with no breast cancer. To develop a model in which to study the regulation of angiogenesis in pre-invasive mammary pathologies, we examined 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced rat mammary tissues for the presence of neovascularization in pre-invasive histopathologies. These studies included morphometric analysis of tissue vascularity in pre-invasive lesions. In addition, we isolated fresh tumors and histologically normal epithelium (organoids) from DMBA or vehicle-treated control rats to test their ability to induce endothelial cell tubule formation in vitro. Finally, we examined tumors for their ability to produce vascular endothelial cell growth factor. The morphometric studies documented that with epithelial progression, the ability of individual cells to elicit angiogenesis increases. The in vitro studies showed that isolated tumors from these animals stimulate angiogenesis. Furthermore, normal epithelium from DMBA-treated rats is more angiogenic than epithelium from control animals. Finally, DMBA-induced tumors produce vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA, therefore, DMBA-induced mammary tumorigenesis is one model in which to test the dependency of progression on angiogenesis.     

Inhibition of VEGFR2 prevents DMBA-induced mammary tumor formation

Preinvasive mammary pathologies in humans and rat chemical carcinogenesis model systems have an increased microvascular density relative to normal tissue. This suggests the possibility of preventing invasive breast cancer by inhibiting angiogenesis. Vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic growth factor, commonly involved in tumor-induced angiogenesis. Here, we show that both VEGF and VEGFR2 expression increase with histological progression to invasive disease in the rat 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) model. Other VEGF receptors, VEGFR1, neuropilin 1 and neuropilin 2, are constitutively expressed throughout progression. To examine whether VEGF signaling is functionally relevant to tumor-induced endothelial tubule formation in vitro and for tumor formation in vivo, we utilized the VEGFR2 inhibitor, ZD6474. In vitro endothelial cell tubulogenesis induced by isolated mammary organoids or carcinoma in situ from DMBA-treated rats is inhibited by ZD6474, in a dose-dependent fashion. The administration of ZD6474 to DMBA-treated rats inhibits the formation of atypical ductal hyperplasia and carcinoma in situ by greater than 95% (P < 0.05), when administered 1 week or 6 weeks post-DMBA initiation. Invasive disease was absent in all ZD6474 cohorts. These data support the hypothesis that progression of DMBA-induced preinvasive mammary pathologies to palpable disease requires angiogenesis via a VEGF-dependent mechanism.     

The Relationship of Terminal Duct Hyperplasia to Mammary Carcinoma in 7,12-Dimethylbenz(α)anthracene—Treated LEW/Mai Rats

The evolution of dysplasias and carcinomas in the inguinal mammary glands of LEW/Mai rats given 7,12-dimethylbenz(α)anthracene (DMBA) by gastric gavage was studied with the use of stained whole mounts. Two major dysplasias, hyperplastic terminal end buds (HEBs) and hyperplastic alveolar nodules (HANs), developed prior to mammary carcinomas. HEBs were present in the mammary glands of ~70% of the rats within 1 week following DMBA. The percentage of rats with these lesions and the incidence of HEBs in the mammary gland decreased prior to the appearance of palpable and microscopic tumors. During the time when tumors first became evident (40-80 days), the percentage of rats with HEBs (11%) paralleled the percentage of rats with mammary tumors (12%). The initial percentage of rats with HEBs (~70%) paralleled the final tumor incidence (71%) observed in DMBA-treated rats that were allowed to live until they developed tumors. The histologic features of HEBs resembled those of the carcinomas, and HEBs were present in the immediate vicinity of some of the microscopic and palpable tumors. With only one exception, the location of microscopic tumors in the mammary gland was consistent with their derivation from small terminal ducts. These data are compatible with a developmental relationship between HEBs and mammary carcinoma. HANs, on the other hand, developed relatively late (ie, 30 days) following DMBA administration and became more numerous with the passage of time. Over the period of time when mammary carcinomas first became evident, the percentage of rats with HANs (73%) was inconsistent with a developmental relationship between HANs and mammary carcinoma. This conclusion was supported by the absence of HANs in the vicinity of microscopic tumors, by the dissimilarity between the histologic features of HANs and mammary carcinomas, and by their absence from the mammary gland during the time when at least some of the mammary tumors must have arisen. The results implicate terminal duct hyperplasia in the histopathogenesis of rat mammary carcinomas.     

TNP-470 inhibits 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced mammary tumor formation when administered before the formation of carcinoma in situ but is not additive with tamoxifen

In many women pathologic lesions, such as hyperplasia and carcinoma in situ, precede invasive breast cancer. We have shown that tissue vascularity increases with histologic progression to invasive disease. Similarly, in the well-characterized 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) model of mammary tumorigenesis, preinvasive lesions exhibit increased vascularity with progression. Using this model we asked whether inhibition of angiogenesis would block progression and if so, at which stage. We treated rats with DMBA followed by the potent angiogenic inhibitor, TNP-470, and/or tamoxifen starting 1 day or 6 weeks later. Histopathology and in vitro angiogenic potential of mammary organoids were evaluated 3 months after DMBA. All statistical tests were two-sided. Early TNP-470 and tamoxifen treatment inhibited the formation of carcinoma in situ (p < 0.001) and invasive disease (p < 0.001). However, their effects were not additive, despite their unique mechanisms of action. TNP-470 administration begun at the time of microscopic carcinoma in situ formation was unable to prevent the further development of carcinoma in situ or invasive breast cancer, whereas tamoxifen was highly effective (p = 0.001). There was no added benefit of combining TNP-470 and tamoxifen. TNP-470 therapy, unlike tamoxifen, did not inhibit the angiogenic potential of DMBA-treated normal mammary organoids, supporting its lack of a direct effect on the epithelium. These data provide proof-in-principle that inhibition of angiogenesis early in mammary tumorigenesis prevents mammary tumor formation in a hormone-sensitive model, indicating that angiogenesis is a potential target for cancer chemoprevention. Interactions with other chemopreventive strategies and the timing of administration must be thoroughly examined in vivo.     

The mechanisms of antitumor effects of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist (buserelin) in 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced rat mammary cancer.

We evaluated the mechanism of antitumor effects of buserelin, which is one of LH-RH agonists, on a hormone dependent breast cancer model, using 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced rat mammary cancer. Rats developing solid mammary tumors within 5-7 weeks following the DMBA administration were divided into groups weekly, and treated without delay. The tumor bearing rats were randomized into five groups with regard to tumor size or average weight (15 rats per group). Each group received one of the following treatments during 4 weeks: a) no treatment (NT); b) ovariectomy (Ovx); c) buserelin; d) Ovx and 17beta-estradiol (E2) (Ovx+E2); e) Ovx+E2+buserelin. Tumor regression immediately began at one week after both buserelin treatment and ovariectomy. A significant reduction of tumor size was observed in both buserelin-treated rats and Ovx rats compared with NT rats (p<0.01). No significant difference of tumor size was observed between buserelin-treated rats and ovariectomized rats. No reduction of tumor size was observed in Ovx+E2 rats and Ovx+E2+buserelin rats. Although the mean uterine wet weight of the buserelin group was significantly higher than that of the Ovx group, it was significantly lower than that of the NT group. The mean uterine wet weight of the NT group, the Ovx+E2 group and the Ovx+E2+buserelin group was similar and was significantly higher than that of the Ovx group. Buserelin did not inhibit exogenous estrogen-dependent tumor growth in DMBA-induced rat mammary cancers. These results suggest that buserelin has no direct effects on DMBA-induced rat mammary cancers, and the main mechanism of action of buserelin for tumor-reduction is due to ovarian estrogen deficiency.     

Changes in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene caused by vitamin A

The metabolism of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) was studied in vitro on incubation with liver microsomes and liver and mammary gland homogenates of rats kept on a diet enriched with vitamin A. Vitamin A inhibited the formation of lipophilic metabolites and increased the output of water-soluble metabolites. The concentration of lipophilic metabolites in the microsomes and liver and mammary gland homogenates was two, two, and five times less, respectively. The amount of unmetabolized DMBA in the liver microsomes of the control and experimental animals was the same.Department of Biophysics, Biological Faculty, Moscow State University. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR S. E. Severin.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 83, No. 5, pp. 579–582, May, 1977.     

Detection of micronuclei, cell proliferation and hyperdiploidy in bladder epithelial cells of rats treated with o-phenylphenol.

o-Phenylphenol (OPP), a widely used fungicide and antibacterial agent, has been considered to be among the top 10 home and garden pesticides used in the USA. Earlier studies have consistently shown that the sodium salt of OPP (SOPP) causes bladder cancer in male Fischer 344 (F344) rats, whereas OPP has produced variable results. This difference has been attributed to the presence of the sodium salt. To determine cellular and genetic alterations in the rat bladder and the influence of the sodium salt, F344 rats were administered 2% OPP, 2% NaCl and 2% NaCl + 2% OPP in their diet for 14 days. Twenty-four hours before being killed the animals were administered 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) by i.p. injection. Bladder cells were isolated, stained with DAPI and scored for the presence of micronuclei and incorporation of BrdU into replicating cells. To determine changes in chromosome number, we used fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with a DNA probe for rat chromosome 4. Significant increases in the frequency of micronuclei and BrdU incorporation were seen in bladder cells of rats from all treatment groups. In contrast, the frequency of hyperdiploidy/polyploidy in treated animals was not increased over that seen in controls. A high control frequency of cells with three or more hybridization signals was seen, probably due to the presence of polyploid cells in the bladder. The presence of polyploid cells combined with cytotoxicity and compensatory cell proliferation makes it difficult to determine whether OPP is capable of inducing aneuploidy in the rat urothelium. In summary, these studies show that OPP can cause cellular and chromosomal alterations in rat bladder cells in the absence of the sodium salt. These results also indicate that at high concentrations the sodium salt can enhance chromosomal damage in the rat urothelium.     

Mammary gland carcinogenesis by food-derived heterocyclic amines: metabolism and additional factors influencing carcinogenesis by 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP)

The heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are a family of mutagenic/carcinogenic compounds found in cooked meats. Several HCAs are mammary gland carcinogens in rats. Of these compounds, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) is the major one present in the human diet. This report reviews the studies on rat mammary gland carcinogenesis by HCAs; discusses what is currently known regarding mechanisms of mammary gland carcinogenesis of PhIP, especially the significance of metabolic processing; and further highlights the evidence for the possible role of PhIP in human breast cancer.     

Immunohistochemical expression of monoclonal antibodies (epi-1 and myo-1) derived from human breast cancer against rat mammary tumors.

Immunohistochemical expression of monoclonal antibodies epi-1 and myo-1 derived from human breast cancer cell line (HBC-4W) was examined for DMBA-induced rat mammary tumors. Antibody epi-1 reacted with luminal epithelial cells while antibody myo-1 reacted with myoepithelial cells of the mammary glands in rats, respectively. The reactions with both antibodies were markedly visible, in particular, in the normal mammary gland, tumor-like lesions and benign epithelial mammary tumors in rats, which showed clear two-cell-type structures. Among malignant mammary tumors, adenocarcinoma was strongly positive with antibodies epi-1 and myo-1. However, squamous cell carcinoma and adenoacanthoma mainly reacted with antibody epi-1. On the other hand, the intercellular matrices of pleomorphic cell sarcoma and stromal areas of the normal mammary gland or epithelial tumors were positive with antibody myo-1.     

Oncogenic signaling pathways activated in DMBA-induced mouse mammary tumors

Only about 5% of human breast cancers can be attributed to inheritance of breast cancer susceptibility genes, while the balance are considered to be sporadic in origin. Breast cancer incidence varies with diet and other environmental influences, including carcinogen exposure. However, the effects of environmental carcinogens on cell growth control pathways are poorly understood. Here we have examined oncogenic signaling pathways that are activated in mammary tumors in mice treated with the prototypical polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA). In female FVB mice given 6 doses of 1 mg of DMBA by weekly gavage beginning at 5 weeks of age, all of the mice developed tumors by 34 weeks of age (median 20 weeks after beginning DMBA); 75% of the mice had mammary tumors. DMBA-induced mammary tumors exhibited elevated expression of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), c-myc, cyclin D1, and hyperphosphorylated retinoblastoma (Rb) protein. Because of this, the activation of upstream regulatory pathways was assessed, and elements of the Wnt signaling pathway, the NF-kappa B pathway, and the prolyl isomerase Pin-1 were found to be frequently up-regulated in the tumors when compared to normal mammary gland controls. These data suggest that environmental carcinogens can produce long-lasting alterations in growth and anti-apoptotic pathways, leading to mammary tumorigenesis.     

The effect of hydroxylamine on the morphology of the rat mammary gland and on the induction of mammary tumors by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene.

The effect of hydroxylamine (HA) on the morphology of the rat mammary gland and on the formation of mammory tumors induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) was studied. Hydroxylamine caused excessive growth and secretory activity in the mammary gland. When it was given after DMBA administration it decreased the number and size of tumors per tumor bearing animal, but increased the median latency period. When HA was given before carcinogen administration it did not affect the incidence of tumors or the number or weight of tumors per tumor bearing animal, but it protected to some extent the normal lobular structure of the gland against the DMBA induced destruction which was evident a few weeks after carcinogen administration. A delayed effect of DMBA treatment was the formation of dark-staining irregular structures which originated either from the larger ducts or from the duct terminals. These formations were morphologically different from the hyperplastic alveolar nodules (HAN) which showed distended ductules of regular shapes and were common in animals treated with HA before DMBA administration.     

Endogenous estrogen status, but not genistein supplementation, modulates 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced mutation in the liver cII gene of transgenic big blue rats

A growing number of studies suggest that isoflavones found in soybeans have estrogenic activity and may safely alleviate the symptoms of menopause. One of these isoflavones, genistein, is commonly used by postmenopausal women as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy. Although sex hormones have been implicated as an important risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, there are limited data on the potential effects of the estrogens, including phytoestrogens, on chemical mutagenesis in liver. Because of the association between mutation induction and the carcinogenesis process, we investigated whether endogenous estrogen and supplemental genistein affect 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced mutagenesis in rat liver. Intact and ovariectomized female Big Blue rats were treated with 80 mg DMBA/kg body weight. Some of the rats also received a supplement of 1,000 ppm genistein. Sixteen weeks after the carcinogen treatment, the rats were sacrificed, their livers were removed, and mutant frequencies (MFs) and types of mutations were determined in the liver cII gene. DMBA significantly increased the MFs in liver for both the intact and ovariectomized rats. While there was no significant difference in MF between the ovariectomized and intact control animals, the mutation induction by DMBA in the ovariectomized groups was significantly higher than that in the intact groups. Dietary genistein did not alter these responses. Molecular analysis of the mutants showed that DMBA induced chemical-specific types of mutations in the liver cII gene. These results suggest that endogenous ovarian hormones have an inhibitory effect on liver mutagenesis by DMBA, whereas dietary genistein does not modulate spontaneous or DMBA-induced mutagenesis in either intact or ovariectomized rats.     

Cytochemical investigation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in rat mammary tissue

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity in epithelial cells from six normal, eight lactating and 21 DMBA tumour bearing rat mammary tissues was investigated using techniques of quantitative cytochemistry. G6PD promoted H+ production was quantified under atmospheres of N2 and O2 in frozen sections from rat mammary tissue in the presence and absence of a H+ acceptor (Total H+ and Type I H+). There was a considerable overlap between the three tissue types in values for Total H+ measured under N2 or O2. However, maximum H+ production in lactating and DMBA tumour tissue took longer to achieve in O2 than in N2 (16-20 min vs 6-8 min). In normal tissue maximum production of Total H+ was not achieved until 45-50 min and the rate of reaction was similar in N2 and in O2. Type I H+ measured in N2 did not vary significantly between DMBA tumours and lactating tissue but under O2 was only present in DMBA tumour, being undetectable in both normal and lactating tissue. The results demonstrate that despite the overlap in G6PD activities between the tissues tested, the techniques of quantitative cytochemistry can provide a functional assay differentiating between non-malignant and malignant breast tissue in the rat.     

Susceptibility of the mammary gland to carcinogenesis. II. Pregnancy interruption as a risk factor in tumor incidence.

In the rat, pregnancy and lactation prior to carcinogen administration protect the mammary gland from developing carcinomas and benign lesions. In this study, the influence of pregnancy interruption versus full pregnancy and pregnancy plus lactation on the incidence of carcinomas and benign lesions was studied in the mammary glands of rats treated with 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA). Fifty-nine Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into 5 groups: I) rats that had had one pregnancy and one lactation; II) rats that had had one pregnancy without lactation; III) rats that had had pregnancy interrupted at the 12th day of gestation; IV) age-matched virgin rats as a control Group I; and V) age-matched virgin rats as a control for groups II and III. The 5 groups received a single intragastric dose of DMBA (10 mg/100 g body weight), with the exception of 2 animals per group, which were killed 1 hour after an intraperitoneal injection of 2.5 mu Ci 3H-thymidine/g body weight. The number of labeled nuclei per 100 cells (DNA labeling index, LI) was counted in terminal end buds (TEBs), terminal ducts (TDs), and alveolar buds (ABs) of the glands. The number of structures and the DNA-LI were correlated with the incidence of tumors at 22 weeks after DMBA. Pregnancy, with or without lactation, resulted in elimination of TEBs and reduction in the DNA-LI of TDs and ABs. These groups did not develop carcinomas. After the interruption of pregnancy the mammary gland contained numerous TEBs, with a high DNA-LI; 77% of these animals developed carcinomas, and all of them developed benign lesions. Therefore, while pregnancy and lactation protected the mammary gland from developing carcinomas and benign lesions by induction of full differentiation, pregnancy interruption did not elicit sufficient differentiation in the gland to be protective, and these animals were at the same risk as virgin animals treated with the carcinogen.     

Cytochemical investigation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in rat mammary tissue.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity in epithelial cells from six normal, eight lactating and 21 DMBA tumour bearing rat mammary tissues was investigated using techniques of quantitative cytochemistry. G6PD promoted H+ production was quantified under atmospheres of N2 and O2 in frozen sections from rat mammary tissue in the presence and absence of a H+ acceptor (Total H+ and Type I H+). There was a considerable overlap between the three tissue types in values for Total H+ measured under N2 or O2. However, maximum H+ production in lactating and DMBA tumour tissue took longer to achieve in O2 than in N2 (16-20 min vs 6-8 min). In normal tissue maximum production of Total H+ was not achieved until 45-50 min and the rate of reaction was similar in N2 and in O2. Type I H+ measured in N2 did not vary significantly between DMBA tumours and lactating tissue but under O2 was only present in DMBA tumour, being undetectable in both normal and lactating tissue. The results demonstrate that despite the overlap in G6PD activities between the tissues tested, the techniques of quantitative cytochemistry can provide a functional assay differentiating between non-malignant and malignant breast tissue in the rat.     

Identification of novel carcinogen‐mediated mammary tumor susceptibility loci in the rat using the chromosome substitution technique

We here report the genetic basis for susceptibility and resistance to carcinogen‐mediated [7,12‐dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)] mammary tumorigenesis using the full panel of SS/BN consomic rat strains, in which substitutions of individual chromosomes from the resistant BN strain onto the genomic background of the susceptible SS strain were made. Analysis of 252 consomic females identified rat mammary Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) affecting tumor incidence on chromosomes 3 and 5, latency on chromosomes 3, 9, 14, and 19, and multiplicity on chromosomes 13, 16, and 19. In addition, we unexpectedly identified a novel QTL on chromosome 6 controlling a lethal toxic phenotype in response to DMBA. Upon further investigation with chromosomes 6 and 13 congenic lines, in which an additional 114 rats were investigated, we mapped (1) a novel mammary tumor QTL to a region of 27.1 Mbp in the distal part of RNO6, a region that is entirely separated from the toxicity phenotype, and (2) a novel and powerful mammary tumor susceptibility locus of 4.5 Mbp that mapped to the proximal q‐arm of RNO13. Comparison of genetic strain differences using existing rat genome databases enabled us to further construct priority lists containing single breast cancer candidate genes within the defined QTLs, serving as potential functional variants for future testing. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Influence of Strain and Sex on the Local Development of Mammary Tumors Induced by Direct Application of DMBA Powder to Rat Mammary Glands

In order to determine the influence of strain and sex on local carcinogenesis in rat mammary tissue, 1 mg of 7, 12 dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) was dusted directly onto the exposed mammary gland of 30-day-old Long-Evans (L-E) rats and Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rats. The experiment was terminated 28 weeks after application of the carcinogen. Tumors measuring between 1 and 2 cm in diameter were harvested from female L-E rats with high frequency (85%) and long latency (mean: 23.7 weeks after DMBA dusting), and from female S-D rats with extremely high frequency (98%) and short latency (16.7 weeks). Male rats of both strains were almost identically much less susceptible to DMBA (L-E; 55%, 25.0 weeks, S-D; 53%, 23.9 weeks). Ovariectomized S-D (47%, 24.9 weeks) and orchiectomized S-D (30%, 24.8 weeks) rats, which were gonadectomized at 30 days of age, respectively, were also much less susceptible. A variety of histologies, mostly malignant epithelial, mesenchymal or mixed tumors, were noted in each group. The carcinomatous response in the mammary tissue was much higher in female S-D (96%) than in female L-E (50%) rats, and very low in male and gonadectomized rats (10-20%). In contrast, the sar-comatous response in the mammary tissue was moderate in female and male L-E and male S-D (43-50%) rats, and low in the other groups (15-29%). Acta Pathol Jpn 40: 9–13, 1990.     

Histopathologic characterization of mammary neoplastic lesions induced with 7,12 dimethylbenz(alpha)anthracene in the rat: a comparative analysis with human breast tumors

CONTEXT: The dimethylbenz(alpha)anthracene (DMBA) breast cancer model induced in the rat is used for the study of mammary carcinogenesis because it closely mimics human breast disease. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the histopathologic features of mammary carcinomas induced in the DMBA experimental model, in a manner similar to that used in human pathology, to allow a comparative analysis between both systems. DESIGN: Three experimental series of 20 animals were used. At 53 days of age, a single dose of 5 mg of DMBA per rat was given. Mammary tumors were collected when the rats were killed. Several histopathologic parameters were studied. For grading, the parameters described in the modified Scarff-Bloom-Richardson scheme were used, adapted to rat mammary tumors. RESULTS: More than 50% of the carcinomas presented a pattern grade I, a nuclear grade I or II, and fewer than 10 mitoses/10 high-power fields (P <.05). Although the tumors were generally well differentiated, they showed a range of differentiation. More than 85% of carcinomas did not display tumoral necrosis (P <.05). This feature was observed mostly in high-grade carcinomas. There was no or scanty lymphoplasmacytic infiltration in more than 70% of carcinomas (P <.05). The degree of infiltration increased with the histologic grade. Microcalcifications were found rarely (P <.05). The carcinomas exhibited a mixed structural pattern, most with a predominant cribriform pattern (P <.05). No or light (+) stromal response was seen in most cases (P <.05). Some carcinomas, especially when poorly differentiated, presented a desmoplastic reaction. Most carcinomas presented scanty mast cell infiltration (P <.05), no features of secretion (P <.05), and absence of microcribriform pattern (P <.05). These features were seen more often in low-grade carcinomas. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the presence of some structural differences, rat mammary adenocarcinomas and the most common human breast carcinomas share several morphologic similarities. Moreover, some features could be related to the aggressive behavior of the tumor. The analysis carried out in this study, similar to that done in human pathology, allows a more extensive understanding of mammary tumors in rats, as well as a more accurate use of this animal model, and has made it possible to develop an innovative classification of rat mammary lesions.