Lack of tumorigenic response in the prostate gland of castrated F344 rats by 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl given with methyltestosterone

In an attempt to induce a high incidence of prostate carcinoma, 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB), a prostatic carcinogen, was given during the period of cell proliferation of the prostate gland induced by the administration of methyltestosterone (MT) to castrated F344 rats. Three weeks after the surgical castration, rats were given diet containing 300 ppm of MT for 2 weeks and basal for 2 weeks alternately 12 times. During each treatment with MT, one (group 1) or two (group 2) subcutaneous injections of 50 mg/kg body wt. of DMAB was given. After the last treatment of MT, a pellet of testosterone propionate (TP) was implanted in the subcutis of all animals until the end of the experiment (week 60). No carcinomas developed in the prostate gland of any of the rats. Atypical hyperplasia of the ventral lobe of prostate was found in 4 of 22 rats in group 1 and 2 of 20 rats in group 2. The incidences of atypical hyperplasia of the seminal vesicles in groups 1 and 2 were 64% and 75%, respectively. No pathological lesions in the prostate were observed in 32 rats given DMAB without MT treatment.