The production of skeletal muscle atrophy and mammary tumors in rats by feeding 2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)acrylamide

Chronic toxicity and carcinogenicity of a food additive, 2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)acrylamide (AF-2) was examined by its oral administration to Wistar rats for 18 months. Male rats given 0.4% AF-2 diet developed ataxia of the hind foot around 4 months of feeding, and severe atrophy of skeletal muscles of the whole body was seen in 31 of 43 rats after 12 months. In female rats, mammary tumors developed in 78% of the animals given 0.4% AF-2 diet. Multiple papillomas were observed in the forestomach.