Renal lesions induced by ochratoxin A exposure in the F344 rat.
Groups of 80 male and female F344 rats were exposed by gavage to ochratoxin A, a naturally occurring mycotoxin, at levels of 21, 70, and 210 micrograms/kg body weight for up to 2 years. Ochratoxin A induced non-neoplastic renal tubular epithelial changes consisting of cytoplasmic alteration, karyomegaly, degeneration, and cysts. Exposure-related renal tubular proliferative lesions included focal hyperplasia, tubular cell adenoma, and tubular cell carcinoma. Renal tubular cell adenoma occurred as early as 9 months in 1 high-dose male rat, and both adenomas and carcinomas were seen in males by 15 months. At the terminal sacrifice, renal tubular cell tumors were found in both male and female rats, but the response was more pronounced in the males. The incidence of renal tumors in the high-dose rats was the highest of any National Toxicology Program (NTP) study completed to date. In the high-dose males approximately one-third of the renal carcinomas developed metastases. This study demonstrates that ochratoxin A is a potent renal carcinogen in the F344 rat and suggests that contamination of feedstuff by this mycotoxin may pose a potential hazard to domestic animals and man.
Boorman
G A
GA
National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709.
McDonald
M R
MR
Imoto
S
S
Persing
R
R
D000236:Adenoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009793:Ochratoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344
D009793:Ochratoxins; C025589:ochratoxin A