Modulatory influence of oral contraceptive pills Ovral and Noracycline on 3-methylcholanthrene-induced carcinogenesis in the uterine cervix of mouse.
The present study reports the modulatory influences of combined oral contraceptive formulations, Ovral (0.05 mg ethinylestradiol plus 0.5 mg norgestrel per pill) and Noracycline (0.05 mg ethinylestradiol plus 0.1 mg lynestrenol per pill), on methylcholanthrene (MCA)-induced carcinogenesis in the uterine cervix of Swiss albino mouse. Placement of cotton thread impregnated with beeswax containing approximately 300 micrograms of MCA yielded cervical tumors in 0.0%, 8.6% and 26% animals, respectively, in 30, 60 and 90 days. Concomitant treatments with doses D1 (1/2000th of a pill), D2 (1/200th of a pill) and D3 (1/20th of a pill) of Ovral yielded cervical tumors in 0.0%, 0.0% and 4.5% mice at 30 days, 0.0%, 6.2% and 10% mice at 60 days and in 3.3% (P less than 0.05), 3.4% (P less than 0.05) and 47% mice at 90 days, respectively. Likewise, concomitant treatments with doses D1 (1/2000th of a pill), D2 (1/200th of a pill) and D3 (1/20th of a pill) of Noracycline yielded cervical tumors in 0.0%, 0.0%, 16.6% mice at 30 days, 4%, 3.7% and 54% (P less than 0.05) mice at 60 days and 3.2% (P less than 0.05), 20% and 63% (P less than 0.05) of mice at 90 days, respectively. Both Ovral and Noracycline displayed biphasic action on MCA-induced cervical carcinogenesis in mice. At lower dose levels (D1 and D2), they were inhibitory while at the higher dose level (D3) they were augmentatory in their actions. Both pills also significantly enhanced the incidence of cervical hyperplasia.
Hussain
S P
SP
Cancer Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
Rao
A R
AR
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000139:chemically induced; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019304:Ethinyl Estradiol-Norgestrel Combination; D005260:Female; D008234:Lynestrenol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008656:Mestranol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008748:Methylcholanthrene / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051379:Mice; D009644:Norgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000139:chemically induced; D002577:Uterine Cervical Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced*
D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009644:Norgestrel; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D008748:Methylcholanthrene; C002746:Noracycline; D019304:Ethinyl Estradiol-Norgestrel Combination; D008656:Mestranol; D008234:Lynestrenol