Induction of tumors in the Japanese house musk shrew, Suncus murinus (Insectivora), by dimethylbenz[a]anthracene.
The carcinogenic effect of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) was examined in the virgin female Japanese house musk shrew, Suncus murinus (family: Soricidae, order: Insectivora). Leukemia, musk gland tumors, pilosebaceous tumors and sarcomas were induced in the DMBA-treated shrews, whereas none of the controls developed any tumors up to 50 weeks of age. DMBA emulsion was administered i.p. at a dose of 1.25 or 2.5 mg once a week, with either four or eight doses being given from 8 weeks of age. Leukemia developed in 100% (9/9), 50% (5/10), 56% (5/9) and 0% (0/10) of the animals treated with a total dose of 20 mg (8 x 2.5 mg), 10 mg (8 x 1.25 mg), 10 mg (4 x 2.5 mg) and 5 mg (4 x 1.25 mg) of DMBA respectively. Leukemia was of the lymphatic and/or mast cell type, and the spleen was the organ invariably involved. A dose-dependent effect of DMBA was not observed for pilosebaceous and musk gland tumors. When 1 mg of DMBA powder was dusted into the subcutaneous tissue at 4 weeks of age, sarcomas developed at the dusted site (69%; 9/13).
Tsubura
A
A
Department of Pathology, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan.
Senzaki
H
H
Shikata
N
N
Oishi
Y
Y
Morii
S
S
D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007942:Leukemia, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000187:drug effects; D012513:Sarcoma, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012626:Sebaceous Gland Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D012788:Shrews
D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene