Zinc-deficiency and the development of malignant lymphoma in rats given a single intragastric dose of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea.
Zinc-deficient rats that had received a single dose of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) intragastrically developed malignant lymphomas involving the liver, spleen, lung and kidney, as well as the usual epithelial tumours at the site of administration. Interestingly, the incidence of squamous-cell carcinoma of the pharynx was significantly higher in zinc-deficient rats than in control animals. Since MNU does not require metabolic activation, the development of the malignant lymphomas might be related to the generally depressed immunological state of zinc-deficient rats.
Fong
L Y
LY
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong.
Lui
C P
CP
Ma-Tung
L
L
Ng
W L
WL
D000818:Animals; D003043:Cocarcinogenesis; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008770:Methylnitrosourea; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D015032:Zinc / Q000172:deficiency*
D008770:Methylnitrosourea; D015032:Zinc