Influence of housing conditions for mice on the results of a dermal oncogenicity bioassay.
Male C3H/HeJ mice were thrice weekly given 25 microliter applications of 0.25, 0.05, or 0.01% (w/w) benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) in acetone, or acetone alone, to clipped dorsal skin from 12 to 14 weeks of age for the remainder of their life spans. There were two groups of 40 mice for each treatment regimen, one group being housed in conventional stainless-steel wire mesh cages and the other in polycarbonate cages with wood shavings held in an enclosed ventilated cabinet. Under both housing conditions, tumor incidence was directly related and latency inversely related to BaP concentration. The time-adjusted incidence of epidermal neoplasms was significantly greater for the groups housed in polycarbonate cages. Mortality rates were directly related to BaP concentration and were significantly enhanced by the polycarbonate-cage housing conditions for the high and intermediate concentrations. Survival patterns for the two acetone control groups were similar. These findings indicate that differences in housing conditions can influence both the incidence and the latency of local neoplasms produced in response to the chronic application of a carcinogen in dermal oncogenesis bioassays.
D000818:Animals; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000633:toxicity*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D003738:Dental Cements / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D010212:Papilloma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement / Q000633:toxicity*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D013193:Stainless Steel
D003738:Dental Cements; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; D013193:Stainless Steel; C005506:polycarbonate; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene