title: Arecoline tumorigenicity in Swiss strain mice on normal and vitamin B deficient diet.
abstract: Arecoline, a major alkaloid present in betel nut, was administered daily by gavage feeding to Swiss male and female mice at a dose of 1 mg/day/mouse five times a week, either alone or in combination with KNO3 or KNO3 + lime. Swiss mice of both sexes kept on a vitamin B complex-deficient diet were tested in a similar manner and compared with those receiving a normal diet. In the mice receiving a normal diet it was observed that arecoline induced tumors in 40% of males but failed to produce tumors in any of the females. Arecoline tumorigenicity in females was evident only when they received a vitamin B-deficient diet. Arecoline tumorigenicity was not evident in males when they were treated simultaneously with KNO3 + lime and kept on a normal diet. However, the same treatment administered to male mice kept on a vitamin B complex-deficient diet induced tumors in 39%.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001115:Arecoline / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D002118:Calcium / Q000633:toxicity; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D002273:Carcinogens; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009566:Nitrates / Q000633:toxicity; D010087:Oxides / Q000633:toxicity; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D012737:Sex Factors; D014804:Vitamin B Deficiency / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D017610:Calcium Compounds; D002273:Carcinogens; D009566:Nitrates; D010087:Oxides; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D001115:Arecoline; C016538:lime; C023844:potassium nitrate; D002118:Calcium