title: Dose response for the stimulation of cell division by caffeic acid in forestomach and kidney of the male F344 rat.
abstract: Caffeic acid (CA, 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid), at 2% in the diet, had been shown to be carcinogenic in forestomach and kidney of F344 rats and B6C3F1 mice. Based on its occurrence in coffee and numerous foods and using a linear interpolation for cancer incidence between dose 0 and 2%, the cancer risk in humans would be considerable. In both target organs, tumor formation was preceded by hyperplasia, which could represent the main mechanism of carcinogenic action. The dose-response relationship for this effect was investigated in male F344 rats after 4-week feeding with CA at different dietary concentrations (0, 0.05, 0.14, 0.40, and 1.64%). Cells in S-phase of DNA replication were visualized by immunohistochemical analysis of incorporated 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU), 2 hr after intraperitoneal injection. In the forestomach, both the total number of epithelial cells per millimeter section length and the unit length labeling index of BrdU-positive cells (ULLI) were increased, about 2.5-fold, at 0.40 and 1.64%. The lowest concentration (0.05%) had no effect. At 0.14%, both variables were decreased by about one-third. In the kidney, the labeling index in proximal tubular cells also indicated a J-shaped (or U-shaped) dose response with a 1. 8-fold increase at 1.64%. In the glandular stomach and in the liver, which are not target organs, no dose-related effect was seen. The data show a good correlation between the organ specificity for cancer induction and stimulation of cell division. With respect to the dose-response relationship and the corresponding extrapolation of the animal tumor data to a human cancer risk, a linear extrapolation appears not to be appropriate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, D-97078, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lugli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bitsch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schlatter
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Lutz
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000633:toxicity*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000378:metabolism; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004435:Eating; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000139:chemically induced; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D007687:Kidney Tubules, Proximal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D016196:S Phase; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002109:Caffeic Acids; D002273:Carcinogens; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; C040048:caffeic acid