Induced leukemia and antineoplastic agent carmustine cause permanent changes in craniofacial growth of immature rats.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the possible effects of untreated terminal leukemia on craniofacial growth (Study I), and also the effects of the antineoplastic agent carmustine on craniofacial growth in both leukemic and healthy rats (Study II).


METHODS
A total of 367 inbred Piebald variegated rats was used.


METHODS
Transmission of leukemic cells was carried out intraperitoneally at 30 days of age, and without treatment (Study I), the rats reached the terminal phase within 17 +/- 1 days. Rats with induced leukemia was cured with 10 mg/kg carmustine (BCNU) given on days 6 and 13 following cell transmission (Study II), the rats remaining in remission until they were killed at 100 days of age. Final weight was recorded and 12 craniofacial dimensions and tibial length were measured with a digital sliding caliper.


RESULTS
The results showed that the effect of untreated terminal rat leukemia (Study I) on craniofacial growth differed between the genders. Male rats showed clearly reduced dimensions of facial structures and also retarded general body growth, whereas females showed differences mainly in general body growth. The effect of cured leukemia (Study II) as such was minor, while BCNU had a strong and permanent reducing effect on both craniofacial and general body growth in both genders.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that the results in Study I came both from a direct effect of leukemia and an indirect effect of untreated terminal leukemia through malnutrition. The alkylating agent BCNU seemed to be the main cause of permanent craniofacial and general growth retardation in Study II.
Development and Orthodontics, Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Lemminkäisenkatu 2, FIN-20520, Turku, Finland. susanna.karsila-tenovuo@utu.fi
S
S
Karsila-Tenovuo
K
K
Jahnukainen
T
T
Peltomäki
T T
TT
Salmi
O
O
Rönning
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002330:Carmustine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002508:Cephalometry; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D005539:Foramen Magnum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D007942:Leukemia, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009666:Nose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D010865:Pilot Projects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012737:Sex Factors; D012886:Skull / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D015996:Survival Rate; D013977:Tibia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D002330:Carmustine