Breast tumor developed in a pregnant rat after treatment with the teratogen Cycloheximide.
OBJECTIVE
To describe histochemically and immunohistochemically a breast tumor presented in a pregnant rat given Cycloheximide to examine its teratogenic and embryotoxic effect on the embryos.


METHODS
Cycloheximide was injected in pregnant Wistar rats at a dose of 3 mg/kg.b.w. on both 10th and 11th gestational days. In one of the rats, a large breast tumor developed rapidly. Histochemical staining with Hematoxylin-Eosin and Masson Trichrome and immunohistochemical identification with mouse monoclonal antibodies: a) Estrogen Receptor A and b) Estrogen Receptor B was performed.


RESULTS
Analysis with A-receptor and B-receptor showed that the breast tumor which was developed after treatment with Cycloheximide was malignant. Positive immunohistochemical reaction was evident especially with A-receptor indicating the malignancy of the tumor.


CONCLUSIONS
Cycloheximide is a known toxic and teratogenic agent and potentially a carcinogenic drug. Thus it should be used with extreme caution as a pesticide.
Emmanouil-Nikoloussi
E N
EN
Nikoloussis
E
E
Manthou
M E
ME
Goula
O Ch
OCh
Likartsis
Ch
Ch
Papamitsou
Th
T
Frangou
H
H
Massouridou
S
S
Lazaridis
Ch
Ch
Manthos
A
A