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Biomedical subjects

S Fukushima

Publications and source records attributed to S Fukushima.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Proanthocyanidins from barley bran potentiate retinoic acid-induced granulocytic and sodium butyrate-induced monocytic differentiation of HL60 cells.

Polyphenol extract from barley bran (BPE) induced nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) reducing activity and alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase activity in HL60 human myeloid leukemia cells. Because BPE induced the biochemical markers of HL60 cell differentiation, we investigated the effects of proanthocyanidins isolated from BPE on the HL60 cell differentiation of HL60 cells. Prodelphinidin B-3, T1, T2, and T3 induced 26-40% NBT-positive cells and 22-32% alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase-positive cells. Proanthocyanidins potentiated retinoic acid (all-trans-retinoic acid)-induced granulocytic and sodium butyrate-induced monocytic differentiation in HL60 cells.

Anthocyanins↗

[Pharmaceutical and pharmacological development of antitumor prostaglandins].

Antitumor Prostaglandins such as delta 12PGJ2 and delta 7PGA1 possess a cross-conjugated dienone unit and exhibit unique antitumor effect. Lipid microshere (w/o type emulsion) was selected as pharmaceutical formulation because of physicochemical properties of prostaglandin. 13,14-Dihydro-15-deoxy-delta 7-PGA1 methyl ester (TEI-9826) were selected as a candidate for clinical trial. In a rat and mouse serum in vitro, TEI-9826 rapidly metabolized to 13,14-dihydro-15-deoxy-delta 7-PGA1 (TOK-4528), but TOK-4528 is stable as well as delta 12PGJ2. Lipid microshere containing TEI-9826 at the content of 5 mg/ml exhibited administration route and schedule dependent antitumor effect in vivo using Colon 26 bearing mouse model, which suggested that duration of serum concentration was important for antitumor effect. One of the antitumor mechanism of antitumor PG might be an induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21. PPAR gamma also might be important. New type homogenizer, high pressure jet flow type homogenizer was developed in the study of antitumor prostaglandin.

Animals↗

[Effectiveness of continuous intravenous prostaglandin E 1 against pulmonary hypertension].

Pulmonary hypertension is a progressive disease for which no effective therapy has been found. Short-team treatment with alprostadil alfadex (PGE 1) can improve hemodynamics but the effects of long-term treatment have not been reported. We administered intravenous PGE 1 to 16 patients with pulmonary hypertension for 4 weeks in addition to conventional therapy. Hemodynamic and symptomatic effects were evaluated. The infusion was interrupted in 7 patients (44%) because of fever and an increase in levels of C-reactive protein in serum. In the remaining 9 patients, the drug lowered pulmonary artery pressure and resistance, and imareased cardiac output significantly in 7 patients. PGE 1 can improve hemodynamics and relieve symptoms in patients with pulmonary hypertension, barring severe side effects.

Adult↗

[A case of synchronous triple primary cancers of prostate, kidney and bladder].

A case of synchronous triple primary cancer occurring in the prostate, kidney and urinary bladder is reported. A 74-year-old man had been complaining of macroscopic hematuria, dysuria and residual sensation of urine since January 1994. Pathological analysis of prostate revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma in March, 1994. Bone and Ga scintigraphy gave no evidence of metastasis. Computerized tomography (CT) revealed irregularity of a part of the margin of prostate (T2N0M0) and enhanced mass with a diameter of 3 cm localized at the hilus of the right kidney. Excretory urography showed a shadow defect in the right pelvis and elevation of the bladder base. In spite of the appearance of class 5 in urine cytology, no tumor was detected in the bladder by cystoscopy. Angiography confirmed the presence of a hypervascular tumor in the right kidney. He underwent right-sided nephroureterectomy in April, 1994, because not only right pelvic tumor but also right renal tumor was suspected. Histological examination of the renal tumor revealed clear cell carcinoma (T2N0M0). Then, he did not visit our hospital for 8 months. In January, 1995 a papillary broadbase tumor was found near the bladder neck by cystoscopy. Transurethral resection of the tumor (TUR-Bt) was performed in February, 1995. Pathological analysis of the tumor revealed TCC G1 pT1 (T1N0M0).

Adenocarcinoma↗

Cyclin D1 overexpression in rat two-stage bladder carcinogenesis and its relationship with oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and cell proliferation.

Overexpression of cyclin D1 has been implicated in the malignant transformation of a variety of human cancers, including urinary bladder carcinomas. However, few reports have addressed the significance of cyclin D1 overexpression in chemical carcinogenesis in rodents. In the present study, we evaluated the oncogenic potential of cyclin D1 in experimental rat urinary bladder carcinogenesis and its relationships to the oncogenes cyclin E, K-ras, and H-ras as well as tumor suppressor genes p53 and p21WAF1/Cip1. In addition, proliferation status of preneoplastic lesions and tumors was assessed by proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunohistochemistry. Fisher 344 rats were initiated with 0.05% N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine in the drinking water for 4 weeks and then administered 5% sodium L-ascorbate in diet. Animals were sacrificed at weeks 4, 8, 12, 18, and 24. Preneoplastic lesions such as papillary or nodular hyperplasia and neoplastic lesions of the urinary bladder were observed during carcinogenesis. By immunohistochemical examination, overexpression of cyclin D1 protein was observed in 17% of papillary or nodular hyperplasias, 66% of papillomas, and 69% of transitional cell carcinomas, whereas nuclear accumulation of p53 was observed in none of the preneoplastic lesions and in fewer than 2% of transitional cell carcinomas. Overexpression of cyclin D1 in preneoplastic lesions and tumors was not dependent on the size of the tumors or their proliferation status. Quantitation of mRNA in tumors by multiplex reverse transcription-PCR showed that average mRNA expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin E was increased, whereas average p21WAF1/Cip1 mRNA expression was decreased. More than 2-fold overexpression of cyclin D1 mRNA was observed in 50 and 60% of tumors at weeks 18 and 24, respectively. Localization of cyclin D1 mRNA expression was demonstrated by in situ hybridization, and the results were comparable to immunohistochemistry findings. None of the 25 tumors we examined by PCR-single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis harbored p53 mutations, H-ras mutations, or K-ras mutations. Thus, during the promotion phase of two-stage bladder carcinogenesis, overexpression of cyclin D1 in tumor cells may provide yet another mechanism by which tumors can gain a growth advantage. In contrast, tumors with mutated p53 may not have a growth advantage. Our results suggest that overexpression of cyclin D1 plays a critical role during urinary bladder carcinogenesis.

Animals↗

Mutagenic activation of urinary bladder carcinogens by CYP4B1 and the presence of CYP4B1 in bladder mucosa.

We investigated the mutagenic activation of 2-naphthylamine (2-NA), 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB), and 3,3'-dichlorobenzidine (DCB), bladder carcinogens, by renal and bladder microsomes and by purified P450s using the umu gene expression system, which detects DNA damage. Mouse renal microsomes had high mutagenic activation toward DCB and low activity toward 2-NA. Purified mouse Cyp4b1 also had high mutagenic activity toward DCB. Anti-Cyp4b1 antibody efficiently inhibited DCB bioactivation by mouse renal microsomes with a high Cyp4b1 content. Lauric acid, a substrate of Cyp4b1, efficiently inhibited DCB bioactivation by renal and bladder microsomes of the mouse and by purified Cyp4b1. To assess the contribution of CYP4B1 to bladder carcinoma, further investigation was done with the umu test and an immunochemical study. Ten forms of purified rat P450s including rat CYP4B1 were used in the umu test for 2-NA, DMAB, and DCB. CYP4B1 had the highest activity toward DMAB and DCB. Other P450s had activities of less than 20% that of CYP4B1. CYP4B1 also activated 2-NA, but its activity was about 10% of that toward DMAB or DCB. Rat bladder epithelium was stained specifically with anti-Cyp4b1 antibody, indicating the presence of CYP4B1 in the rat bladder mucosa. Also, CYP4B1 mRNA was detected by northern blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). These findings suggested that CYP4B1 could contribute to the initiation of carcinogenesis in rat and mouse bladder by activation of aromatic amines.

Animals↗

Significance of cyclin D1 overexpression in transitional cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder and its correlation with histopathologic features.

BACKGROUND: Genetic alterations leading to neoplastic transformation of the urothelium are likely to involve the activation of oncogenes and loss of functional tumor suppressor genes. Cyclin D1 has been implicated as a putative protooncogene whereas mutations of the p53 gene occur frequently in invasive transitional cell carcinomas (TCCs) of the urinary bladder. In this study, cyclin D1 overexpression and nuclear accumulation of p53 were evaluated and the results correlated with histopathologic features. METHODS: TCCs of the urinary bladder from 161 surgical procedures were evaluated for cyclin D1 overexpression and nuclear accumulation of p53. Results were correlated with tumor grade, T classification, and papillary status. Topologic distributions of cyclin D1, p53, and proliferating cellular nuclear antigen (PCNA) were evaluated. Northern blot analysis was performed on selected specimens. RESULTS: Overexpression of cyclin D1 was observed in 47% (24 of 51) of Grade 1 TCCs and 20% (13 of 65) of Grade 2 TCCs but in no Grade 3 TCCs. Approximately 34% (14 of 41) of Ta classified TCCs and 21% (13 of 63) of T1 classified TCCs were immunoreactive for cyclin D1 whereas none of the TCCs beyond T1 was immunoreactive. Overexpression of cyclin D1 was observed only in papillary type TCCs. Results of Northern blot analysis for cyclin D1 were comparable to those of immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSIONS: The observed significant relation between cyclin D1 overexpression and tumor grade/T classification suggests that cyclin D1 may be a useful biologic marker for biopsied materials or urine cytology specimens. The prognostic significance of cyclin D1 overexpression in TCCs remains to be determined.

Adult↗

The urinary excretion of arsenic metabolites after a single oral administration of dimethylarsinic acid to rats.

The biotransformation following oral administration of dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), an organoarsenical herbicide and the main metabolite of inorganic arsenic in mammals, was studied in rats. Male F344/DuCrj rats were administered a single dose of DMA (50 mg/kg) orally. Urine was collected at 0, 2, 4, 8, 10, 24, and 48 h after administration by forced urination. Arsenic metabolites in urine were analyzed by ion chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (IC-ICP-MS). The proportions of urinary elimination of DMA, trimethylarsine oxide (TMAO), methylarsonic acid (MMA), an unidentified arsenic metabolite, and arsenite were determined at various timepoints after administration. Unmetabolized DMA was the most common form excreted during the first 4 h. Thereafter, a gradual decrease in the proportion of DMA was observed, while progressive increases in those of TMAO, the unidentified metabolite, and arsenite occurred. The proportion of TMAO excreted amounted to over 50% of all arsenic in urine between 6 and 24 h. The proportion of the unidentified metabolite and arsenite were each approximately 10% at 10 and 24 h after administration. The findings indicate that DMA administered to rats was initially excreted as unchanged DMA, and later as the methylated metabolite, TMAO. Arsenite, a demethylated metabolite of DMA, also was excreted later than elimination of DMA and TMAO. The hypothesis of demethylation by intestinal microorganisms can be supported by comparing the metabolites following oral and intraperitoneal administration. The unidentified metabolite was readily decomposed by HCl but was left unchanged by NaOH; these findings suggest that it was present in a complexed form in urine.

Administration, Oral↗

Lack of promotion of urinary bladder carcinogenesis by sodium bicarbonate and/or L-ascorbic acid in male ODS/Shi-od/od rats synthesizing alpha 2 mu-globulin but not L-ascorbic acid.

The study was designed to investigate whether sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and/or L-ascorbic acid (AsA) promote urinary bladder carcinogenesis in male ODS/Shi-od/od (ODS) rats, which, unlike male F344 rats, are resistant to sodium L-ascorbate (Na-AsA)-promoting effects. Whereas F344 rats can synthesize AsA and alpha 2 mu-globulin (A2 mu-G), only A2 mu-G in produced in ODS rats. The two strains were given 0.05% N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN) in their drinking water for 2 wk and then were fed basal CA-1 diet supplemented with 3% NaHCO3 plus 5% AsA (NaHCO3 + AsA), 3% NaHCO3, 5% AsA, or no chemicals for 32 wk. ODS rats given BBN-NaHCO3 or BBN-(NaHCO3 + AsA) had only a few small carcinomas in the urinary bladder, like those receiving BBN alone or BBN-AsA. In contrast, F344 rats administered BBN-NaHCO3 or BBN-(NaHCO3 + AsA) had many more, larger, carcinoma than animals of the same strain given BBN alone or BBN-AsA. AsA alone did not have any effect in either strain. Administration of NaHCO3 alone or NaHCO3 + AsA was associated with significant elevation of urinary pH and Na+ concentration to the same extent in both strains but, again, AsA alone was without effect. NaHCO3 + AsA and AsA alone increased the urinary concentration of total ascorbic acid in both strains but the observed levels wer lower in ODS rats. The results indicate that ODS rats are resistant to the modifying effects of NaHCO3 and/or AsA on two-stage urinary bladder carcinogenesis, and thus that the susceptibility to the promotional activity of sodium-salt-type compounds may be regulated by factors other than A2 mu-G-synthesizing ability and urinary levels of pH, Na+ and total ascorbic acid.

Animals↗

Possible carcinogenic potential of dimethylarsinic acid as assessed in rat in vivo models: a review.

The modifying effects of dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), the major metabolite of ingested arsenicals in most mammals, on chemical carcinogenesis were investigated using rat in vivo models and reviewed here. In a multi-organ bioassay, rats pretreated with 5 carcinogens were administered DMA at various concentrations in their drinking water. Significantly increased tumor induction due to DMA was observed in the urinary bladder, kidney, liver, and thyroid gland. This was associated with significantly elevated ornithine decarboxylase activity in the kidneys of DMA-treated animals. To estimate the hazard levels of its promoting influence, further examinations were carried out concerned with urinary bladder and liver carcinogenesis. Doses of 25 and 50 ppm, respectively, of DMA were found capable of enhancing lesion development in the two organs. In conclusion, our data indicate that DMA is a carcinogen or promoter in the urinary bladder, liver, kidney and thyroid gland, in line with previous epidemiological findings.

Animals↗

Comparison of radiobiological effective depths in 65-MeV modulated proton beams.

To assess the achievement of uniformity of radiobiological effectiveness at different depths in the proton spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP), Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were exposed to 65-MeV modulated proton beams at the Research Center for Nuclear Physics (RCNP) of Osaka University. We selected four different irradiation positions: 2 mm depth, corresponding to the entrance, and 10, 18 and 23 mm depths, corresponding to different positions in the SOBP. Cell survival curves were generated with the in vitro colony formation method and fitted to the linear-quadratic model. With 137Cs gamma-rays as the reference irradiation, the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) values for a surviving fraction (SF) level of 0.1 are 1.05, 1.10, 1.12 and 1.19 for depths of 2, 10, 18 and 23 mm respectively. A significant difference was found between the survival curves at 10 and 23 mm (P < 0.05), but not between 18 and 10 mm or between 18 and 23 mm. There was a significant dependence of RBE on depths in modulated proton beams at the 0.1 surviving fraction level (P < 0.05). Moreover, the rise of RBEs significantly depended on increasing SF level or decreased approximately in correspondence with irradiation dose (P = 0.0001). To maintain uniformity of radiobiological effectiveness for the target volume, careful attention should be paid to the influence of depth of beam and irradiation dose.

Animals↗

Genetic instability and p53 mutations in metastatic foci of mouse urinary bladder carcinomas induced by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine.

In a variety of human malignancies, alteration of the p53 tumour suppressor gene is known as a significant indicator of late progression events including invasion and metastasis, with a possible close relationship to genetic instability. Mutational analysis of the p53 and H-ras genes was performed for 10 pairs of N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine-induced invasive mouse urinary bladder carcinomas and metastatic foci. p53 Mutations were found in nine of 10 (90%) primary carcinomas and seven of 10 (70%) metastatic foci. A total of eight p53 mutations in primary carcinomas were common in metastatic foci in six pairs. Additional p53 or H-ras mutations which were not identified in the primary carcinomas were found in three metastatic foci. Evaluation of the allelic distribution of the p53 mutations using RT-PCR, PCR and subcloning, further indicated possible intra-tumour genomic heterogeneity or excess copy numbers of the p53 gene due to genetic instability. Overall, p53 alterations were frequent in mouse urinary bladder carcinomas demonstrating progression. The results suggest that genetic instability might underlie generation of additional genetic alterations in this animal model.

Animals↗

Reversibility and apoptosis in rat urinary bladder papillomatosis induced by uracil.

Apoptosis is a morphologically and biochemically distinct form of cell death which determines specific patterns of tissue size and shape and balances cell proliferation. In the present study, the sequence of cellular proliferative alterations in urinary bladder epithelium associated with uracil-induced reversible urinary calculi was investigated in male F344 rats. Group 1 consisted of 45 rats, 6 weeks old at commencement of the experiment, which were given a diet containing 3% uracil for 8 weeks and were then returned to basal diet until week 20. Five rats were killed at each of weeks 2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 20. Group 2 consisted of 15 rats which were given basal diet for 20 weeks. Five rats were killed at each of weeks 0, 8 and 20. Microscopic, reversible papillomatosis, which showed papillary projections of epithelial proliferation, was seen in the urinary bladder of all rats in group 1 through week 8. No epithelial lesions were apparent in any of rats in group 2. Anti-Le(y)(BM-1/JIMRO)-positive areas of the urinary bladder epithelia were immunohistochemically seen in all rats of group 1 at weeks 2-12. At week 9 the percentage of anti-Le(y)-positive areas reached a maximum. Nick-end labeling stained nuclei of cells in the urinary bladder epithelium were observed in all rats of group 1 at weeks 4-14. At week 10 the labeling index was at a maximum. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)- and cyclin D1-positive cells of the urinary bladder epithelium were observed in group 1 at weeks 2, 4 and 8, however, at week 9 there were no PCNA- and cyclin D1-positive cells. In urinary bladder papillomatosis the simultaneous existence of apoptotic cells and proliferating cells was shown by double staining with anti-Le(y) (BM-1/JIMRO) and for PCNA. At week 10 apoptosis, stained by BM-1 and nick-end labeling, occurred extensively in regressing urinary bladder papillomatosis. Agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA in regressing papillomatosis at week 9 showed DNA fragmentation. Thus, these results indicate that apoptosis occurs in the process of papilloma regression following withdrawal of uracil treatment.

Animals↗

Overexpression of cyclin D1 in rat esophageal carcinogenesis model.

Overexpression of cyclin D1 in human esophageal carcinomas has been well documented. The aim of the present study was to assess the expression of cyclin D1 in different types of esophageal epithelial lesions induced by N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBA) in rats. A total of 30 rats received s.c.-injections, five times/week, of 1.0 mg/kg NMBA for a period of 5 weeks followed by the same dose once per week for another 10 weeks. An additional 15 rats were given saline and used as controls to provide normal epithelium. The tumor incidence was 100% at the termination point of 21 weeks. Seventeen rats (57%) showed nuclear staining for cyclin D1, with a great variation in the intensity, as demonstrated by using an immunohistochemical technique. The cyclin D1 positive indices were in the range of 0% to 60% of the individual cells. Negligible staining was observed for normal esophageal epithelium, with a minimal increase in hyperplastic and dysplastic lesions. A significant elevation of cyclin D1 levels was observed in tumors. However, no significant differences were found between papillomas and carcinomas. The immunohistochemical results were confirmed by western blotting analysis. Tumors, papillomas and carcinomas overexpressing cyclin D1 had elevated proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) indices (P < 0.05). The correlation coefficient of overexpressions of PCNA and cyclin D1 was r = 0.7 for papillomas, but only r=0.3 for carcinomas. The study thus provides strong evidence of relatively early overexpression of cyclin D1 during tumorigenesis in the present rat esophageal model. Cyclin D1 expression is not simply a direct consequence of increase cell proliferation.

Animals↗

Inhibition of development of N,N'-dimethylhydrazine-induced rat colonic aberrant crypt foci by pre, post and simultaneous treatments with 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.

It has recently been reported that new vitamin D3 derivatives can exert inhibitory effects on colon carcinogenesis in rats. In the present study the chemopreventive potential of 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (24R,25(OH)2vitamin D3) was assessed in a murine model of colon carcinogenesis. In experiment 1, male 6-week-old F344 rats were administered N,N'-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) 20 mg/kg s.c. once a week 4 times. The rats were fed 24R,25(OH)2vitamin D3 at 10 ppm in the diet prior to (pre), together with (simultaneous) or after (post) DMH treatment. Modifying effects were assessed using aberrant crypt foci (ACF), putative preneoplastic lesions, as the end point markers in this model of colon carcinogenesis. After 8 weeks, pre and more markedly simultaneous administration of 24R,25(OH)2vitamin D3 was found to have reduced the total numbers of ACF and significantly inhibited the development of foci. After 16 weeks, numbers of foci with > or = 4 crypts, which are more likely to progress to tumors, were significantly reduced. The most pronounced inhibition of ACF development was noted in rats fed the 24R,25(OH)2vitamin D3 after DMH administration. The reduction was particularly marked in the proximal colon. Blood levels of calcium were not significantly increased over the control levels in groups administered DMH and the vitamin. Immunohistochemical staining showed numbers of proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells to be lower in the colonic epithelia of rats fed the vitamin D3 metabolite than in the controls. In experiment 2, the effect of 24R,25(OH)2vitamin D3 on the alterations in c-fos, c-myc and c-jun oncogene expression in response to DMH administration was examined by northern blot analysis. The early increase in expression of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity was not altered by 24R,25(OH)2vitamin D3. The results suggest that 24R,25(OH)2vitamin D3 is a cancer chemopreventive agent which may suppresses DMH induction of lesions and their subsequent development via an antiproliferative action.

1,2-Dimethylhydrazine↗

Promotion of rat hepatocarcinogenesis by dimethylarsinic acid: association with elevated ornithine decarboxylase activity and formation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine in the liver.

Arsenicals are epidemiologically significant chemicals in relation to induction of liver cancer in man. In the present study, we investigated the dose-dependent promotion potential of dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA), a major metabolite of inorganic arsenicals in mammals, in a rat liver carcinogenesis model. In experiment 1, glutathione-S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive foci, putative preneoplastic lesions, were employed as endpoints of a liver medium-term bioassay for carcinogens (Ito test). Starting 2 weeks after initiation with diethylnitrosamine, male F344 rats were treated with 0, 25, 50 or 100 ppm of DMAA in the drinking water for 6 weeks. All animals underwent two-thirds partial hepatectomy at week 3 after initiation. Examination of liver sections after termination at 8 weeks revealed dose-dependent increases in the numbers and areas of GST-P-positive foci in DMAA-treated rats as compared with controls. In experiment 2, ornithine decarboxylase activity, which is a biomarker of cell proliferation, was found to be significantly increased in the livers of rats treated with DMAA. In experiment 3, formation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, which is a marker of oxygen radical-mediated DNA damage, was significantly increased after administration of DMAA. These results indicate that DMAA has the potential to promote rat liver carcinogenesis, possibly via a mechanism involving stimulation of cell proliferation and DNA damage caused by oxygen radicals.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗

Strain differences in sensitivity to the promoting effect of sodium L-ascorbate in a two-stage rat urinary bladder carcinogenesis model.

Rat strain differences in sensitivity to the promoting effect of sodium L-ascorbate (SA) on the development of urinary bladder tumors were investigated. In experiment 1, WS/Shi (WS), ODS/Shiod/od (ODS), and LEW/Crj (LEW) rats were initiated with 0.05% N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-nitrosamine (BBN) in their drinking water and subsequently given basal Oriental MF diet (M) with or without a 5% SA supplement. In LEW rats the SA treatment increased the induction of neoplastic lesions in the urinary bladder, whereas WS and ODS animals proved unresponsive to its promoting effects. In experiment 2, WS and F344 rats were maintained on two kinds of commercial basal diets, M and CLEA CA-1 (C), during administration of SA, since dietary factors can influence promoting effects. Feeding M during the promotion period in F344 rats yielded significantly more neoplastic lesions than feeding C, but in WS rats no such dietary influence was apparent. In experiment 3, strain differences in biosynthesis of alpha-2u-globulin (alpha 1a-g) were assessed because both alpha 2a-g in the urine and administration of sodium salts of organic acids such as SA have been reported to be involved in tumor promotion. Immunohistochemical analysis of renal tubules and Western blotting analysis of urine revealed the presence of alpha 2a-g in all three strains examined. These data suggest that differences in susceptibility to promotion are due to genetic factors rather than dietary factors and the ability to synthesize alpha 2a-g.

Animals↗

S-methylcysteine and cysteine are inhibitors of induction of glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive foci during initiation and promotion phases of rat hepatocarcinogenesis.

S-Methylcysteine (SMC) occurs in a variety of plants, including Allium sativum, Phaseolus vulgaris, and Cruciferae. In this study, we synthesized five organosulfur compounds (OSCs), SMC and four analogs, and examined their modifying effects on diethylnitrosamine-induced neoplasia of the liver in male F344 rats, using the medium-term bioassay system of Ito (Ito test) based on the two-step model of hepatocarcinogenesis. In addition, we investigated the modifying effects of SMC and cysteine on the initiation stage of rat hepatocarcinogenesis. Carcinogenic potential was scored by comparing the numbers and areas of induced glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive hepatocellular focl. All OSCs examined had a tendency to decrease the number of GST-P-positive foci when given in the promotion stage of the Ito test, and in particular SMC and cysteine exerted significant inhibitory effects. When given during the initiation stage, these two OSCs also significantly inhibited focus formation. Regarding the mechanism underlying the inhibitory effects of SMC and cysteine, measurement of ornithine decarboxylase in SMC- and cysteine-treated liver tissues after partial hepatectomy (PH) revealed a significantly reduced activity, and the proportion of hepatocytes positive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen was significantly decreased by SMC or cysteine administration. Moreover, examination of the expression of the early response proto-oncogenes, c-fos, c-jun, and c-myc, after PH demonstrated down-regulated induction of c-jun mRNA transcripts by SMC, sustained for an eight-hour period. Our results support the view that SMC and cysteine are chemopreventive agents for rat hepatocarcinogenesis and that their intake may be importance for cancer prevention.

Animals↗