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Biomedical subjects

J R Hailey

Publications and source records attributed to J R Hailey.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Carcinogenicity of inhaled vanadium pentoxide in F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice.

Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) is a slightly soluble compound found in airborne particle emissions from metallurgical works and oil and coal burning. Because the carcinogenic potential of V2O5 was not known, F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice (N=50/sex/species) were exposed to V2O5 at concentrations of 0, 0.5 (rats only), 1, 2, or 4 (mice only) mg/m3, by whole-body inhalation for 2 years. The survival and body weights of rats were minimally affected by exposure to V2O5. The survival and body weights of male mice exposed to 4 mg/m3 and body weights of all exposed groups of female mice were lower than the controls. Alveolar/bronchiolar (A/B) neoplasms occurred in male rats exposed to 0.5 and 2 mg/m3 at incidences exceeding the National Toxicology Program (NTP) historical control ranges. A marginal increase in A/B neoplasms was also observed in female rats exposed to 0.5 mg/m3. Increases in chronic inflammation, interstitial fibrosis, and alveolar and bronchiolar hyperplasia/metaplasia and squamous metaplasia were observed in exposed male and female rats. A/B neoplasms were significantly increased in all groups of exposed mice. As with rats, increases in chronic inflammation, interstitial fibrosis, and alveolar and bronchiolar epithelial hyperplasia were observed in mice exposed to V2O5. Thus, V2O5 exposure was a pulmonary carcinogen in male rats and male and female mice. The marginal tumor response in the lungs of female rats could not be attributed conclusively to exposure to V2O5. These responses were noted at and slightly above the OSHA permissible occupational exposure limit of 0.5 mg/m3 (dust) (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, 1997, p. 328).

Adenoma↗

Toxicology and carcinogenesis studies of microencapsulated citral in rats and mice.

Citral, a widely used natural ingredient, is added to foods and cosmetics as a flavoring and fragrance agent. Male and female F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice were exposed to microencapsulated citral in the feed for 14 weeks or two years. All studies included untreated and vehicle control groups. In the 14-week studies, rats and mice were given diets containing 3,900, 7,800, 15,600, or 31,300 ppm citral. In rats, food consumption was reduced in the two highest dose groups. In mice an apparent increase in food consumption was observed, but was due to mice scattering the feed. Body weights of all treated animals were less than controls. All rats and four male mice were killed moribund in the high dose groups. In rats, forestomach and kidney lesions were observed. At the higher doses, lesions observed in the bone marrow, testes, and thymus in rats and in the ovary in mice were considered related to inanition and resultant moribundity. In the two-year studies, rats were exposed to 1,000, 2,000, or 4,000 ppm citral. Body weights were reduced in the 4,000 ppm rats. Mice were exposed to 500, 1,000, or 2,000 ppm citral. Body weights in the 1,000 and 2,000 ppm groups were reduced. No neoplasms were attributed to citral in rats or mice. Malignant lymphoma occurred with a positive trend and was significantly greater than controls in female mice in the 2,000 ppm group. However, the incidences were within the NTP historical control range and could not be clearly related to citral administration.

Acyclic Monoterpenes↗

The role of oxidative stress in indium phosphide-induced lung carcinogenesis in rats.

Indium phosphide (IP), widely used in the microelectronics industry, was tested for potential carcinogenicity. Sixty male and 60 female Fischer 344 rats were exposed by aerosol for 6 h/day, 5 days/week, for 21 weeks (0.1 or 0.3 mg/m(3); stop exposure groups) or 105 weeks (0 or 0.03 mg/m(3) groups) with interim groups (10 animals/group/sex) evaluated at 3 months. After 3-month exposure, severe pulmonary inflammation with numerous infiltrating macrophages and alveolar proteinosis appeared. After 2 years, dose-dependent high incidences of alveolar/bronchiolar adenomas and carcinomas occurred in both sexes; four cases of squamous cell carcinomas appeared in males (0.3 mg/m(3)), and a variety of non-neoplastic lung lesions, including simple and atypical hyperplasia, chronic active inflammation, and squamous cyst, occurred in both sexes. To investigate whether inflammation-related oxidative stress functioned in the pathogenesis of IP-related pulmonary lesions, we stained lungs of control and high-dose animals immunohistochemically for four markers indicative of oxidative stress: inducible nitric oxide synthase (i-NOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), glutathione-S-transferase Pi (GST-Pi), and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). Paraffin-embedded samples from the 3-month and 2-year control and treated females were used. i-NOS and COX-2 were highly expressed in inflammatory foci after 3 months; at 2 years, all four markers were expressed in non-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions. Most i-NOS staining, mainly in macrophages, occurred in chronic inflammatory and atypical hyperplastic lesions. GST-Pi and 8-OHdG expression occurred in cells of carcinoma epithelium, atypical hyperplasia, and squamous cysts. These findings suggest that IP inhalation causes pulmonary inflammation associated with oxidative stress, resulting in progression to atypical hyperplasia and neoplasia.

Adenoma↗

Effects of glutaraldehyde in a 2-year inhalation study in rats and mice.

Whole-body inhalation toxicology and carcinogenicity studies were performed with the widely used fixative and cold-sterilant glutaraldehyde. Groups of 50 male and female F344/N rats and B6C3F(1) mice were exposed to glutaraldehyde (rats: 0, 250, 500, or 750 ppb; mice: 0, 62.5, 125, or 250 ppb) 6 h/day, 5 days/week, for 104 weeks. Survival of 500- and 750-ppb female rats was less than that of controls. Mean body weights of all exposed groups of male rats, 500- and 750-ppb female rats, and 250-ppb female mice were generally less than those of controls. No exposure-related neoplastic lesions were observed in either rats or mice. Non-neoplastic lesions were limited primarily to the most anterior region of the nasal cavity. In rats, hyperplasia and inflammation of the squamous epithelium; hyperplasia, goblet cell hyperplasia, inflammation, and squamous metaplasia of the respiratory epithelium; and hyaline degeneration of the olfactory epithelium were observed. In mice, the nasal lesions were qualitatively similar to those in rats. Squamous metaplasia of the respiratory epithelium was observed in both sexes of mice while female mice also had inflammation and hyaline degeneration of the respiratory epithelium. In contrast to the nasal carcinogen formaldehyde, no neoplastic lesions were observed after inhalation exposure to glutaraldehyde. However, exposure to glutaraldehyde resulted in considerable non-neoplastic lesions in the noses of rats and mice.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Effect of 26 week magnetic field exposures in a DMBA initiation-promotion mammary gland model in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Several studies have suggested that exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields promote chemically induced breast cancer in rats. Groups of 100 female Sprague-Dawley rats were initiated with a single 10 mg gavage dose of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) at 50 days of age followed by exposure to ambient fields (sham exposed), 50 Hz magnetic fields at either 1 or 5 Gauss (G) field intensity or 60 Hz fields at 1 G for 18.5 h/day, 7 days/week for 26 weeks. A vehicle control group without DMBA was included. Rats were palpated weekly for the presence of tumors. There was no effect of magnetic field exposure on body weight gains or the time of appearance of mammary tumors. At the end of 26 weeks, the animals were killed and the mammary tumors counted and measured. Mammary gland masses found grossly were examined histologically. The mammary gland carcinoma incidence was 96, 90, 95 and 85% (P < 0.05, decrease) for the DMBA controls, 1 G 50 Hz, 5 G 50 Hz and 1 G 60 Hz groups, respectively. The total numbers of carcinomas were 649, 494 (P < 0.05, decrease), 547 and 433 (P < 0.05, decrease) for the DMBA controls, 1 G 50 Hz, 5 G 50 Hz and 1 G 60 Hz groups, respectively. The number of fibroadenomas varied from 276 to 319, with the lowest number in the 1 G 60 Hz exposure group. Measurement of the tumors revealed no difference in tumor size between groups. In this breast cancer initiation-promotion study in female Sprague-Dawley rats, there was no evidence that 50 or 60 Hz magnetic fields promoted breast cancer under the conditions of this assay. This study does not support the hypothesis that magnetic field exposure can promote breast cancer in this rat model.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Effect of 13 week magnetic field exposures on DMBA-initiated mammary gland carcinomas in female Sprague-Dawley rats.

Several studies suggest that exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields may promote chemically induced breast cancer in rats. Groups of 100 female Sprague-Dawley rats were initiated with four weekly 5 mg gavage doses of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) starting at 50 days of age. After the first weekly DMBA administration, exposure to ambient fields (sham exposed), 50 Hz magnetic fields at either 1 or 5 G field intensity or 60 Hz fields at 1 G for 18.5 h/day, 7 days/week was initiated. Exposure continued for 13 weeks. A vehicle control group without DMBA was included. In a second study, using lower doses of DMBA, groups of 100 female Sprague-Dawley rats were initiated with four weekly doses of 2 mg of DMBA starting at 50 days of age followed, after the first weekly DMBA administration, by exposure to ambient fields (sham exposed) or 50 Hz magnetic fields at either 1 or 5 G field intensity for 18.5 h/day, 7 days/week for 13 weeks. Rats were weighed and palpated weekly for the presence of tumors. There was no effect of magnetic field exposure on body weight gains or on the time of appearance of mammary tumors in either study. At the end of 13 weeks, the animals were killed and the mammary tumors counted and measured. Mammary gland masses found grossly were examined histologically. In the first 13 week study, the mammary gland carcinoma incidences were 92, 86, 96 and 96% for the DMBA controls, 1 G, 50 Hz, 5 G, 50 Hz and 1 G, 60 Hz groups, respectively. The total numbers of carcinomas were 691, 528 (P < 0. 05, decrease), 561 and 692 for the DMBA controls, 1 G, 50 Hz, 5 G, 50 Hz and 1 G, 60 Hz groups, respectively. In study 2, the mammary gland carcinoma incidences were 43, 48 and 38% for the DMBA controls, 1 G, 50 Hz and 5 G, 50 Hz groups, respectively. The total numbers of carcinomas were 102, 90 and 79 for the DMBA controls, 1 G, 50 Hz and 5 G, 50 Hz groups, respectively. There was no effect of magnetic field exposure on tumor size either by in-life palpation or by measurement at necropsy in either study. There was no evidence that 50 or 60 Hz magnetic fields promoted breast cancer in these studies in female rats. These studies do not support the hypothesis that magnetic field exposure promotes breast cancer in this DMBA rat model.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Inhalation toxicity and carcinogenicity studies of cobalt sulfate.

Cobalt sulfate is a water-soluble cobalt salt with a variety of industrial and agricultural uses. Several cobalt compounds have induced sarcomas at injection sites in animals, and reports have suggested that exposure to cobalt-containing materials may cause lung cancer in humans. The present studies were done because no adequate rodent carcinogenicity studies had been performed with a soluble cobalt salt using a route relevant to occupational exposures. Groups of 50 male and 50 female F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice were exposed to aerosols containing 0, 0.3, 1.0, or 3.0 mg/m3 cobalt sulfate hexahydrate, 6 h/day, 5 days/week, for 104 weeks. Survival and body weights of exposed rats and mice were generally unaffected by the exposures. In rats, proteinosis, alveolar epithelial metaplasia, granulomatous alveolar inflammation, and interstitial fibrosis were observed in the lung in all exposed groups. Nonneoplastic lesions of the nose and larynx were also attributed to exposure to all concentrations of cobalt sulfate. In 3.0 mg/m3 male rats and in female rats exposed to 1.0 or 3.0 mg/m3, the incidences of alveolar/bronchiolar neoplasms were increased over those in the control groups. Lung tumors occurred with significant positive trends in both sexes. The incidences of adrenal pheochromocytoma in 1.0 mg/m3 male rats and in 3.0 mg/m3 female rats were increased. Nonneoplastic lesions of the respiratory tract were less severe in mice than in rats. In mice, alveolar/bronchiolar neoplasms in 3.0 mg/m3 males and females were greater than those in the controls, and lung tumors occurred with significantly positive trends. Male mice had liver lesions consistent with a Helicobacter hepaticus infection. Incidences of liver hemangiosarcomas were increased in exposed groups of male mice; however, because of the infection, no conclusion could be reached concerning an association between liver hemangiosarcomas and cobalt sulfate. In summary, exposure to cobalt sulfate by inhalation resulted in increased incidence of alveolar/bronchiolar neoplasms and a spectrum of inflammatory, fibrotic, and proliferative lesions in the respiratory tracts of male and female rats and mice. Adrenal pheochromocytomas were increased in female rats, and possibly in male rats.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Theophylline-induced mesenteric periarteritis in F344/N rats.

The toxicity and carcinogenic potential of theophylline (an alkaloid bronchodilator drug) was investigated in male and female F344/N rats in 16-day, 14-week, and 2-year gavage and feeding studies. In 16-day studies, rats were fed diets containing 0, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 ppm of theophylline or given 0, 12.5 (twice daily), 25 (once daily), 50 (once daily), 50 (twice daily), 100 (once daily), 200 (once daily), 200 (twice daily), and 400 (once daily) mg theophylline/kg body weight in corn oil by gavage. In 14-week studies, rats were fed diets containing 0, 1000, 2000, and 4000 ppm theophylline or given 0, 37.5, 75, and 150 mg/kg body weight theophylline in corn oil by gavage. In 2-year gavage studies, rats were given 0, 7.5, 25, and 75 mg/kg body weight in corn oil. In 16-day gavage studies, treatment-related periarteritis occurred in arteries of the pancreas and adjacent to the mesenteric lymph nodes of early death male and female rats given 400 mg/kg once daily. In the 14-week studies, treatment-related periarteritis occurred at similar sites and in male rats exposed to 75 and 150 mg/kg, and in all exposed female rats (gavage studies), in females exposed to 1000 ppm, and in both sexes exposed to 2000 and 4000 ppm (feeding studies). In the 2-year study, chronic periarteritis was significantly increased only in the males receiving 75 mg/kg of theophylline. The adventitia, media and intima of medium- and large-sized mesenteric arteries were involved. Similar to other vasodilator chemicals, the pathogenesis of theophylline-induced vascular lesions may be a consequence of hemodynamic changes induced in the vascular wall.

Administration, Oral↗

Effect of individual versus group caging on the incidence of pituitary and Leydig cell tumors in F344 rats: proposed mechanism.

Recently, an increase in pituitary tumor (pars distalis adenoma) incidence, and decrease in testicular interstitial cell tumor incidence, has been noted in F344 rats, in 2 year National Toxicology Program dermal and inhalation studies. One of the factors that may have contributed to this correlation is the difference in housing protocols. Rats in inhalation and dermal toxicity studies are singly caged, in contrast to other types of studies in which rats are group-caged, such as dosed-feed, dosed-water, or gavage studies. We propose that stress, related to individual caging, particularly among males, directly impairs testosterone synthesis and produces Leydig cell atrophy which leads to a feedback increase in the synthesis of luteinizing hormone by the anterior pituitary. This is followed by anterior pituitary cell functional hypertrophy, hyperplasia, and eventually neoplasia. It is known that individual caging of male rats produces a stress response associated with increased serum corticosteroids. The testicular interstitial cells (Leydig cells) have specific receptors for the glucocorticoid hormones. The Leydig cell enzyme 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11-beta-HSD) inactivates gluococorticoids; however, prolonged stress depletes this enzyme, enabling the gluococorticoids to impair steroidogenesis and eventually to lead to compensatory pituitary proliferations, including neoplasms.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

An update of the National Toxicology Program database on nasal carcinogens.

Nearly 500 long-term rodent carcinogenicity studies carried out by the National Cancer Institute and the National Toxicology Program were examined, and 12 chemicals were identified that produced nasal tumors: allyl glycidol ether, p-cresidine, 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane, 1,2-dibromoethane, 2,3-dibromo-1-propanol, dimethylvinyl chloride, 1,4-dioxane, 1,2-epoxybutane, iodinated glycerol, procarbazine, propylene oxide, and 2,6-xylidine. All 12 of these chemicals produced nasal tumors in rats, and 5 also produced nasal tumors in mice. Most of the nasal carcinogens (1) produced tumor increases in both sexes, (2) produced tumors at other sites as well, (3) had significantly reduced survival at doses that were carcinogenic, and (4) were genotoxic. Only 5 of the 12 nasal carcinogens were administered by inhalation. A variety of different types of nasal cavity tumors were produced, and specific tumor rates are given for those chemicals causing multiple tumor types. Increased incidences of nasal neoplasms were often accompanied by suppurative/acute inflammation, epithelial/focal hyperplasia and squamous metaplasia. However, high incidences of these nonneoplastic nasal lesions were also frequently seen in inhalation studies showing no evidence of nasal carcinogenicity, suggesting that in general nasal carcinogenesis is not associated with the magnitude of chronic toxicity observed at this site.

Adenoma↗

Phenolphthalein exposure causes multiple carcinogenic effects in experimental model systems.

Phenolphthalein (a triphenylmethane derivative) has been commonly used as a laxative for most of the twentieth century, but little is known about its long-term carcinogenic potential in experimental studies. In our studies, phenolphthalein administered continuously in the feed for 2 years to F344 rats at doses of 0, 12,500, 25,000, and 50,000 ppm and to C57BL/6 x CH3 F1 (hereafter called B6C3F1) mice at doses of 0, 3,000, 6,000, and 12,000 ppm caused multiple carcinogenic effects. Treatment-related neoplasms occurred in the kidney and adrenal medulla in male rats, adrenal medulla in female rats, hematopoietic system in male and female mice (histiocytic sarcomas and malignant lymphomas), and ovary of female mice. Phenolphthalein has been shown to have estrogenic and clastogenic properties. Previous studies of other estrogenic chemicals (e.g., zearalenone) in the F344 rat and B6C3F1 mouse have not shown the same spectrum of carcinogenic activity as that found with phenolphthalein, suggesting that phenolphthalein estrogenic activity alone is not responsible for the spectrum of tumors observed. It is more likely that the multiple biological properties of phenolphthalein, including its ability to form free radicals, its clastogenic activity, and its estrogenic activity, contributed to the carcinogenic effects observed. These studies show that phenolphthalein is a multisite/multispecies carcinogen. One of the sites for neoplasm that is of particular concern is the ovary, and epidemiology studies are under way to identify any potential effects of phenolphthalein exposure at this site in humans.

Animals↗

Experimental studies on the long-term effects of methylphenidate hydrochloride.

Toxicology and carcinogenesis studies of methylphenidate hydrochloride, a drug used in the treatment of attention-deficient disorders, were performed in F344 rats and B6C3F1 mice. In these studies, methylphenidate hydrochloride was administered for 2 years at doses of 0, 100, 500 or 1000 ppm in the feed to rats and at doses of 0, 50, 250, 500 ppm to mice in groups that consisted of 50 animals/dose/sex/species. The average amount of methylphenidate consumed per day was estimated to be 4-47 mg/kg/day for rats and 5-67 mg/kg/day for mice. Survival was similar in dosed and control groups. An increase in benign tumors of the liver and increased liver weights were observed in male and female mice at the high dose. An increase in hepatoblastomas was also seen in high dose male mice. Methylphenidate was not mutagenic in the Salmonella assay system, and it is hypothesized that this tumorigenic effect might be due to nongenotoxic effects of the chemical such as an increase in cell proliferation. Increased incidences of neoplasms were not seen in rats. However, there was a notable decrease in mammary gland fibroadenomas in female rats and a marginal decrease in benign pheochromocytomas in male rats. Epidemiology studies of methylphenidate have found no evidence of a carcinogenic effect in humans and like our findings in rats, report a less than expected rate of cancers in patients taking methylphenidate.

Adenoma, Liver Cell↗

Chronic nephropathy and renal carcinogenicity of o-benzyl-p-chlorophenol in F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice.

o-Benzyl-p-chlorophenol, an aryl halide biocide, was evaluated in male and female F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice in a series of subchronic and 2-year toxicity and carcinogenicity studies. Kidney was the primary target of toxicity in the 13-week gavage studies in rats and mice, with increased nephropathy noted as low as 240 mg/kg in male rats. Considering the nephropathy to be doselimiting, the chronic (2-year) study was conducted at lower doses (male rats: 30, 60, or 120 mg/kg; female rats: 60, 120, or 240 mg/kg; male and female mice: 120, 240, or 480 mg/kg; in corn oil; n = 50/group). Survival and body weights of dosed rats were similar to controls in the 2-year study. Survival of high-dose male and female mice, and body weights of all dosed male and mid- and high-dose female mice, were lower than controls. The incidence and severity of nephropathy increased with dose and length of treatment in both rats and mice. There was an increased incidence of renal tubule adenomas or carcinomas in both the mid- and high-dose male mice. Despite similar evidence of nephropathy, however, there were no increased incidences of neoplasms in female mice or in male or female rats. This study suggests therefore that while nephrotoxicity may have been a necessary component, factors other than the marked nephrotoxicity of o-benzyl-p-chlorophenol were critical to the development of renal carcinogenesis induced in only male mice.

Adenoma↗

Spontaneous renal tubular carcinoma in Fischer-344 rat littermates.

Two of 632 Fischer-344 rats in a food restriction study had spontaneous, bilateral, multicentric renal tubular cell carcinomas. Although there were 104 litters represented in this study, both rats that developed this rare neoplasm were from the same litter. The littermates, one male and one female, were in the food-restricted treatment groups (60% of ad libitum intake) and were 550 and 447 days old, respectively, at death. The probability that the two rare bilateral renal neoplasms occurred by a chance event in littermates is approximately 0.8%. The apparent familial predisposition for development of specific types of neoplasms emphasizes the importance of randomization of individuals into treatment groups and consideration of lineage for rare tumors.

Animals↗

Toxicity and carcinogenicity studies of quercetin, a natural component of foods.

Quercetin is a naturally occurring chemical found in our daily diet in fruits and vegetables. Toxicity and carcinogenicity studies of quercetin were conducted in male and female F344/N rats, under conditions which allowed comparison to results of approximately 400 previously tested chemicals. The chemical was administered in the feed for 2-years at concentrations of 0, 1000, 10,000, or 40,000 ppm, and the estimated dose delivered was approximately 40-1900 mg/kg/day. There were no treatment-related effects on survival and no treatment-related clinical signs of toxicity. The high-dose groups had reduced body weight gain in comparison to controls during the last half of the study. At interim evaluations at 6 and 15 months, treatment-related toxic lesions were not observed, but at 2 years toxic and neoplastic lesions were seen in the kidney of male rats, including increased severity of chronic nephropathy, hyperplasia, and neoplasia of the renal tubular epithelium. Under the conditions of these 2-year studies quercetin showed carcinogenic activity in the kidney of the male rat, causing primarily benign tumors of the renal tubular epithelium. Quercetin did not cause tumors at other sites. Quercetin is a genotoxic chemical, but the neoplastic response observed in the kidney may be due in part to a combination of nongenotoxic and genotoxic events.

Animals↗

A difference in mortality between two strains of jaundiced rats.

Homozygous Gunn rats lack bilirubin glucuronyltransferase, become jaundiced, and often develop kernicterus, thus providing a model for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Two new, inbred rat strains that carry the Gunn mutation are described. These were developed by breeding the mutant Gunn gene (j) into the RHA/N and ACI/N strains, producing the new lines, which were designated RHA/N-j and ACI/N-j. Liver assay confirmed the absence of transferase activity in jaundiced rats from both of the new strains, but marked differences in mortality between the strains were observed. The mortality of jaundiced RHA/N-j rats through 8 weeks was the same as that of their nonjaundiced littermates (20%). In contrast, mortality of jaundiced ACI/N-j rats was distinctly greater than that of their nonjaundiced littermates (81% vs 34%, P less than .001). Signs of kernicterus such as ataxia were much more frequent in jaundiced ACI/N-j rats than in jaundiced RHA/N-j rats (73% vs 11%, P less than .001). Both strains had comparable albumin concentrations through 8 weeks of age. Serum bilirubin concentrations were also comparable, except for a small but significant difference at 20 days of age (ACI/N-j = 294 mumols/L, RHA/N-j = 248 mumols/L, P less than .01). Similarly, the bilirubin-to-albumin ratios were comparable except for a significantly higher ratio at 20 days of age in the ACI/N-j rats (ACI/N-j = 0.70, RHA/N-j = 0.51, P less than .01). Thus, the RHA/N-j strain is unusual in that the jaundiced animals remain healthy. Conversely, the ACI/N-j animals demonstrate a high incidence of kernicterus with mortality.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Anaphylactoid reactions mediated by autoantibodies to cholesterol in miniature pigs.

Antoantibodies to cholesterol were detected and purified from normal (nonimmunized) pig serum. The antibodies were assayed by ELISA with crystalline cholesterol as an Ag and by C-dependent damage to cholesterol-laden liposomes. Intravenous injection of liposomes containing cholesterol into anesthetized animals caused decreased hemolytic complement titers, and induced a reaction consisting of transient neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, respiratory distress, cyanosis, pulmonary and systemic hypertension, and decreased cardiac output. Plasma levels of thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha increased 1300 and 200%, respectively, and leukocyte and platelet counts decreased by 36 and 38%, respectively. Injection of cholesterol-free liposomes did not induce the reaction. These results show that naturally occurring autoantibodies to cholesterol can initiate C activation and can be associated with anaphylactoid reaction to exogenously administered cholesterol in pigs.

Anaphylaxis↗

A retrospective analysis of background lesions and tissue accountability for male accessory sex organs in Fischer-344 rats.

Because the paired lobes (ventral, dorsal, lateral, and anterior) of the rat prostate have not been consistently sampled in many carcinogenicity and toxicity studies, comparison among different investigations has been compromised. The lack of specific site identification for prostatic lesions further lessens the value of incidences reported. We present here the lobe-specific incidences and degree of severity of background prostatic, seminal vesicular, and ampullary glandular lesions in 1768 control Fischer-344 rats from 35 recent National Toxicology Program 2-year carcinogenicity and toxicity studies conducted in 4 laboratories. The dorsal and lateral lobes were combined and considered the dorsolateral lobe where inflammation, epithelial degeneration, mucinous cysts, and edema were observed. Inflammation in the dorsolateral lobes was significantly associated with pituitary gland adenoma whose prolactin was suggested to play an important role in pathogenesis of prostatic inflammation. Epithelial degeneration, epithelial hyperplasia, inflammation, edema, and adenoma were conspicuous in the ventral lobes. Inflammation and edema occurred in the anterior lobes (coagulating glands). Inflammation, dilatation, epithelial hyperplasia, edema, and adenoma were observed in the seminal vesicles. Inflammation was also present in the ampullary glands. We suggest an optimal embedment and trimming method in rat prostate and seminal vesicle to ensure adequate, consistent sampling.

Animals↗