Dose response to a single injection of azoxymethane in rats. Induction of tumors in the gastrointestinal tract, auditory sebaceous glands, kidney, liver and preputial gland

Abstract

Male Fischer rats, 6 weeks old, were injected once with one of five doses of azoxymethane. There was a dose response to the carcinogen as determined by weight gain and tumor induction. Rats given the three highest doses developed tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, auditory sebaceous glands, kidney, liver, and preputial gland, whereas rats receiving the lowest doses had tumors mainly of the intestine. Chronic liver lesions in high-dose rats were cirrhosis with megalocytosis, mild fibrosis, nodular hepatocellular hyperplasia, and hyperplasia of bile ductules.