[Possible neuropharmacological regulation of chemical carcinogenesis caused by diethylnitrosamine]

Abstract

The effect of a number of neurotropic drugs on diethylnitrosoamine (DENA)-induced chemical carcinogenesis was studied by applying pharmacological, morphological and biochemical techniques. Atropine stimulated significantly the rat liver and esophagus carcinogenesis, whereas the alpha-adrenoblocking agent, a pyrrhoxane analogue, and, particularly, proserine inhibited these processes. All animals treated with DENA demonstrated a significant increase of liver mitochondrial monoaminoxidase activity. These findings as well as the evidence of a stimulating effect of exogenous norepinephrine on carcionogenesis, together with the literature sources on carcinogenic and modifying carcinogenesis action of neurotropics allow the authors to formulate a concet of the trigger role played by catecholamines in the DENA-induced cell transformation and carcinogenesis.