Carcinogenic and Toxic Effects of Urethane in Animals

Abstract

In a large number of normal animals which were given urethane under various exptl. conditions, a number of pathologic alterations were noted. Regardless of the mode of admin. and the age in which it was admin. urethane was found to induce adenomatous pulmonary tumors in mice and rats. It interfered with the normal maturationof ovarian follicles, produced glomerular lesions in the kidneys of certain strains of mice and occasionally caused liver damage in the rat and mice. Whether these deleterious effects of urethane observed in exptl. animals can occur in patients is not known. Patients treated with urethane should be studied with reference to possible disturbances of kidney function, menstrual cycle and reproductive capacity. It is suggested that these organs and the lungs be carefully examined at autopsy. Since urethane induced pulmonary tumors in 2 different spp. of animals, the possibility that it may act as a carcinogen in man should be borne in mind.