INDUCTION OF CARCINOGENESIS IN FISCHER RATS BY METHYLALKYLNITROSAMINES

Abstract

Five nitrosomethyl-n-alkylamines with long aliphatic chains were administered to male F344 rats by gavage for 30 wk. The rats treated with nitrosomethyl-n-octylamine and nitrosomethyl-n-nonylamine died within 1 yr, while a majority of those given nitrosomethyl-n-decylamine, nitrosomethyl-n-dodecylamine and nitrosomethyl-n-tetradecylamine lived for > 80 wk. Apart from the spontaneous tumors found in untreated rats of this strain, the rats treated with all 4 compounds containing an even number of carbon atoms in the long chain developed a high incidence of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. The rats treated with nitrosomethyloctylamine developed tumors of the liver (hepatocellular carcinomas and some angiosarcomas), lung and nasal cavity. Nitrosomethylnonylamine failed to induce tumors in the bladder but induced tumors of the liver (hepatocellular carcinomas and cholangiocarcinomas), lung tumors and some tumors of the nasal cavity.