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Quantitative Aspects of Transplacental Tumor Induction with Ethylnitrosourea in Rats¹

Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210

Dose-response relationships of transplacental tumor induction with the resorptive carcinogen, ethylnitrosourea, were investigated in Sprague-Dawley and Fischer rats. Neuroectodermal tumors were produced in offspring of all rats exposed to a single dose of ethylnitrosourea, 1, 5, 20, or 50-mg/kg, near the end of gestation. The incidence of experimentally induced neoplasms was directly proportional to the dose of carcinogen, while mean survival times were inversely related to exposure. The location of tumors varied with the dose of carcinogen and strain of rat. Brain tumors were the cause of death for 69% of the Fischer rats exposed to ethylnitrosourea, 50 mg/kg, whereas only 27% of similarly exposed Sprague-Dawley rats died of brain tumors. A significantly longer survival time was demonstrated for rats that died of gliomas compared with those that died of neurinomas or ependymomas. This investigation demonstrates that the age at which an animal develops neoplasia following transplacental exposure to a carcinogen depends on the level of exposure and the tumor type. This suggests that tumors of adults, as well as of children, may be due to transplacental exposure to carcinogenic agents.

¹ Supported in part by NIH Grants CA 11224 and GM 1052.

² Visiting professor from the Max-Planck-Institute für Hirnforschung, 5 Köln-Merheim, Ostmerheimerstrasse 200, Germany.

Received 7/10/72. Accepted 8/29/72.

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