Effect of arecoline, the major alkaloid of areca nut, on the number of N-benzyl-N-methylnitrosamine (NMBA)-induced esophageal papilloma in F344 male rats.

Abstract

53 Background: Arecoline is the major alkaloid of areca nut which is one major risk of developing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in the Asian population. This study aims to establish one rat model to study the relationship of areca nut exposure with the development of ESCC. Methods: Six-week-old Fischer 344 male rats were injected subcutaneously with 0.5 mg/kg NMBA thrice a week for the first 5 weeks and given water without or with arecoline (500 mg/ml) for 30 weeks. Results: With co-treatment of arecoline, NMBA-injected rats had significantly more esophageal papillomas (p = 0.02) and marginally significantly more tongue papillomas (p= 0.09) per rat, compared to those with NMBA only in the end of week 30. No papilloma was found in the lung, liver and/or stomach among all experimental groups. The histological features of esophageal papilloma showed the hyperplastic changes of squamous epithelium. Conclusions: This established animal model can be ideally used to study areca nut-associated esophageal carcinogenesis.