Abstract
The effects of the dopamine agonist 2-bromo-alpha-ergocryptine methanesulfonate (bromocriptine) on the incidence, number and histology of gastric cancer induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) were investigated in Wistar rats. Rats were given 1 or 2 mg kg-1 body weight of bromocriptine subcutaneously every other day in depot form after 25 weeks of oral treatment with MNNG. Prolonged administration of bromocriptine at both dosages every other day resulted in a significant increase in the incidence and number of gastric cancers of the glandular stomach by week 52. Bromocriptine treatment did not influence the histological type of gastric cancer, but caused a significant increase in the labelling index of epithelial cells of the antrum. These findings indicate that the dopamine agonist bromocriptine promotes gastric carcinogenesis, and that this effect may be related to its effect in increasing proliferation of epithelial cells in the antral mucosa.
Highlights
Materials and methodsA total of 75 young (6-week-old) male Wistar rats were purchased from Japan SLC (Shizuoka, Japan)
Smnmry The effects of the dopamine agonist 2-bromo-alpha-ergocryptine methanesulfonate on the incidence, number and histology of gastric cancer induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) were investigated in Wistar rats
Total amount of MNNG ingested for 25 weeks per rat was 170± 12mg
Summary
A total of 75 young (6-week-old) male Wistar rats were purchased from Japan SLC (Shizuoka, Japan). The animals were given drinking water containing MNNG The stock solution was changed once a week, and was diluted to 50 jig ml-' with tap water just before use. The rats were given normal tap water ad libitum. These groups were given the following s.c. injections every other day between 2 and 3 p.m. until the end of the experiment in week 52: Group 1 (25 rats), the vehicle only, olive oil at 1 ml kg-' body weight per day. Bromocriptine (Sigma, St. Louis, MO) suspended in olive oil at dosages of 1 or 2 mg kg-' body weight per day, respectively
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