Induction of Tumors With Cycasin in Newborn and Preweanling Rats2

Abstract

Comprehensive studies of carcinogenesis in newborn or preweanling SD rats were conducted under various dose schedules of cycasin (CAS: 14901-08-7) administration. When cycasin was given sc to newborn rats at day 0, tumors were detected in more than 80% of rats of both sexes; kidney tumors were by far the most common. The incidences of tumors declined in the older groups, namely, over 60% in both sexes in the 7-day group, 55% in males and 8.3% in females in 14-day rats, and 0% in 21-day groups. By multiple administration, tumor incidences elevated considerably. Administration ip of cycasin also gave rise to tumor induction in newborn rats. A total of 435 kidney tumors found in the experiments were studied pathologically. Most of them were classified as mesenchymal tumor; some of them metastasized. A few other tumors were found in the liver and colon.