Sarcoma in Rats from the Ingestion of a Crude Wheat-Germ Oil Made by Ether Extraction

Abstract

A preliminary report (1) announcing the occurrence of neoplasms in Wistar rats following the ingestion of crude wheat-germ oil and a second article (2) confirmatory in character appeared in the April number of the Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. The present communication is concerned with further progress in these investigations. In all, 93 Wistar rats which have been fed crude wheat-germ oil have developed one or more malignant intra-abdominal tumors. The data relating to 70 of these rats which have died or have been sacrificed are here discussed. These primary oil tumors in white rats are sarcomatous in structure; grafts have been made in many hundreds of rats and have always taken and the grafted tumors are also sarcomata. Experimental Studies The rats were confined, usually in pairs but occasionally in groups up to 5 in number, in circular mesh wire cages, the floors of which were covered with excelsior. All the animals were placed on the stock diet of the Institute, containing the following ingredients: rolled oats 15 parts; cracked corn 60 parts; dried meat scraps 14 parts; powdered milk 10 parts; sodium chloride 1 part. To this was added 1 4/4 per cent cod-liver oil by weight. Additional nutriment consisted of greens once a week. Water was allowed freely. The crude wheat-germ oil was administered by mouth in various ways and in varying amounts.