Suppressive effect of 1,4-phenylene diisothiocyanate onN-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine-induced urinary bladder carcinogenesis in male ICR mice

Abstract

The modifying effects of dietary administration of 1,4-phenylene diisothiocyanate (DITC) on N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN)-induced urinary bladder carcinogenesis during the initiation and post-initiation phases were examined in male ICR mice. Five-week-old animals were divided into 5 groups. Groups 1-3 were given BBN (500 ppm) in drinking water for 6 weeks starting at age 6 week. Mice in Group 2 were given the diet containing 100 ppm DITC for 8 weeks during the initiation phase, starting 1 week before BBN exposure. Animals in Group 3 were fed the experimental diet for 24 weeks during the post-initiation phase starting 1 week after the cessation of BBN exposure. Mice in Group 4 were given only the diet containing the test compound, and those in Group 5 were given the basal diet alone throughout the experiment (32 weeks). The frequency of bladder lesions, neoplasms, dysplasia and hyperplasia, was analyzed histopathologically. The cell-proliferation activity estimated by the 5-bromodeoxyuridine labeling index (BrdU-LI), and cell cycle progression by counting cyclin D1-positive cell ratios were compared among the groups using immunohistochemistry. Administration of DITC in the initiation phase reduced significantly the incidence of urinary bladder carcinoma and dysplasia. The frequencies of any lesions of urinary bladder were not reduced by DITC in post-initiation phase. Dietary exposure of this agent in initiation phase reduced significantly both BrdU-LI and cyclin D1-positive cell ratios in any bladder lesions. Administration of DITC in post-initiation phase also significantly reduced BrdU-LI in bladder neoplasms and hyperplasia and cyclin D1-positive cell ratios in urinary bladder carcinoma as well as dysplasia. These results suggest that dietary DITC could be a preventive agent against BBN-induced bladder carcinogenesis in mice when fed during the initiation phase.