The incidence of spontaneous mammary carcinoma in C3H mice is influenced by dietary fat given from weaning and given to the mothers during gestation and lactation.

Abstract

The influence of dietary fat given to breeding C3H female mice during gestation and lactation on the incidence of spontaneous mammary carcinoma in the female offspring was studied. EWOS' commercial diet (E-diet) for mice and two test diets, one containing 2% soy oil (S-diet) and the other 2% soy oil and 0.1% methoxy-substituted glycerol ethers (MGE-diet), instead of the animal fat in the E-diet, were used. The breeding females were given the S- or MGE-diet during gestation and lactation and the progeny the S- or E-diet from weaning. The incidence of mammary carcinoma was studied in the force-bred progeny. The results disclosed significant correlations between the diets of the progeny and the number of litters and between the number of litters and the incidence of breast carcinoma. The results also indicated a strong influence of the mother's diet on the incidence of mammary carcinoma in the female progeny.