Oil Gavage Research Articles

Immunomodulatory Screening Test of Corn Oil Administered Orally to Female Mice: Effect of Timing of Dosing Within 24 Hours

The effect of varying the dose-delivery time within a 24h period (12:12 light-dark cycle) on the immunomodulatory properties of corn oil administered by gavage to 120 B6C3F1 female mice was investigated. Mice, housed in six separate boxes equipped with timers to regulate light onset and offset (staggered by 4h increments), were treated for 5 consecutive days by intragastric (ig) administration of 5 mL/kg corn oil. Negative and positive control mice were given sham injections (needle inserted, but no injection). Sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) were injected intraperitoneally (ip) on the fifth day. Three days later, positive control mice were given cyclophosphamide intraperitoneally (80 mg/kg). Four days after SRBC injection, mice were weighed and killed, and spleens and thymuses were removed and weighed. Spleens were brought to single-cell suspensions and tested for an antibody response to the SRBC. Plaque-forming cells (PFCs), as measured per spleen, per 106 viable spleen cells or per 106 total spleen cells, exhibited significant circadian rhythms for mice given corn oil, but not for sham-ga-vage- and cyclophosphamide-treated mice. The peak response (acrophase, ø) occurred at 21h, 22h, and 23h after lights on (HALO), respectively, with PFC values significantly different between the different time points. Corn oil and sham gavage affected the circadian pattern of antibody production; there was a high-amplitude (21-27%) rhythm observed when mice were treated with corn oil and no rhythm when mice received the sham-gavage treatment. In addition to testing mice near the end of the daily dark span andor early light span to obtain a maximum immune response, this finding points to the importance of including as controls a group of animals that are not treated at all and a group given vehicle alone. rather than only sham-treated animals, for comparison with experimentally treated animals.

Analgesic effects of 1′,1′ dimethylheptyl- Δ8-THC-11-oic acid (CT3) in mice

The metabolic pathway leading to carboxylic acid derivatives of cannabinoids was discovered more than twenty years ago. While these compounds showed no cannabimimetjc activity, subsequent work documented several biological responses both in vitro and in vivo for the THC acids. These include inhibition of eicosanoid synthesis, antiedema effects, antagonism to PAF actions, inhibition of leucocyte adhesion and anti nociception. In this report we present data further characterizing the analgesic properties of the title substance which is a potent synthetic member of this group. CT3 was effective in the mouse hot plate assay at 48 °C showing an ED-50 of 4.31(3.37–5.83) mg kg when administered i.v (10% Cremophor EL in saline). When given by gavage in peanut oil, it resulted in 30–40% MPE (maximum possible effect) at 10 mg kg with the effect persisting for up to 5 hours. A more potent response was observed in the mouse p-phenylquinone writhing test. When given i.v., it showed an ED-50 of 1.24 (0.84–1.75) mg kg . However, no activity was found with oral administration either in peanut oil or Cremophor EL. At 10 mg kg i.v., a 100% inhibition of the writhing response was seen. The mouse formalin antinociception test was also studied in animals that received CT3 (4.64 mg kg ) I.V. Using three behavioral parameters for activity. The drug showed decreases in each category when compared with vehicle/formalin treated mice. The formalin effect showed a typical two phase, time related, response in which CT3 caused a 64% reduction in the early phase and a 48% reduction in the late phase in a composite score of nociception. Interestingly, it did not alter motor function in the rota rod procedure at 4.64 mg kg i.v.

Cypermethrin-induced alteration of thymocyte distribution and functions in prenatally-exposed rats

The synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, cypermethrin (50 mg/kg) was given during gestation to pregnant rats by gavage in corn oil. Prenatal cypermethrin exposure induced a significant decrease in the absolute number of all thymocyte subsets during the first 30 days after birth, being the double negative CD4 −CD8 −, single positive CD4 and CD8 T cells preferentially affected. Later on day 60 and 90 double positive CD4 +CD8 + and single positive thymocytes gradually recovered, while the total number of CD4 −CD8 − cells was increased. Moreover, thymocytes from rats prenatally exposed to cypermethrin showed an impaired ability to proliferate in response to different doses of Concanavalin A (ConA) and human recombinant interleukin-2 (hrIL-2) and to produce and/or release IL-2. Overall, our results indicate that cypermethrin administered during prenatal period can affect multiple steps in thymocyte differentiation pathways resulting in an altered cell subset distribution and an impairment of thymocyte functions.

Regenerative Hyperplasia Is Not Required for Liver Tumor Induction in Female B6C3F1Mice Exposed to Trihalomethanes

Chloroform (TCM), a water disinfection by-product, induced liver tumors in female mice when administered by gavage in corn oil but not when given in drinking water at comparable daily doses. Because short-term studies showed that the gavage doses also induced liver toxicity, it has been suggested that the liver tumor response occurs secondary to cytotoxicity and consequent regenerative hyperplasia induced by oxidative metabolism of TCM to the toxic dihalocarbonyl intermediate. This study compares dose–response relationships of gavage-administered chlorinated/brominated trihalomethanes for hepatotoxicity, replicative DNA synthesis, and hepatocarcinogenicity in female B6C3F1mice. The liver tumor data were obtained from previously published studies. Because bromine is a better leaving group than chlorine, metabolism of bromodichloromethane (BDCM) should produce the same intermediates as would be formed from TCM. Hence, the toxicity and carcinogenicity of BDCM was expected to be qualitatively similar to that of TCM. Dose responses for liver weight, serum sorbitol dehydrogenase and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities, hepatocyte degeneration, and hepatocyte labeling index (LI, a measure of replicative DNA synthesis) in female mice were similar following 3 weeks of gavage administration (once per day, 5 days per week) with TCM, BDCM, or chlorodibromomethane (CDBM). Fits of composite data for these trihalomethanes to a Hill equation model revealed sigmoidal dose responses for ALT activity and hepatocyte LI and a nearly linear low-dose response for liver tumor incidence. For this family of chemicals, the mouse liver tumor response was not associated with an elevated hepatocyte LI at doses of approximately 1 mmol/kg or less. High incidences of liver tumors were observed with BDCM and CDBM at doses that had a marginal effect or no effect on the hepatocyte LI. Thus, the carcinogenic effects of trihalomethanes are not simply a consequence of cytotoxicity and regenerative hyperplasia. The possible contributions from other activation pathways, including GSH conjugation and reductive metabolism, need to be considered in assessments of the carcinogenicity of the trihalomethanes.

Evaluation of unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) and replicative DNA synthesis (RDS) following treatment of rats and mice with p-dichlorobenzene.

p-Dichlorobenzene (PDCB) has been reported to produce tumors in the male and female mouse liver and in the male rat kidney in 2-year gavage studies (NPT, 1987). To elucidate the possible mechanisms of carcinogenicity more fully, UDS and RDS were evaluated in B6C3F1 mouse hepatocytes and F-344 rat kidney cells by autoradiography following in vivo administration of PDCB. All corn oil gavage doses of PDCB (300, 600, and 1,000 mg/kg) and the negative control resulted in < 0 net grains/nucleus (NG) in the mouse liver and rat kidney, indicating that PDCB does not induce UDS in either tissue. Compared to controls with < or = 0.29% hepatocytes in S-phase (%S), treatment of mice induced 0.46, 1.90, and 1.52 %S (males) and 2.61, 1.18, and 4.45 %S (females), which indicates that PDCB acts as an inducer of cell proliferation in the liver. In male rat kidney cells, the same doses produced 0.87, 0.67, and 1.01 %S (0.38% in controls) and in females 0.48, 0.43, and 0.32 %S (0.52% in controls), indicating that PDCB induces cell replication in the male but not the female rat kidney. Therefore, these data demonstrate that PDCB is not genotoxic in the mouse liver or rat kidney at single oral doses comparable to the daily doses given in the National Toxicology Program (NTP) bioassay (NTP, 1987). Furthermore, the increases in RDS support the hypotheses that mouse liver tumor formation occurs via stimulation of hepatocyte proliferation and male rat kidney carcinogenesis via increased renal cell proliferation.

Inhibition instead of enhancement of lipid peroxidation by pretreatment with the carcinogenic peroxisome proliferator nafenopin in rat liver exposed to a high single dose of corn oil.

Oxidative stress is discussed as a possible hepatocarcinogenic mechanism of peroxisome proliferators (PP) in rodents and is suggested to result from the induction of peroxisomal beta-oxidation (PBOX) by PP. The induced PBOX is assumed to produce excessive H2O2 from the degradation of fatty acids, ultimately leading to oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. In the present short term-study, we attempted to stimulate lipid peroxidation in male Wistar rats by (1) inducing PBOX enzymes with the peroxisome proliferator nafenopin at 90 mg/kg body weight per day in the diet for 10-11 days, and (2) by supplying the induced PBOX with an abundant amount of fatty acid as substrate, using a corn oil gavage at 20 ml/kg body weight. The corn-oil gavage alone, i.e. without preceding nafenopin treatment, enhanced liver triacylglycerol nine- to tenfold and hepatic lipid peroxidation, measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), was increased 50% compared with controls. Both observations were made after 18 h when the peak elevations occurred. Upon pretreatment with nafenopin, associated with a sevenfold induction of PBOX, the corn oil gavage however caused only a threefold maximal increase in hepatic triacylglycerol, also at the 18 h time-point; TBARS remained almost at control levels, as monitored at seven time points over 24-25 h. These results suggest that nafenopin reduces rather than enhances lipid peroxidation, despite the provision, in a short term study, of high doses of substrate to the induced enzyme system that is hypothetically causing oxidative stress in the liver.

Prenatal exposure to cypermethrin modulates rat nk cell cytotoxic functions

The synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, cypermethrin, was given during gestation to pregnant rats by gavage in corn oil. Peripheral blood and spleen cytotoxic activity of dams and their offspring were then evaluated at different times (30, 60, 90, 120 days) after birth. Pups showed a significant increase in peripheral blood natural killer (NK) and antibody-dependent (ADCC) cytotoxic activity paralleled with a similar increase in the percentage of NK-RP1 + cells and decreased activity in the spleen. Pregnant cypermethrin-exposed dams showed no changes in peripheral blood or spleen cytotoxic function during the postnatal period. Overall, these results suggest that immunomodulation of cytotoxic activity observed in the offspring is likely attributable to a specific effect of cypermethrin administered during the prenatal period.

Monoterpenes from pinewood may affect respiratory function

Chloroform (TCM), a water disinfection by-product, induced liver tumors in female mice when administered by gavage in corn oil but not when given in drinking water at comparable daily doses. Because short-term studies showed that the gavage doses also induced liver toxicity, it has been suggested that the liver tumor response occurs secondary to cytotoxicity and consequent regenerative hyperplasia induced by oxidative metabolism of TCM to the toxic dihalocarbonyl intermediate. This study compares dose–response relationships of gavage-administered chlorinated/brominated trihalomethanes for hepatotoxicity, replicative DNA synthesis, and hepatocarcinogenicity in female B6C3F1mice. The liver tumor data were obtained from previously published studies. Because bromine is a better leaving group than chlorine, metabolism of bromodichloromethane (BDCM) should produce the same intermediates as would be formed from TCM. Hence, the toxicity and carcinogenicity of BDCM was expected to be qualitatively similar to that of TCM. Dose responses for liver weight, serum sorbitol dehydrogenase and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities, hepatocyte degeneration, and hepatocyte labeling index (LI, a measure of replicative DNA synthesis) in female mice were similar following 3 weeks of gavage administration (once per day, 5 days per week) with TCM, BDCM, or chlorodibromomethane (CDBM). Fits of composite data for these trihalomethanes to a Hill equation model revealed sigmoidal dose responses for ALT activity and hepatocyte LI and a nearly linear low-dose response for liver tumor incidence. For this family of chemicals, the mouse liver tumor response was not associated with an elevated hepatocyte LI at doses of approximately 1 mmol/kg or less. High incidences of liver tumors were observed with BDCM and CDBM at doses that had a marginal effect or no effect on the hepatocyte LI. Thus, the carcinogenic effects of trihalomethanes are not simply a consequence of cytotoxicity and regenerative hyperplasia. The possible contributions from other activation pathways, including GSH conjugation and reductive metabolism, need to be considered in assessments of the carcinogenicity of the trihalomethanes.

Chemopreventive agents-induced regression of azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypt foci with the recovery of hexosaminidase activity.

Chemopreventive agents-induced regression of azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypt foci with the recovery of hexosaminidase activity.

Chloroform in Drinking Water Prevents Hepatic Cell Proliferation Induced by Chloroform Administered by Gavage in Corn Oil to Mice

Chloroform administered by gavage in corn oil, but not when administrated in drinking water, has been shown to induce liver cancer in female B6C3F1 mice and to enhance cell proliferation. Since humans are exposed to chloroform in their drinking water, we evaluated whether exposure by this route would interact with the activity of chloroform when administered by gavage in corn oil. Female B6C3F1 mice were exposed to chloroform in drinking water for 33 days at 0, 300, or 1800 ppm (Experiment 1) or for 31 days at 0, 120, 240, or 480 ppm (Experiment 2) and for 3 days prior to termination also received a daily dose of 263 mg/kg chloroform administered by gavage in corn oil. Exposure to chloroform in drinking water reduced both the hepatotoxicity and the enhanced cell proliferation (bromodeoxyuridine-labeling index and mitotic index) elicited in response to chloroform administered by gavage in corn oil. Hence, chloroform administered in drinking water reduced the activity of chloroform administered by gavage in corn oil, suggesting that it would also reduce the hepatocarcinogenic activity of chloroform administered by gavage.

Effect of subchronic corn oil gavage on the acute toxicity of orally administered bromodichloromethane

Bromodichloromethane (BDCM) is a by-product of water chlorination and is the second most common trihalomethane (THM) in finished drinking water. It has been reported that delivery of THMs in corn oil can influence the site and magnitude of toxic and carcinogenic responses in rodents, perhaps by inducing metabolizing enzymes or altering tissue composition. To determine if corn oil influences the acute toxicity of BDCM, adult male F-344 rats were pretreated 5 days/week for 6 weeks with oral doses of corn oil or water at a volume of 5 ml/kg. Following pretreatment. animals were gavaged with a single dose of 0, 200 or 400 mg BDCM/kg in 10% Emulphor ®. Urine was collected at timed intervals over a 48-h period following BDCM administration. Rats were sacrificed at this time and organs and blood removed. Urine and serum were analyzed for indicators of toxicity. Corn oil pretreatment did not enhance the acute hepato- or nephrotoxicity of BDCM, suggesting that vehicle effects noted in previous THM toxicity and carcinogenicity studies are more likely due to pharmacokinetic differences between administration in corn oil and aqueous gavage vehicles than to altered tissue composition or physiological changes.

Phenolphthalein: induction of micronucleated erythrocytes in mice

Phenolphthalein was tested for the induction of micronucleated erythrocytes in mice. Results of an initial investigation revealed significant, dose-related increases in micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MN-PCE) and normochromatic erythrocytes (MN-NCE) in peripheral blood samples of male and female mice exposed to 0.6% to 5% phenolphthalein (approximately 1100 to 10,000 mg/kg/day) in feed for 90 days (Dietz et al., 1992). Results from a second long-term feed study with Swiss CD-1 mice confirmed this effect. However, administration of comparable doses of phenolphthalein by corn oil gavage on two consecutive days gave negative results in a mouse bone marrow micronucleus test. Subsequent tests were performed to clarify the conflicting results seen in the chronic exposure, dosed-feed, peripheral blood studies and the acute, corn oil gavage, bone marrow studies. Phenolphthalein was administered to male B6C3F 1 mice in feed (3%) for 14 days. Peripheral blood samples taken at 4, 7, and 14 days all showed significant increases in micronucleated PCE; bone marrow samples taken on days 7 and 14 also were clearly positive for micronucleus induction. Therefore, comparable results were obtainable from both bone marrow and peripheral blood analyses. Because of the negative results in the two-exposure gavage test, additional tests were then designed to investigate the effects of bolus vs continuous dosing, feeding vs gavage administration, and corn oil vs feed as a carrier for phenolphthalein. Results of these tests indicated that the rate of exposure to phenolphthalein affects the frequency of induced MN-PCE and that micronucleated erythrocytes can be induced by phenolphthalein either by feeding or by corn oil gavage administration. In all the acute exposure studies, relatively high doses of phenolphthalein (2000–6000 mg/kg/day for at least 2 days) were required to induce micronuclei. The positive results obtained with phenolpthalein in vivo were consistent with the results of an in vitro chromosomal aberration test in Chinese hamster ovary cells, where dose-related increases in aberrations were noted only in cells treated in the presence of induced rat liver S9.

The effects of subacute and subchronic oral exposure to cis-1,2-dichloroethylene in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Cis-1,2-dichloroethylene was administered daily by corn oil gavage to male and female Sprague-Dawley rats at the following dose levels: 1.0, 3.0, 10.0 and 22.0 mmol/kg/day for 14 days. Doses gavaged during the 90-day subchronic study were 0.33, 1.00, 3.00 and 9.00 mmol/kg/day. There were no compound-related deaths or histopathological changes demonstrated. Significant increases in relative liver weights were seen after 14- and 90-days of treatment in both sexes. This study demonstrates some indication of toxicity at subacute and subchronic exposure levels as low as 0.33 mmol/kg/day. Implications of liver abnormalities were demonstrated at an exposure level of 1 mmol/kg/day while kidney abnormalities (relative weights) were demonstrated at an exposure level of 0.33 mmol/kg/day.

Toxicity studies of 1,3-dichlorobenzene in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats received 1,3-dichlorobenzene daily by corn oil gavage for 10 or 90 consecutive days. The 10-day study doses were 0, 37, 147, 368 and 735 mg/kg; the 90-day study doses were 0, 9, 37, 147 and 588 mg/kg. In the 10-day study, there was a significant depression of body weight in both sexes at 735 mg/kg. Liver weights were significantly increased in both sexes at 368 and 735 mg/kg. Serum cholesterol levels were significantly elevated in both sexes at 368 and 735 mg/kg. Histopathological evaluation revealed centrolobular hepatocellular degeneration at 368 mg/kg in males and 735 mg/kg in females. In the 90-day study, body weights were significantly depressed in both sexes at 588 mg/kg. Normalization of food and water consumption by final body weight indicated that at 588 mg/kg both sexes had increased food and water consumption relative to controls. Absolute and relative liver weights were significantly increased in both sexes at 147 and 588 mg/kg. Relative kidney weights were significantly higher in both sexes at 588 mg/kg and in males at 147 mg/kg. Serum cholesterol and calcium levels were significantly elevated over controls in females at 37, 147, and 588 mg/kg, and in males at all dose levels. Histopathological evaluation at 147 and/or 588 mg/kg demonstrated liver and thyroid lesions in both sexes, and pituitary and kidney lesions in males. A NOAEL was not firmly established.

Comparison of the toxicity of cinnamaldehyde when administered by microencapsulation in feed or by corn oil gavage

The toxicity of cinnamaldehyde (CNMA) was compared after administration by gavage and in dosed feed. Rats and mice of both sexes received CNMA by daily corn oil gavage (for 2 wk), or in microencapsulated form in feed (2 wk for rats, 3 wk for mice). Feed formulations contained 0–10% CNMA microcapsules, equivalent to approximate daily doses of 0–3000 mg CNMA/kg body weight for rats and 0–10,000 mg CNMA/kg body weight for mice. Concentrations were chosen to deliver CNMA doses approximately equal to doses in the gavage study. Gavage doses of 2620 mg/kg/day and above in mice and 940 mg/kg/day and above in rats produced nearly 100% mortality; there were no deaths in animals receiving microencapsulated CNMA. Rats and mice receiving CNMA in feed showed a dose-related decrease in body weight gain, which was accompanied in rats by hypoplastic changes in reproductive organs and accessory sex glands. CNMA administration by either route caused hyperplasia of the forestomach mucosa. These results demonstrate that microencapsulation in feed can present a useful alternative to gavage dosing for repeated-dose or prolonged-exposure studies, in that (1) the toxic effects of CNMA were similar after gavage dosing and after administration in microencapsulated form in feed, (2) ingestion of chemical in the feed more closely approximates human exposures, and (3) microencapsulation allows the delivery of higher net doses of chemical, while avoiding the acutely toxic effects of a bolus dose.

Investigations of the genotoxicity and cell proliferative activity of dichlorvos in mouse forestomach

This study investigated the possible mechanism by which dichlorvos may have caused forestomach tumours in mice in a chronic corn oil gavage cancer bioassay [NTP (1989) Toxicology and carcinogenesis studies of dichlorvos in F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice (gavage studies). National Toxicology Program Technical Report 342, NIH Publ. No 89-2598]. For this purpose, a method has been developed to assess the genetoxicity of irritant substances on mouse forestomach epithelium. Groups of five B6C3F1 mice were given a single oral dose of dichlorbos, the genotoxic forestomach carcinogen 1-methyl-3-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) or the irritant, non-genotoxic forestomach carcinogen butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). After periods of 2–48 h, three parameters were assessed: unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) by autoradiography of tissue sections, replicative DNA synthesis (RDS) also by autoradiography of incorporated [ 3H]thymidine, and histopathological changes, including hyperplasia. MNNG induced UDS but not RDS or hyperplasia in forestomach eptthelium consistent with its genotoxic mode of action. BHA and dichlorvos did not induce UDS, consistent with absence of genotoxic activity in the forestomach after in vivo exposure. In contrast, BHA and dichlorvos induced RDS and subsequent hyperplasia, which is likely to result from irritant damage. These data suggest that the chronic effects of dichlorvos on mouse forestomach epithelium in the oral gavage bioassay were mediated via enforced cell proliferation, rather than a genotoxic mechanism.

Route of Administration Determines Whether Chloroform Enhances or Inhibits Cell Proliferation in the Liver of B6C3F1 Mice

Route of Administration Determines Whether Chloroform Enhances or Inhibits Cell Proliferation in the Liver of B6C3F1 Mice. Pereira, M. A. (1994). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 23, 8792.Chloroform administered by garage has been shown to induce liver cancer in B6C3F1 mice; however, when administered in the drinking water, chloroform inhibited liver cancer in mice. The effect of chloroform administered by these two routes upon cell proliferation in mouse liver was determined. Female B6C3F1 mice were divided into five treatment groups: (1) chloroform (263 mg/kg body wt) by gavage in corn oil, (2) 1800 ppm chloroform in drinking water, (3) 1800 ppm chloroform in drinking water plus 10 ml/kg body wt corn oil by gavage, (4) 10 ml/kg body wt corn oil by gavage, and (5) untreated controls. Five days prior to termination, the mice were implanted subcutaneously with a 7-day osmotic minipump containing 30 mg/ml bromodeoxyuridine. Mice were terminated after 5, 12, 33, and 159 days of exposure. Chloroform administered by gavage in corn oil increased cell proliferation at all terminations, while, when administered in drinking water, cell proliferation was inhibited on Days 5 and 12. At 33 and 159 days, chloroform administered in the drinking water did not affect cell proliferation, even though the dose received by the animals was comparable to that given in corn oil by gavage. Therefore, cell proliferation was enhanced only by chloroform administered in corn oil by gavage, which corresponds to the hepatocarcinogenicity of chloroform administered by this route.

Induced Cytotoxicity and Cell Proliferation in the Hepatocarcinogenicity of Chloroform in Female B6C3F1 Mice: Comparison of Administration by Gavage in Corn Oil vs ad Libitum in Drinking Water

Induced Cytotoxicity and Cell Proliferation in the Hepatocarcinogenicity of Chloroform in Female B6C3F1 Mice: Comparison of Administration by Gavage in Corn Oil vs ad Libitum in Drinking Water. Larson, J. L., Wolf, D. C., and Butterworth, B. E. (1994). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 22, 90-102.Chloroform increases the incidence of liver tumors in B6C3F1 mice when administered in by gavage in corn oil, but not when given in the drinking water at similar daily doses. Since cytotoxicity and regenerative cell proliferation have been implicated in the tumorigenic process for this nongenotoxic agent, these effects of chloroform in corn oil and drinking water were evaluated under conditions similar to the two bioassays. Female B6C3F1 mice were administered oral doses of 0, 3, 10, 34, 90, 238, or 477 mg/kg chloroform dissolved in corn oil 5 days/week for periods of 4 days or 3 weeks, or were continually exposed to chloroform in the drinking water at concentrations of 0, 60, 200, 400, 900, or 1800 ppm for 4 days or 3 weeks, at which time they were necropsied. 5-Bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) was delivered via osmotic pumps implanted 3.5 days prior to necropsy. Cell proliferation was evaluated as the percentage of hepatocytes that entered S-phase over 3.5 days (labeling index, LI), measured by immunohistochemical detection of BrdU incorporated into the DNA. Dose-dependent changes included centrilobular necrosis and markedly elevated LI in mice given 238 or 477 mg/kg chloroform in corn oil (the average daily doses that produced tumors in the cancer bioassay). The no-observed-effect level for histopathological changes was 10 mg/kg/day and for induced cell proliferation was 34 mg/kg/day for chloroform given in corn oil. Chloroform given in the drinking water did not increase the hepatic LI after either 4 days or 3 weeks in any of the dose groups, nor were any microscopic alterations observed in the livers, even though the cumulative daily amount of chloroform ingested in the 1800-ppm exposure group was 329 mg/kg/day. The sustained increase in LI in the livers of mice administered hepatocarcinogenic doses of chloroform in corn oil, but not for chloroform in drinking water, is evidence that chloroform-induced mouse liver cancer is secondary to events associated with induced cytolethality and cell proliferation. The triggering of these effects appears to be dependent on both the rate and duration of chloroform delivery to the target tissues. Thus, the most straightforward risk assessment for chloroform for this tissue would assign no increased cancer risk for dosing regimens that do not induce cytolethality and cell proliferation.

Induced Cytotoxicity and Cell Proliferation in the Hepatocarcinogenicity of Chloroform in Female B6C3F1 Mice: Comparison of Administration by Gavage in Corn Oil vs ad Libitum in Drinking Water

Chloroform increases the incidence of liver tumors in B6C3F mice when administered in by gavage in corn oil, but not when given in the drinking water at similar daily doses. Since cytotoxicity and regenerative cell proliferation have been implicated in the tumorigenic process for this nongenotoxic agent, these effects of chloroform in corn oil and drinking water were evaluated under conditions similar to the two bioassays. Female B6C3F mice were administered oral doses of 0, 3, 10, 34, 90, 238, or 477 mg/kg chloroform dissolved in corn oil 5 days/week for periods of 4 days or 3 weeks, or were continually exposed to chloroform in the drinking water at concentrations of 0, 60, 200,400, 900, or 1800 ppm for 4 days or 3 weeks, at which time they were necropsied. 5-Bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) was de livered via osmotic pumps implanted 3.5 days prior to necropsy. Cell proliferation was evaluated as the percentage of hepato cytes that entered S-phase over 3.5 days (labeling index, LI), measured by immunohistochemical detection of BrdU incorporated into the DNA. Dose-dependent changes included centrilobular necrosis and markedly elevated LI in mice given 238 or 477 mg/kg chloroform in corn oil (the average daily doses that produced tumors in the cancer bioassay). The no-observed-effect level for histopathological changes was 10 mg/kg/day and for induced cell proliferation was 34 mg/kg/day for chloroform given in corn oil. Chloroform given in the drinking water did not increase the hepatic LI after either 4 days or 3 weeks in any of the dose groups, nor were any microscopic alterations observed in the livers, even though the cumulative daily amount of chloro form ingested in the 1800-ppm exposure group was 329 mg/kg/ day. The sustained increase in LI in the livers of mice administered hepatocarcinogenic doses of chloroform in corn oil, but not for chloroform in drinking water, is evidence that chloroform-induced mouse liver cancer is secondary to events associated with induced cytolethality and cell proliferation. The triggering of these effects appears to be dependent on both the rate and duration of chloroform delivery to the target tissues. Thus, the most straightforward risk assessment for chloroform for this tissue would assign no increased cancer risk for dosing regimens that do not induce cytolethality and cell proliferation.

Inhibition of rat mononuclear cell leukemia by corn oil gavage: in vivo, in situ and immune competence studies.

Corn oil administered by oral gavage decreases the spontaneous incidence of mononuclear cell leukemia (MNCL) in male Fischer rats used as vehicle controls in long-term carcinogenesis experiments. We used an MNCL transplant model, an in situ MNCL cell proliferation assay and immune competence assays to explore mechanism(s) underlying the effects of corn oil gavage on MNCL development in male rats. Relative to non-gavaged or water-gavaged rats, corn oil-gavaged rats had approximately 25% lower MNCL incidence as well as longer MNCL latency and increased survival. There were no differences in body weight or caloric intake between treatment groups, as corn oil-gavaged rats compensated for calories supplied by the gavaged oil by consuming less food. These data indicate that transplanted MNCL cells grew slower in corn oil-gavaged rats than in non-gavaged or water-gavaged rats and suggest that corn oil gavage may exert its effects through a decrease in protein or other nutrients. Five-day proliferation rates of cultured MNCL cells in diffusion chambers implanted in male corn oil-gavaged rats were 40% less than in water-gavaged rats, suggesting nutrition-sensitive endogenous factors mediate the suppression of MNCL cell proliferation in corn oil-gavaged rats. Corn oil-gavaged rats had 54% lower serum growth hormone (GH) levels, and replacement of GH into corn oil-gavaged rats by osmotic minipump infusion increased in situ MNCL cell proliferation to rates observed in water-gavaged animals. Corn oil-gavaged rats also showed enhanced cellular immune competence as measured by mitogen stimulation, natural cytotoxicity and immunofluorescence assays. Taken together, these findings suggest corn oil administered by oral gavage may decrease MNCL development by slowing MNCL cell proliferation, mediated at least in part by altered levels of diffusible factors such as GH, and/or by enhancing immune competence.