DIFFERENTIAL EFFECT OF CHRONIC ETHANOL-CONSUMPTION ON THE CARCINOGENICITY OF N-NITROSOPYRROLIDINE AND N'-NITROSONORNICOTINE IN MALE SYRIAN GOLDEN-HAMSTERS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 41  (7) , 2849-2854
Abstract
The effect of chronic ethanol consumption on the carcinogenicity of N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR) and N''-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) in male Syrian golden hamsters was investigated. Groups of hamsters were maintained on ethanol-containing or control liquid diets for 4 wk prior to and during carcinogen treatment. NPYR or NNN was administered to ethanol-consuming or control hamsters by i.p. injection over 25 wk in total doses of 1 or 2 mmol. In the group treated with 1 mmol of NPYR and maintained on a control diet, 1 of 20 hamsters had a nasal cavity tumor and 4 hamsters had tracheal tumors. In the group treated with 1 mmol of NPYR and maintained on the ethanol-containing diet, 8 of 18 hamsters had nasal cavity tumors and 9 hamsters had tracheal tumors. The corresponding results in hamsters given 2 mmol of NPYR were: nasal cavity tumors, 14 of 21 (control) and 16 of 17 (ethanol); tracheal tumors, 8 of 21 (control) and 11 of 17 (ethanol). The carcinogenicity of NPYR is enhanced in ethanol-treated Syrian golden hamsters, particularly at the lower dose. In the groups treated with 1 mmol of NNN and a control diet, 1 of 21 hamsters had a nasal cavity tumor and 4 of 21 had tracheal tumors. In the corresponding ethanol-treated groups, 1 of 17 hamsters had a nasal cavity tumor and 5 of 17 had tracheal tumors. In the hamsters given 2 mmol of NNN, the results were: nasal cavity tumors, 5 of 21 (control) and 4 of 21 (ethanol); tracheal tumors, 9 of 21 (control) and 7 of 21 (ethanol). The carcinogenicity of NNN in the Syrian golden hamster was not affected by ethanol treatment. The metabolic activation of NPYR, but not that of NNN, may be enhanced by chronic ethanol consumption in the Syrian golden hamster.