Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Japanese Journal of Cancer Research : Gann logoLink to Japanese Journal of Cancer Research : Gann
. 1992 Oct;83(10):1052–1056. doi: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.1992.tb02721.x

Significance of Strain and Sex Differences in the Development of 252Cf Neutron‐induced Liver Tumors in Mice

Akihiro Ito 1,✉, Tadateru Takahashi 1, Hiromitsu Watanabe 1, Peter Osa Ogundigie 1, Taro Okamoto 1
PMCID: PMC5918677  PMID: 1452457

Abstract

Mouse liver tumors occurring in C3H/HeN, C57BL/6N and C3B6F1 hybrid (C3H × C57BL) were studied following 252Cf fission neutron irradiation. Three strains of mice of both sexes (about 30 mice/group) were irradiated once with 252Cf at doses of 0,12.5, 50 and 200 cGy. The groups were observed for 13 months after irradiation. The incidence of liver tumors in the non‐irradiated controls was 0% in both sexes of CS7BL/6N, 11.7% in males and 0% in females of C3B6F1 and 39.5% in males and 11.4% in females of C3H/HeN mice. In the four strains of mice thus far studied, including B6C3F1 hybrid (CS7BL × C3H) which was previously studied, 252Cf irradiation has increased the tumor incidence dose‐dependently in males and in females, but less effectively in females. The mean number and size of liver tumors were clearly correlated with tumor incidence. The incidence was always highest in C3H/HeN mice of both sexes, followed by B6C3F1, C3B6F1 and C57BL/6N mice. The influence of sex hormones was studied in B6C3F1 mice of both sexes after 200 cGy of 252Cf irradiation. In males, the incidence of liver tumors was significantly decreased from 55.2% to 23.3% and 25.9% after orchidectomy, and in females it was slightly decreased from 27.6% to 14.8% and 18.8% after ovariectomy. Supplementation of testosterone in orchidectomized mice did not restore the occurrence of liver tumors.

Keywords: Liver tumor, Neutron, Strain difference, Sex difference, Mice

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (266.8 KB).

REFERENCES

  • 1. ) Ito , A. , Watanabe , H. , Naito , M. , Aoyama , H. , Nakagawa , Y. and Fujimoto , N.Induction of thyroid tumors in (C57BL/6N × C3H/HeN) Fl mice by oral ad ministration of 9–3′,4′,5′,6′‐tetrachloro‐o‐carboxyphenyl‐6‐hydroxy‐2,4,5,7‐tetraiodo‐3‐isoxanthone sodium (food red 105, rose bengal B) . J. Natl. Cancer Inst. , 77 , 277 – 281 ( 1986. ). [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 2. ) Naito , M. , Ito , A. , Watanabe , H. , Kawashima , K. and Aoyama , H.Carcinogenicity of O‐ethoxybenzylamide in (C57BL/6N × C3H/HeN) Fl mice . J. Natl. Cancer Inst. , 76 , 115 – 118 ( 1986. ). [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 3. ) Ito , A. , Mori , M. and Naito , M.Induction of uterine hemangioendothelioma and lymphoma in (C57BL/6N × C3H/HeN) Fl mice by oral administration of azathioprine . Jpn. J. Cancer Res. , 80 , 419 – 423 ( 1989. ). [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 4. ) Takahashi , T. , Watanabe , H. , Nakagawa , Y. , Mori , M. , Aoyama , H. and Ito , A.Tumor induction in B6C3F1 mice by californium‐252 . J. Radiat. Res. , 29 , 220 – 228 ( 1988. ). [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 5. ) Takahashi , T. , Watanabe , H. , Dohi , K. and Ito , A.252Cf relative biological effectiveness and inheritable effect of fission neutrons in mouse liver tumorigenesis . Cancer Res. , 52 , 1948 – 1953 ( 1992. ). [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 6. ) Frith , C.H. and Wiley , L.Spontaneous hepatocellular neoplasms and hepatic hemangiosarcomas in several strains of mice . Lab. Anim. Sci. , 32 , 157 – 162 ( 1982. ). [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 7. ) Feola , J. M. , Maruyama , Y. , Pattarasumunt , A. and Kryscio , R. M.Cf‐252 leukemogenesis in the C57BL mouse . Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. , 13 , 69 – 74 ( 1986. ). [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 8. ) Drinkwater , N. R. , Hanigan , M. H. and Kemp , C. J.Genetic and epigenetic promotion of murine hepatocarcinogenesis . In “ Mouse Liver Carcinogenesis ,” ed. Stevenson D. E. , McClain R. M. , Popp J. A. , Slaga T. J. , Ward J. M. and Pitot H. C. , pp. 163 – 176 ( 1990. ). Wiley‐Liss; , New York . [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 9. ) Drinkwater , N. R. and Ginsler , J.Genetic control of hepatocarcinogenesis in C57BL/6J and C3H/HeJ . Carcinogenesis , 7 , 1701 – 1707 ( 1986. ). [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 10. ) Lee , G. H. , Nomura , K. , Kanda , H. , Kusakabe , M. , Yoshiki , A. , Sakakura , T. and Kitagawa , T.Strain specific sensitivity to diethylnitrosamine‐induced carcinogenesis is maintained in hepatocytes of C3H/HeN ⊼ C57BL/6N chimeric mice . Cancer Res. , 51 , 3257 – 3260 ( 1991. ). [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 11. ) Kemp , C. J. and Drinkwater , N. R.The androgen receptor and liver tumor development in mice . In “ Mouse Liver Carcinogenesis ,” ed. Stevenson D. E. , McClain R. M. , Popp J. A. , Slaga T. J. , Ward J. M. and Pitot H. C. , pp. 203 – 214 ( 1990. ). Wiley‐Liss; , New York . [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12. ) Kemp , C. J. and Drinkwater , N. R.Genetic variation in liver tumor susceptibility, plasma testosterone levels, and androgen receptor binding in six inbred strains of mice . Cancer Res. , 49 , 5044 – 5047 ( 1989. ). [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 13. ) Kashimata , M. , Hiramatsu , M. and Minami , N.Sex difference and regulatory mechanism of epidermal growth factor receptor in the rat liver . Folia Pharmacol. Jpn. , 96 , 169 – 183 ( 1990. ). [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Japanese Journal of Cancer Research : Gann are provided here courtesy of Wiley

RESOURCES