Abstract
Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), a peroxisome proliferator, has been shown to be a weak hepatocarcinogen in rats and mice. However, in previous studies no quantitative analysis of tumors was carried out. In the present study, F-344 male rats were given a diet containing 2% DEHP ad libitum for 108 wk. At necropsy livers were quantitatively analyzed for total tumor incidence and the number of lesions per liver after slicing the entire organ at 1- to 2-mm intervals. Neoplastic nodules and/or hepatocellular carcinomas were observed in 11 of 14 rats (78.5%). When evaluated according to the size, 57, 16, and 36% rats contained nodules ranging from 1 to 3, 3 to 5, and greater than 5 mm in size, respectively. The number of nodules per liver ranged from zero to four. These results indicate that DEHP induces tumors in a large number of animals at 2% dose levels. It is clear from this study that when a weak peroxisome proliferator is evaluated for carcinogenic effects, a complete and thorough gross examination of the liver is essential to obtain accurate tumor incidence.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 85-89 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 1 1990 |
Funding
Supported by NIH grant CA-36130. Requests for reprints should be sent to M. S. Rao, Department of Pathology, Northwestern University, Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pollution
- Toxicology