Experimental induction of renal tumors

Early Onset of Spontaneous Renal Preneoplastic and Neoplastic Lesions in Young Conventional Rats in Toxicity Studies

Although occurring in aged laboratory rodents, spontaneous renal tumour are unknown in animals younger than 18 weeks. A survey on renal preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions has been performed on Sprague-Dawley rats from general toxicology studies over the period January 2004—May 2006. Data from 2249 rats necropsied and 1206 rats (688 males and 518 females) examined microscopically from 52 studies, are reported. The age range at necropsy was between 12 and 18 weeks and all the animals were obtained from the same supplier. Three cases of tubular carcinoma, 1 tubular adenoma, and 4 cases of atypical tubular hyperplasia were observed in 5 females and 3 males from both control and treated groups from 6 studies with unrelated test compounds. In treated rats, the lesions were considered spontaneous in nature, rather than related to treatment, because of: (1) their sporadic incidence, (2) the short duration of the studies, and (3) the absence of similar lesions in other rats given the same test compound. These lesions are considered a recently occurring spontaneous finding, and the similarities with the familial renal cancer models, namely the Eker and the Nihon models, strongly suggest genetic factors as responsible for the lesions.

Enhanced neoplastic lesion development with adenine-induced experimental multicystic nephropathy by adenine--a model system for the analysis of renal tumor generation in long-term hemodialysis patients

To cast light on the high incidence of renal cell tumors (RCT) in long-term hemodialysis patients, the role of background multicystic nephropathy was studied in a rat model. Group 1 animals were initially given N-ethyl-N-hydroryethylnitrosamine (EHEN) then subjected to adenine feeding until killing during weeks 20-27. Groups 2 and 3 received EHEN and adenine, respectively. All rats receiving adenine developed multicystic nephropathy. The incidence of renal cell hyperplasias (RCH) and multiplicities of both RCH and RCT in Group 1 were significantly increased as compared with Group 2, suggesting multicystic nephropathy provides favorable environment for tumor development.

Enzymic pattern of preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions induced in the kidney of CBA mice by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine

Mouse renal cell tumors (RCTs) were induced in male CBA mice by 5 subcutaneous injections of 8 mg 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)/kg body weight once a week. After a lag period of 2 yr kidneys were removed, and serial cryostat sections of the kidneys were histochemically analyzed for the following parameters: glycogen content, basophilia, and the activities of glycogen synthase (SYN), glycogen phosphorylase (PHO), glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), hexokinase (HK), pyruvate kinase (PK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malic enzyme (ME), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT). RCTs displayed the same histochemical profile irrespective of their size and growth pattern. In comparison with the normal kidney epithelium, the neoplastic cells exhibited elevated activities of enzymes for glycolysis (HK, PK, LDH) and the pentose phosphate pathway (G6PDH), while negative G6Pase and low SDH activity were observed in these cells. The majority of RCTs showed high PHO activity and weak staining for SYN. Activities of ALPase and GGT were negative in most of the RCTs. Markedly enlarged cells with atypical nuclei were detected in some advanced RCTs. Higher activities of glycolytic and mitochondrial enzymes and G6PDH were found in these enlarged cells than in other tumor cells. Tubular preneoplastic lesions were similar to neoplastic lesions in morphological and histochemical characteristics. The present study revealed that a markedly elevated capacity for glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway occurred in RCTs in mice. A similar histochemical pattern in the few preneoplastic tubular lesions observed suggests that these metabolic aberrations emerge early during carcinogenesis, but additional studies on early stages of renal carcinogenesis are needed to substantiate this assumption.

Analysis of proliferative activity in renal lesions induced by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP) in male Syrian golden hamsters

Binding of a specific antibody to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and staining of argyrophilic proteins associated with nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) were investigated in proliferative lesions induced by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP) in the hamster kidney. Thirty male Syrian golden hamsters were given three weekly s.c. injections of BOP (10 mg/kg body wt.) and sacrificed for characterization of proliferative changes 30 weeks after the first BOP treatment. Morphologically, lesions of the tubular epithelia were classified either as tubular adenoma or dysplasia, the latter being further classified into small cluster, acidophilic cell, clear cell and cystic types. Immunohistochemistry for PCNA revealed significant increases of cell proliferation activity in adenomas and acidophilic cell types of dysplasia, along with significantly elevated mean numbers of AgNORs per nucleus. The results thus indicate that the acidophilic cell type of dysplasia may be of prime significance as the preneoplastic renal lesion induced by BOP.

Tumors in rat kidney generated by initiation with trans-4-acetylaminostilbene and several promoting treatments

trans-4-Acetylaminostilbene (AAS) is a complete carcinogen in rats and produces quite selectively tumors in Zymbal's glands. On the basis of DNA adduct formation, it has been proposed that this model arylamine initiates neoplastic transformation of cells in many tissues, particularly liver and kidney, which, in the classical sense are considered to be non-target tissues for this chemical. In the present study an initiating treatment with AAS was followed by unilateral nephrectomy and the application of two nephrotoxic substances, gentamycin or beta-cyclodextrin which, among other activities, stimulate cell proliferation specifically in kidney. The initiating dose of AAS, given alone, gave rise to Zymbal's gland and mammary tumors in female Wistar rats within 88 weeks but not to liver or kidney tumors. When the initiation treatment was followed by unilateral nephrectomy, alone or in combination with gentamycin, or by beta-cyclodextrin, four tumors in two out of ten animals, eight tumors in three/ten, and seven tumors in three/ten, respectively, were observed in the kidney. The administered dose of gentamycin was not sufficient to induce tumors on its own. The results support the view that the genotoxic effects of AAS produce promotable lesions in rat kidney. None of the animals that had been treated with AAS, with or without other treatments, developed tumors or the predominant types of preneoplastic lesions in the liver within 88 weeks; this supports the notion that liver, like kidney, is not a target for complete carcinogenesis for this chemical.

Experimental models of kidney tumors

We here present in outline some outstanding results on the animal models of renal tumors submitted to the highest attention, which include two kinds of epithelial neoplasms: those developed from the epithelium lining each the renal tubules (renal cell tumors) and pelvis; the mesenchymal tumor of rat; and tumors with embryonal appearance: the nephroblastoma as well as the variant of it known as the estrogen-induced tumor in the hamster. The review deals with methods for tumor induction and the pathobiology of tumors, the latter mainly focused on the identification of the precise types of renal cells committed in tumor origin. The existence of closely related counterparts of these animal tumors in man is also emphasized, by representing a situation of great potentiality, already exploited, to improve understanding of both the nature and development of renal tumors in man.

Inhibitory effect of potassium citrate on rat renal tumors induced by N-ethyl-N-hydroxyethylnitrosamine followed by potassium dibasic phosphate

Potassium dibasic phosphate (PDP) was administered at a concentration of 10% by weight in basal diet to unilaterally nephrectomized Wistar rats previously given 1000 ppm N-ethyl-N-hydroxyethyl-nitrosamine (EHEN) in the diet for 2 weeks. To study the effect of alkalinization on renal mineralization, some animals concomitantly received 5% potassium citrate (PC). Feeding PDP alone promoted adenomatous hyperplasias, which were regarded as preneoplastic lesions, as well as renal cell tumors in EHEN-initiated rats, whereas the addition of PC to PDP diets reduced the promoting effect. Histopathology, serum biochemistry and urinalysis indicated retardation of renal calcium crystallization by PC. Two other phosphate salts, sodium phosphate (SP) and calcium phosphate (CP), were also administered. SP showed a slight promoting effect on adenomatous hyperplasias and a 2-fold increase in the yield of renal cell tumors, while CP induced a clear reduction of both lesions, over EHEN alone. The promoting effects of both PDP and SP and the inhibitory effect of PC were somewhat correlated to 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine labeling indices, the degree of nephropathy, and mineralization in the kidney. Immunohistochemically, the nephropathy induced by phosphate salts was not linked to alpha 2u-globulin. A pathogenesis for renal carcinogenesis is suggested in which nephropathy associated with mineralization enhances the development of renal cell tumors.

Enhancing effects of harman and norharman on induction of preneoplastic and neoplastic kidney lesions in rats initiated with N-ethyl-N-hydroxyethylnitrosamine

The modifying potential of two nephrotoxic agents, harman and norharman, on N-ethyl-N-hydroxyethylnitrosamine (EHEN)-induced renal and hepatic carcinogenesis was investigated in male F344/DuCrj rats. Animals were given 0.1% EHEN in their drinking water for the first 2 weeks as an initiator. Subsequently, starting 3 weeks from the commencement, they were fed diet containing these compounds at concentrations of 1000, 500 or 0 ppm until week 26, and then killed for light microscopic examination. The mean numbers of renal tubular cell hyperplasias/cm2 and those of tumors/cm2 in rats given harman and norharman at 1000 ppm after initiation, but not at 500 ppm, were significantly increased as compared to the control values. However, neither compound modified liver carcinogenesis. It is concluded that harman and norharman show enhancing effects on rat kidney carcinogenesis, when ingested at dose levels which cause renal tubular damage.

Dose-dependent renal tubular toxicity of harman and norharman in male F344 rats

The renal toxicity of harman and norharman, administered for 2 or 4 weeks at dietary levels of 1,000, 500, or 0 parts per million (ppm), was investigated in 6-week-old male F344/DuCrj rats. Although rats fed 1,000 ppm harman or norharman, but not the 500 ppm level, demonstrated marked body weight retardation from 1 week to termination, no mortalities occurred. Marked elevation of water consumption was evident in rats given harman or norharman at 1,000 ppm, but not at 500 ppm, together with large increases in urine of low specific gravity. Urinary lysosomal enzymes (N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, NAG, and lactate dehydrogenase, LDH) and sugar levels were increased, and the brush border enzymes (gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, GGT, and alkaline phosphatase, ALP) decreased. Furthermore, serum biochemistry revealed clear elevation of parameters indicating renal toxicity in these rats. Histopathologically, rats fed 1,000 ppm harman or norharman, but not 500 ppm, demonstrated focal toxic renal degenerative/necrotic and regenerative lesions in proximal, distal, and collecting tubules. These changes were associated with a clearly increased labeling index (LI) of the nuclei of renal tubular epithelial cells on immunohistochemical staining for 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU). Chemical specific crystal formation within tubular lumina was evident in rats fed 1,000 ppm, but not 500 ppm, this being considered the cause of the renal tubular lesions. It was concluded that harman and norharman exert renal toxicity at the dietary level of 1,000 ppm, but not 500 ppm, in male F344 rats.

Preneoplastic lesions in rodent kidney induced spontaneously or by non-genotoxic agents: predictive nature and comparison to lesions induced by genotoxic carcinogens

The current literature on non-genotoxic renal carcinogens and the associated neoplastic and preneoplastic lesions has been reviewed in order to determine their occurrence and predictive nature with regard to tumor formation. In addition the mechanisms involved in the genesis of renal tumors are discussed. A more generalized classification of preneoplastic and neoplastic renal lesions was introduced, based on studies conducted with genotoxic and non-genotoxic renal carcinogens. Reports on preneoplastic lesions were found in the literature for control animals as well as animals treated with non-genotoxic carcinogens. Due to the paucity of data regarding preneoplastic lesions in control animals and animals treated with non-genotoxic carcinogens, new data were also generated by rereading kidney slides of control animals of a randomly selected NTP study and kidney slides of male rats treated with the highest dose of ochratoxin A, one of the most potent non-genotoxic renal carcinogens known. The control slides and the slides from the ochratoxin A study indicated that the cytologic and morphologic types of preneoplastic lesions characteristically observed in bioassays using genotoxic carcinogens are also present in control animals and animals treated with non-genotoxic carcinogens. The incidence of preneoplastic lesions was low in control animals and higher in animals treated with non-genotoxic carcinogens. The diverse classifications used in the literature did not allow a direct comparison of lesions and corresponding incidences with those of the newly generated data. However, three major tendencies were observed: (a) whenever a high incidence of preneoplastic lesions was reported, renal neoplasms were also found, (b) the larger the size and the further a lesion had progressed, the higher was the probability of tumor formation, and (c) not all preneoplastic lesions are irreversible, but reversibility seemed to decrease with increasing lesion size and progression. It must be emphasized that the data available for these conclusions are limited. This is not due to the lack of adequate numbers of bioassays with non-genotoxic carcinogens, but rather to the lack of consistent reporting of data. A generalized and more widely used classification which incorporates early lesions would certainly improve the current data base on renal lesions and provide future improvements in the predictive nature of these lesions.

The human relevance of the renal tumor-inducing potential of d-limonene in male rats: implications for risk assessment

The monoterpene d-limonene is a naturally occurring chemical which is the major component in oil of orange. Currently, d-limonene is widely used as a flavor and fragrance and is listed to be generally recognized as safe (GRAS) in food by the Food and Drug Administration (21 CFR 182.60 in the Code of Federal Regulations). Recently, however, d-limonene has been shown to cause a male rat-specific kidney toxicity referred to as hyaline droplet nephropathy. Furthermore, chronic exposure to d-limonene causes a significant incidence of renal tubular tumors exclusively in male rats. Although d-limonene is not carcinogenic in female rats or male and female mice given much higher dosages, the male rat-specific nephrocarcinogenicity of d-limonene may raise some concern regarding the safety of d-limonene for human consumption. A considerable body of scientific data has indicated that the renal toxicity of d-limonene results from the accumulation of a protein, alpha 2u-globulin, in male rat kidney proximal tuble lysosomes. This protein is synthesized exclusively by adult male rats. Other species, including humans, synthesize proteins that share significant homology with alpha 2u-globulin. However, none of these proteins, including the mouse equivalent of alpha 2u-globulin, can produce this toxicity, indicating a unique specificity for alpha 2u-globulin. With chronic exposure to d-limonene, the hyaline droplet nephropathy progresses and the kidney shows tubular cell necrosis, granular cast formation at the corticomedullary junction, and compensatory cell proliferation. Both d-limonene and cis-d-limonene-1,2-oxide (the major metabolite involved in this toxicity) are negative in in vitro mutagenicity screens. Therefore, the toxicity-related renal cell proliferation is believed to be integrally involved in the carcinogenicity of d-limonene as persistent elevations in renal cell proliferation may increase fixation of spontaneously altered DNA or serve to promote spontaneously initiated cells. The scientific data base demonstrates that the tumorigenic activity of d-limonene in male rats is not relevant to humans. The three major lines of evidence supporting the human safety of d-limonene are (1) the male rat specificity of the nephrotoxicity and carcinogenicity; (2) the pivotal role that alpha 2u-globulin plays in the toxicity, as evidenced by the complete lack of toxicity in other species despite the presence of structurally similar proteins; and (3) the lack of genotoxicity of both d-limonene and d-limonene-1,2-oxide, supporting the concept of a nongenotoxic mechanism, namely, sustained renal cell proliferation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Potentiation of renal tumorigenicity by cyclosporine A in streptozotocin diabetic rats

Male Wistar rats with streptozotocin induced diabetes were treated every third day with 10 mg/kg (13 rats) of cyclosporine A (CyA) for 20 weeks. At sacrifice, 7 of 13 rats (53.8%) demonstrated renal tumors. By contrast, only 2 of 16 streptozotocin diabetic rats (12.5%) without CyA demonstrated renal tumors. No tumors were noted in 10 non-diabetic control rats. These studies suggest that CyA potentiates renal tumorigenicity in streptozotocin diabetic rats.

Carcinogenicity of captafol in F344/DuCrj rats

Captafol was administered at dietary levels of 0 (control), 750 and 1,500 parts per million (ppm) to groups of 50 male and 50 female F344/DuCrj rats for 104 weeks, and then all animals were maintained without captafol for a further 8 weeks, and killed in week 113. Renal cell carcinoma was found in eight of 50 male rats treated with 1,500 ppm and in one of 50 male rats treated with 750 ppm of captafol. The incidences of renal adenomas, including micro-adenomas, and basophilic altered cell tubules were significantly higher in both sexes treated with captafol than in controls, and the increases were apparently dose-dependent except that of adenomas in females. The incidences of neoplastic and preneoplastic lesions of the kidney in captafol-treated animals were higher in males than in females. Captafol also induced hepatocellular carcinomas in four of 50 female rats in the 1,500 ppm group. The incidences of hyperplastic (neoplastic) nodules and foci of cellular alterations in the liver were also significantly increased in both sexes treated with captafol, the increases being dose-dependent. In conclusion, captafol induced renal cell carcinomas in male rats and hepatocellular carcinomas in female rats.