We have located links that may give you full text access.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
RESEARCH SUPPORT, NON-U.S. GOV'T
Short-term pregnancy hormone treatment of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced mammary carcinogenesis in relation to fatty acid composition of serum phospholipids in female Lewis rats.
In Vivo 2010 July
AIM: Short-term oestrogen and progesterone treatment (STEPT) mimics the pregnancy hormone milieu. This study compared the development of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced mammary cancer in female Lewis rats that received STEPT in early or later life.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats in Groups 1 and 2 received a single intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg MNU at 4 weeks old. Pellets containing 0.5 mg 17beta-estradiol and 32.5 mg progesterone (EP) were subcutaneously implanted in rats in Group 1 during 6-9 weeks old. Rats in Groups 3 and 4 received 50 mg/kg MNU at 22 weeks old and again at 23 weeks old. EP pellets were implanted in rats in Group 3 during 24-27 weeks old. At the time of EP removal and 8 weeks afterward, 4 randomly selected rats in each group were sacrificed for blood sampling. The fatty acid composition of serum phospholipids was measured by capillary gas chromatography. The remaining rats were sacrificed when they developed mammary tumours >or=1 cm in diameter or at the termination of the experiment, which was at 18 weeks old for Groups 1 and 2 and at 64 weeks old for Groups 3 and 4. Mammary cancer was histologically confirmed.
RESULTS: Group 1 had a significantly suppressed incidence of mammary cancer compared to Group 2 (7% vs. 90%), whereas the cancer incidence in Group 3 was similar to that of Group 4 (50% vs. 56%). Rats in Group 1 had significantly smaller n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratios and higher levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) than those in Group 2 at the time of EP removal but not 8 weeks after EP removal. Neither the PUFA ratios nor the DHA levels differed between Groups 3 and 4 at any time. These data suggest that the age at which STEPT is administered is important, since its mammary cancer-suppressing potential was lost in aged animals.
CONCLUSION: DHA and the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio may play a crucial role in mammary cancer suppression by STEPT.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats in Groups 1 and 2 received a single intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg MNU at 4 weeks old. Pellets containing 0.5 mg 17beta-estradiol and 32.5 mg progesterone (EP) were subcutaneously implanted in rats in Group 1 during 6-9 weeks old. Rats in Groups 3 and 4 received 50 mg/kg MNU at 22 weeks old and again at 23 weeks old. EP pellets were implanted in rats in Group 3 during 24-27 weeks old. At the time of EP removal and 8 weeks afterward, 4 randomly selected rats in each group were sacrificed for blood sampling. The fatty acid composition of serum phospholipids was measured by capillary gas chromatography. The remaining rats were sacrificed when they developed mammary tumours >or=1 cm in diameter or at the termination of the experiment, which was at 18 weeks old for Groups 1 and 2 and at 64 weeks old for Groups 3 and 4. Mammary cancer was histologically confirmed.
RESULTS: Group 1 had a significantly suppressed incidence of mammary cancer compared to Group 2 (7% vs. 90%), whereas the cancer incidence in Group 3 was similar to that of Group 4 (50% vs. 56%). Rats in Group 1 had significantly smaller n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratios and higher levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) than those in Group 2 at the time of EP removal but not 8 weeks after EP removal. Neither the PUFA ratios nor the DHA levels differed between Groups 3 and 4 at any time. These data suggest that the age at which STEPT is administered is important, since its mammary cancer-suppressing potential was lost in aged animals.
CONCLUSION: DHA and the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio may play a crucial role in mammary cancer suppression by STEPT.
Full text links
Related Resources
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices 
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app