Open AccessInhibitory Effects of Benzyl Isothiocyanate and Benzyl Thiocyanate on Diethylnitrosamine‐induced Hepatocarcinogenesis in Rats
Author(s) -
Sugie Shigeyuki,
Okumura Ataru,
Tanaka Takuji,
Mori Hideki
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
japanese journal of cancer research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 0910-5050
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.1993.tb02059.x
Subject(s) - benzyl isothiocyanate , carcinogen , medicine , chemistry , isothiocyanate , thiocyanate , endocrinology , basal (medicine) , glutathione , phenethyl isothiocyanate , anticarcinogen , biochemistry , carcinogenesis , enzyme , cancer , insulin
The effects of two aromatic thiocyanates, benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) and benzyl thiocyanate (BTC), on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)‐induced hepatocarcinogenesis were examined in rats. A total of 108 male ACI/N rats, 5 weeks old, were divided into 6 groups (18 rats in each). Group 1 was given a single i.p, injection of DEN (200 mg/kg body weight) one week after the start of the experiment and then kept on the basal diet until the end of the experiment (1 year). Groups 2 and 3 were treated with DEN and received dietary BITC (100 ppm) or BTC (100 ppm), respectively, throughout the experimental duration. Groups 4 and 5 were not given the carcinogen and were fed the diet containing BITC or BTC, respectively. Group 6 was kept on the basal diet alone and served as a control. Liver neoplasms were seen in Groups 1, 2 and 3. Incidence and average number of liver neoplasms in Group 2 were significantly smaller than in Group 1 ( P <0.0005 and P <0.001, respectively). The incidence of liver neoplasms in Group 3 was slightly lower than in Group 1, although the difference was not statistically significant. The numbers of glutathione S‐transferase placental form (GST‐P)‐positive foci in Group 2 and γ‐glutarnyltranspepridase (GGT)‐positive foci in Groups 2 and 3 were significantly smaller than those in Group 1 ( P <0.001). The average and unit areas of GST‐P‐ or GGT‐positive foci in Group 2 or 3 were also significantly smaller than those in Group 1 ( P <0.05). These results suggest that BITC and BTC are chemopreventive agents for DEN‐induced liver tumorigenesis.