Colon carcinogenesis in germ-free rats with intrarectal 1,2-dimethylhydrazine and subcutaneous azoxymethane

The effect of intestinal microflora on colon carcinogenesis by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine and azoxymethane was studied, with the use of germ-free and conventional female Fischer rats. At 7 weeks of age, germ-free and conventional rats were treated with 20 weekly intrarectal 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (20 mg per kg body weight per week) or subcutaneous azoxymethane (10 mg per kg body weight per week) doses and were autopsied 15 weeks later. Tumors were induced in the small intestine and colon of germ-free and conventional rats treated with intrarectal 1,2-dimethylhydrazine; the number of rats with colon tumors and the multiplicity of tumors were decreased in germ-free rats, compared with conventional animals. Azoxymethane given subcutaneously increased the incidence and multiplicity of colon tumors in germ-free rats, compared with conventional controls. It is concluded that the intestinal microflora alter the carcinogenic and/or cocarcinogenic effect of different compounds in the large intestine.