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Tumor induction by carcinogenic agents in aquarium fish
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
|July 1, 1975
Summary
Nine carcinogens were tested on guppies and zebra fish. Several compounds induced liver tumors, and nitrosomorpholine also caused intestinal and abdominal lesions, highlighting fish as a model for cancer research.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Aquatic animal models
- Carcinogenesis research
Background:
- Aquarium fish are increasingly utilized in toxicological studies.
- Understanding carcinogen effects in aquatic models is crucial for environmental and human health.
- Fish possess physiological similarities to mammals, making them valuable for comparative cancer research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the carcinogenic effects of nine specific compounds on guppies (Poecilea reticulata) and zebra fish (Danio rerio).
- To evaluate the efficacy of various exposure methods for inducing tumors in fish.
- To assess the potential of fish as a model system for carcinogenicity testing and environmental carcinogen screening.
Main Methods:
- Administration of nine potential carcinogens to 1,220 guppies and 40 zebra fish through diverse routes: skin application, intramuscular (im) and intraperitoneal (ip) injections, feeding, pellet implantation, and aquarium water dissolution.
- Histopathological examination of fish tissues to identify and classify induced neoplasms.
- Observation and documentation of tumor development and types across different fish species and exposure methods.
Main Results:
- 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, 3-methylcholanthrene, and benzidine did not induce tumors in either fish species.
- N-2-Fluorenylacetamide, o-aminoazotoluene, 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene, diethylnitrosamine, and dimethylnitrosamine induced hepatic neoplasms, including cholangiomas, hepatoadenomas, cholangiocarcinomas, and hepatocellular cancers.
- Nitrosomorpholine induced hepatic tumors and, notably, intestinal adenocarcinomas and abdominal connective-tissue lesions in zebra fish.
Conclusions:
- Fish, specifically guppies and zebra fish, are susceptible to chemically induced carcinogenesis, particularly in the liver.
- The study demonstrates the utility of fish models for identifying carcinogenic compounds and screening environmental toxins.
- Experimental tumor induction in fish provides a robust platform for comparative oncology and toxicological research.