7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced perinatal carcinogenesis and its modulation by butylated hydroxyanisole in...

We discuss the transplacental and transmammary carcinogenicity of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) in Swiss albino mice and its modulation by butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). Transmission of the carcinogen by either route elicits the development of tumour in F1 individuals, and in either situation the incidence of tumours is dependent upon the dose of DMBA administered to gestating or lactating mothers or foster mothers. However, for a given dose of carcinogen, its transplacental carcinogenicity is much greater than its transmammary carcinogenicity. Transmammary carcinogenicity is evident in F1 progeny whether they are nursed by DMBA-exposed mothers, syngenic foster mothers (Swiss albino strain) or allogenic foster mothers (C57BL/6 strain), but the incidence of tumours is appreciably lower when allogenic females are the foster mothers. DMBA administered to females during gestation appears to remain as a residue, then to find its way through the transmammary route into normal F1 individuals being foster-nursed, and to produce tumours. We have also shown the influence of age, but not of parity, of foster mothers on DMBA-induced transmammary carcinogenesis in F1 individuals. In these experiments, BHA has a chemopreventive action against DMBA-induced transplacental and transmammary carcinogenesis in mice.