Characterization of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea--induced mammary tumors in the rat

A single intraperitoneal inoculation of 180 mg/kg N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) into 30-day-old outbred Sprague-Dawley (CD) rats resulted in an 90% incidence of mammary tumors (MTs) after an average latent period of 93 days, with an 85% rate of malignancy. The incidence, induction period, number of tumors per rats, and the rate of malignancy were reduced in rats ovariectomized prior to or shortly after (5 days) ENU exposure. Over 70% of the ENU-induced MTs regressed following ovarioectomy. The malignant MTs developed from nodules located in the terminal end buds (TEB), which are believed to contain the most susceptible cell population for chemical carcinogens. The serum calcium was elevated above control values in 92% of intact rats evaluated with MTs in the absence of bone metastases. No correlation was demonstrated between the volume of MTs or total number of MTs and the serum calcium level. The ENU-induced MT is a reproducible animal model that can be used in the investigation of the early changes in mammary cells (especially TEB) and the interrelationships between the carcinogen and ovarian hormones associated with neoplastic transformation.