Carcinogenicity study of 3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-imidazo(1,2-alpha) pyridine in mice and rats

3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-imidazo(1,2-alpha) pyridine was tested for carcinogenicity by long-term administration in the diet to CTM mice at 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4% dose levels and to Wistar rats at 0.2 and 0.4% dose levels, and by short-term intraperitoneal injections to suckling BALB/c mice. The compound was a strong carcinogen. In CTM mice it induced carcinomas of the esophagus and forestomach at all dose levels and thymic lymphosarcomas at the two highest doses. In male and female rats, esophagus and forestomach papillomas were observed at all dose levels, whereas esophagus and forestomach carcinomas and kidney tumors were observed only at the high dose. In female rats, an increased incidence of mammary tumors was seen at the high dose. The treatment of BALB/c suckling mice by intraperitoneal injections did not induce a clear carcinogenic response.