Cancer induction in mice with acetaldehyde methylformylhydrazone of the false morel mushroom

Acetaldehyde methylformylhydrazone (AMFH), which occurs up to 0.3% in one of the edible false morel mushrooms, Gyromitra esculenta, was administered to noninbred Swiss mice in propylene glycol in 52 weekly intragastric instillations as 100 micrograms/g body weight. The treatment induced tumors of the lungs, preputial glands, forestomach, and clitoral glands. The tumor incidences in these four tissues in treated females were 70, 0, 16, and 12%, respectively, whereas in the treated males they were 40, 90, 0, and 0%. The corresponding tumor incidences in the solvent control females were 26, 0, 0, and 0%, whereas in the solvent control males they were 22, 0, 0, and 0%, respectively. Histopathologically, the neoplasms were classified as adenomas and adenocarcinomas of the lungs; squamous cell papillomas and carcinomas, adenocarcinomas, undifferentiated carcinomas, angiosarcomas, and fibrosarcomas of the preputial glands; squamous cell papillomas and carcinomas of the forestomach; and squamous cell papillomas and carcinomas and keratoacanthomas of the clitoral glands. The study thus proves for the first time the tumorigenicity of AMFH. In view of these and earlier findings, the human population should abstain from consumption of Gyromitra esculenta.