Incidence and susceptibility to neoplasm among mice, born to neoplasm affected parents

The F1 progeny of BALB/c mice, suffering skin tumor, induced by DMBA and croton oil, showed increased incidence of skin tumors when exposed to such carcinogens. The percentages of tumors were higher in F1 generation [86 males and 98 females] than those of their parents [70 males, 90 females]. The susceptibility of F1 generation was also higher [0.94] than their parents [0.86]. These results indicated that there was an increased risk of tumor development among rodents which were born from parents suffering tumors. This could be due to the transmission of certain cancerogens from parents showing tumors to their offsprings