Unexpected sudden deaths of F344 rats in long-term toxicity studies: relationship between sudden deaths and stomach tube material or feed type.

Sudden deaths of F344 rats (F344/Du Crj (Fischer)) have occurred frequently in the late stage of carcinogenicity studies using stomach tubes. To reduce the sudden deaths, the incidence of sudden deaths was compared in the control groups from 104-week carcinogenicity studies using two different stomach tubes (metal and Teflon) and feeds (pellet and powder). The results indicate that replacing metal tubes with Teflon tubes from the first administration or after week 41 of administration was not effective in reducing the sudden deaths. On the other hand, sudden deaths did not occur at all after changing the feed from pellets to powder after week 44 or 79 of administration. In addition, although decreased body weight and retention of feed in the oral, pharyngeal and laryngeal cavities were observed in the animals that died suddenly, there were no abnormalities in histopathological examination. Therefore, it is suggested that changing the feed from pellets to powder should be effective in reducing the sudden deaths of F344 rats in long-term oral gavage studies or carcinogenicity studies.

Carcinogenic susceptibility to N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine (DHPN) in rasH2 mice.

To evaluate the susceptibility of rasH2 mice to N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine (DHPN), a potent carcinogen targeting the lung, liver, thyroid, and kidney, male, 6-week old, rasH2 mice and wild-type littermates (non-Tg mice) were given DHPN in drinking water at 0, 20 or 200 ppm, and 0 or 200 ppm, respectively, for 26 weeks. The experiment using rasH2 mice given 200 ppm DHPN and non-Tg mice given 200 and 0 ppm DHPN was completed at 20 weeks, since mortality in these groups was remarkably increased due to hemangiosarcomas of the liver. Histologically, tumors developed in the lung and liver in both rasH2 and non-Tg mice treated with DHPN. In addition, proliferative lesions were observed in the forestomach, urethra, and excretory duct of salivary glands in rasH2 mice given 200 ppm DHPN. RT-PCR analysis showed no marked difference in expression of mRNAs for the transgene and the endogenous mouse ras gene between the whole lung tissue containing a neoplasm and normal lung tissue. Our results suggest that rasH2 mice are highly susceptible to DHPN, the target organs including the forestomach, salivary gland and urethra, which have not been found to develop tumors in previous long-term carcinogenicity studies of DHPN in rats and mice.

The effects of overfeeding and moderate dietary restriction on Sprague-Dawley rat survival, pathology, carcinogenicity, and the toxicity of pharmaceutical agents.

Ad libitum (AL) overfeeding is the most significant uncontrolled variable effecting the rodent bioassay. There is a highly significant correlation between food consumption, the resultant body weight, and two-year survival in laboratory rats. We have studied the effects of AL overfeeding, moderate dietary restriction (DR) and several modified diets on Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat longevity, spontaneous disease, carcinogenesis and the toxicity of pharmaceuticals. AL feeding of diets varying in protein, fiber and metabolizable energy content did not significantly alter two-year rat survival. Moderate DR (within the range of reported AL food intake) of all diets tested significantly improved survival and delayed the onset of spontaneous degenerative disease and diet-related tumors compared to AL-fed rats. Moderate DR resulted in a similar incidence of spontaneous tumors by 2 years, however, the tumors were more likely to be incidental and not result in early mortality. There was a decreased, age-adjusted incidence of pituitary and mammary gland tumors, but tumor volume and growth time was similar between AL and DR groups indicating similar tumor progression with a delay in tumor onset. Moderate DR did not change Phase I and Phase II drug metabolizing enzyme levels and did not significantly alter the toxicological response to 5 pharmaceuticals tested at maximum tolerated doses (MTDs). Additional studies with 4 pharmaceutical candidates did demonstrate that moderate DR allowed higher doses of compounds to be given before classical MTDs were observed. However, toxicokinetic studies of two of these compounds demonstrated steady state systemic exposures that were either equal of higher in the moderate DR fed rats. These and other data indicate that the moderate DR fed SD rat is a more appropriately controlled rodent model for toxicity and carcinogenicity studies to assess human safety of candidate pharmaceuticals.