Dietary restriction, cell proliferation and carcinogenesis: a preliminary study

• Published in: Cancer letters Vol. 38; no. 3; p. 249
• Main Authors: Lok, E, Nera, E A, Iverson, F, Scott, F, So, Y, Clayson, D B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland 01-01-1988
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Division; Diet, Reducing; Female; Mice; Neoplasms, Experimental - etiology; Thymidine - metabolism
• ISSN: 0304-3835
• DOI: 10.1016/0304-3835(88)90016-X

Four groups of female Swiss Webster mice were given either laboratory chow or a purified (semi-synthetic) diet (AIN-76A) either ad libitum or at 75% of the ad libitum rate for about 30 days. Three tissues, the crypt cells of the jejunum, the dermis and the basal epithelial cells of the esophagus were investigated using [3H]thymidine labelling and by counting mitoses; four other tissues, the alveolar cells of the mammary gland, the crypt cells of the duodenum and colo-rectum, and the transitional cells of the urinary bladder were examined using [3H]thymidine labelling only. In each case dietary restriction led to a reduction of cellular proliferation assessed by these indices. The potential of the approach for the study of the effects of dietary modification on the induction of cancer is discussed.