ICRC mouse with congenital mega-esophagus as a model to study esophageal tumorigenesis

• Published in: Carcinogenesis (New York) Vol. 10; no. 10; p. 1847
• Main Authors: Ghaisas, S, Saranath, D, Deo, M G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-10-1989
• Subjects: Aging; Animals; Diethylnitrosamine - toxicity; Esophageal Neoplasms - chemically induced; Esophageal Neoplasms - pathology; Esophagus - abnormalities; Esophagus - growth & development; Esophagus - pathology; Female; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Mucous Membrane - drug effects; Mucous Membrane - pathology; Papilloma - chemically induced; Papilloma - pathology
• ISSN: 0143-3334
• DOI: 10.1093/carcin/10.10.1847

ICRC mouse, an inbred strain, developed at the Cancer Research Institute, Bombay, exhibits mega-esophagus with markedly hyperplastic mucosa. Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) when given in drinking water at the dose of 4 mg/kg body weight/day, induced esophageal papillomas consistently in 100% of the animals, in a short period of 12 weeks. Further, tumors were produced, even at a very low cumulative dose of 28 mg/kg body weight. Development of the esophageal papillomas was dose dependent. DEN even induces esophageal tumors transplacentally in the ICRC F1 progeny. Tobacco acts predominantly as a promoter in this system. ICRC mouse thus provides a much needed animal model to study esophageal tumorigenesis, including the two-stage carcinogenesis. An interesting feature of the study is that initiation could be induced by exposure to low doses of DEN in the intra-uterine life. Tumors develop in such F1 animals only if they are fed tobacco, a predominant promoter, post-natally.