Evaluation of Cell Proliferation in Rat Mammary Glands Is Not Predictive of the Carcinogenic Potential of Insulin In Vivo.

For nonclinical safety-assessment of insulin analogues in vivo, mitogenic effects are compared to that of human insulin. Besides histopathologic evaluation, this usually includes assessment of cell proliferation (CP) in mammary glands. Insulin analogue X10 is recommended as positive control, due to its known carcinogenic effect in rat mammary glands.

Cholecystokinin-1 receptor agonist induced pathological findings in the exocrine pancreas of non-human primates.

Background And Aims: Cholecystokinin (CCK) may potentially be used to treat obesity. However, it is well-known to induce acute pancreatitis and pancreas neoplasia in rodents, but not in primates. Here we report the nonclinical safety profile of a long-acting CCK-1 receptor (CCK-1R) agonist, NN9056, in rats and monkeys to support a First-in-Man clinical trial with NN9056.

The Effect of Diet-induced Obesity on Toxicological Parameters in the Polygenic Sprague-Dawley Rat Model.

The obese rodent serves as an indispensable tool for proof-of-concept efficacy and mode-of-action pharmacology studies. Yet the utility of this disease model as an adjunct to the conventional healthy animal in the nonclinical safety evaluation of anti-obesity pharmacotherapies has not been elucidated. Regulatory authorities have recommended employing disease models in toxicology studies when necessary.

The human GLP-1 analogs liraglutide and semaglutide: absence of histopathological effects on the pancreas in nonhuman primates.

Increased pancreas mass and glucagon-positive adenomas have been suggested to be a risk associated with sitagliptin or exenatide therapy in humans. Novo Nordisk has conducted extensive toxicology studies, including data on pancreas weight and histology, in Cynomolgus monkeys dosed with two different human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. In a 52-week study with liraglutide, a dose-related increase in absolute pancreas weight was observed in female monkeys only.

The effects of 13 wk of liraglutide treatment on endocrine and exocrine pancreas in male and female ZDF rats: a quantitative and qualitative analysis revealing no evidence of drug-induced pancreatitis.

A possible association between glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogs and incidences of pancreatitis has been suggested based on clinical studies. In male and female diabetic Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, we investigated the effects of continuous administration of liraglutide and exenatide on biochemical [lipase, pancreatic amylase (P-amylase)] and histopathological markers of pancreatitis. Male and female ZDF rats were dosed for 13 wk with liraglutide (0.

In situ phosphorylation of Akt and ERK1/2 in rat mammary gland, colon, and liver following treatment with human insulin and IGF-1.

High doses of insulin and the insulin analog AspB10 have been reported to increase mammary tumor incidence in female rats likely via receptor-mediated mechanisms, possibly involving enhanced IGF-1 receptor activation. However, insulin and IGF-1 receptor functionality and intracellular signaling in the rat mammary gland in vivo is essentially unexplored. The authors investigated the effect of a single subcutaneous dose of 600 nmol/kg human insulin or IGF-1 on Akt and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in rat liver, colon, and mammary gland.

Unique expression pattern of the three insulin receptor family members in the rat mammary gland: dominance of IGF-1R and IRR over the IR, and cyclical IGF-1R expression.

Supra-pharmacological doses of the insulin analog X10 (AspB10) increased the incidence of mammary tumors in female Sprague-Dawley rats in chronic toxicity studies, most likely via receptor-mediated mechanisms. However, little is known about the expression of the insulin receptor family in the rat mammary gland. Using laser micro-dissection, quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, we examined the expression of IR (insulin receptor), IGF-1R (IGF-1 receptor), IRR (insulin receptor-related receptor), ERα (estrogen receptor alpha), ERβ (estrogen receptor beta) and PR (progesteron receptor) in young, virgin, female Sprague-Dawley rats and compared to expression in reference organs.

Mammary gland proliferation in female rats: effects of the estrous cycle, pseudo-pregnancy and age.

Assessment of mammary gland proliferation in rats is an important endpoint in preclinical safety studies of pharmaceutical compounds. However, existing data on mammary gland proliferation in rats during the estrous cycle is conflicting, and it is unknown whether mammary gland proliferation differs between young and mature female virgin rats. Additionally, it is unclear which of the commonly applied markers of proliferating cells that is optimal for assessment of rat mammary gland proliferation.

Prolonged effect of GlycoPEGylated rFVIIa (40k-PEG-rFVIIa) in rabbits correlates to activity in plasma.

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of 40k-PEG-rFVIIa, a GlycoPEGylated derivative of recombinant wild-type FVIIa, were compared with rFVIIa in rabbits. The procoagulant effect was determined as the weight of the clot formed in a defined segment of a facial vein. A time course study was conducted where ligation was made 10 minutes, 12 or 24 hours after i.

An alternative method for preparation of tissue sections from the rat mammary gland.

In toxicopathological studies of the rat mammary glands, the guidelines of the Registry of Industrial Toxicology and Animal Data (RITA) recommend transverse sections of the inguinal mammary gland. However, occasionally limited amounts of mammary gland tissue are found in transverse sections. We compared transverse sectioning with an alternative method comprising horizontal sections of the rat mammary glands.

Biomarkers for early effects of carcinogenic dual-acting PPAR agonists in rat urinary bladder urothelium in vivo.

Small-molecule agonists of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha and gamma isoforms (dual-acting PPAR agonists) can cause urothelial cancers in rodents. Rats were dosed orally for 16 days with bladder carcinogenic (ragaglitazar) as well as non-bladder carcinogenic (fenofibrate and rosiglitazone) PPAR agonists and protein changes were assayed in the urinary bladder urothelium by Western blotting. Dose levels reflected 10-20 x human exposure, and the ragaglitazar dose was in the carcinogenic range.

Generalized cellular hypertrophy is induced by a dual-acting PPAR agonist in rat urinary bladder urothelium in vivo.

Some developmental dual-acting PPARalpha/gamma agonists, such as ragaglitazar, have shown carcinogenic effects in the rodent urinary bladder urothelium after months-years of dosing. We examined early (precancerous) changes in the bladder urothelium of rats orally dosed with ragaglitazar, using a newly developed flow cytometric method. Following 3 weeks of oral ragaglitazar dosing, increases in physical size occurred in a generalized fashion in rat bladder urothelial cells, determined by flow cytometry.

Subchronic oral toxicity study on the three flavouring substances: octan-3-ol, 2-methylcrotonic acid and oct-3-yl 2-methylcrotonate in Wistar rats.

Groups of 10 male and 10 female rats were administered 0, 25, 100 or 400 mg octan-3-ol/kg body weight per day, 77 mg 2-methylcrotonic acid/kg body weight per day or 163 mg oct-3-yl 2-methylcrotonate/kg body weight per day by gavage for 90 days. Relative liver weights of high-dose octan-3-ol males, and males and females dosed with oct-3-yl 2-methylcrotonate were significantly greater than those of the control. In male and female rats dosed with the highest level of octan-3-ol and in male rats dosed with 2-methylcrotonic acid, incidences of bile duct proliferation were increased.

IQ (2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline)-induced aberrant crypt foci and colorectal tumour development in rats fed two different carbohydrate diets.

In most aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and colorectal tumour studies, chemical carcinogens not normally found in food have been used as initiators. In the present study the food-related compound, IQ (2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline), has been used. A diet high in refined carbohydrates has been associated with enhanced development of ACF and colorectal cancer in humans.

Comparative study of histopathologic characterization of azoxymethane-induced colon tumors in three inbred rat strains.

To obtain controlled genetic variation, colon cancer was chemically induced by use of four subcutaneous injections of azoxymethane (15 mg/kg of body weight/wk) to rats of 3 inbred strains (BDIX/OrlIco, F344/NHsd, WAG/Rij). The selection was based on the availability of established colon cancer cell lines arising from these particular strains. In the first experiment, only female rats were used; in the second experiment, both sexes were studied.

The influence of simple sugars and starch given during pre- or post-initiation on aberrant crypt foci in rat colon.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the enhancing effect of dietary sugar on the development of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in male F344 rats initiated with azoxymethane (AOM). The potential role of sugar as either a co-initiator or a promoter was investigated by giving diets high in sucrose and dextrin (61%) during either the pre-initiation, the initiation, and/or the post-initiation stage of the ACF development. The colonic cell proliferation, activity of colonic phase II enzymes, and a biomarker of lipid peroxidation were additionally examined in order to obtain information on the specific mechanisms involved in the suggested effect of sucrose and dextrin on ACF development.

Preliminary evaluation of fumonisins by the Nordic countries and occurrence of fumonisins (FB1 and FB2) in corn-based foods on the Danish market.

Experts from the Nordic countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland) have carried out an evaluation of fumonisins. The working group members concluded that, at that time point, it was not possible to carry out a complete risk assessment. However, it was recommended that the human daily' intake of fumonisins should be less than 1 microg/kg bw/day.

Review of colorectal cancer and its metastases in rodent models: comparative aspects with those in humans.

Background And Purpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the most common cancer forms developing in industrialized countries, and its incidence appears to be rising. Studies of human population groups provide insufficient information about carcinogenesis, pathogenesis, and treatment of CRC. To study these phenomena in detail, a number of animal models of human CRC have been developed.

Histomorphological and immunohistochemical characterization of colonic aberrant crypt foci in rats: relationship to growth factor expression.

Many studies have been conducted to assess the potential preneoplastic nature of colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF), but still the biological significance of these foci and their relationship to colon neoplasia remains to be elucidated. In the present paper a battery of variables suggested to be indicative for colon cancer development has been studied in relation to ACF in rats. These include: (i) the degree of dysplasia; (ii) the type of mucus production; (iii) the cellular immunohistochemical expression and distribution of transforming growth factors alpha and beta and their respective receptors, epidermal growth factor receptor and transforming growth factor beta receptors I and II and phosphorylated cellular tyrosine.

The ability of two cooked food mutagens to induce aberrant crypt foci in mice.

The aberrant crypt foci assay has been used extensively to study different compounds for chemopreventive action, but almost all investigations have used initiators not normally found in the diet. In the present study two food-borne initiators, 2-amino-3-methyl-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenyl-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) were used. To simulate the human exposure further, we chose a feeding regimen with continuous low IQ- and PhIP-doses.

Refined carbohydrate enhancement of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rat colon induced by the food-borne carcinogen 2-amino-3-methyl-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ).

The aberrant crypt foci (ACF) bioassay has been used extensively to study the early effects of different dietary components on the colonic mucosa of laboratory rodents. ACF are proposed to represent preneoplastic lesions of colon cancer. Compared to the normally used initiators 1,2-dimethylhydrazine dihydrochloride (DMH) and azoxymethane (AOM), the use of a diet-related colon cancer initiator, such as the heterocyclic amine 2-amino-3-methyl-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) formed during meat cooking, would probably give a more relevant insight into diet-related colon carcinogenesis.

Ochratoxin A in Danish cereals 1986-1992 and daily intake by the Danish population.

Ochratoxin A is a common contaminant in Danish cereals, and surveillance of ochratoxin A in cereals has been a part of the Danish monitoring system since 1986. Occurrence of ochratoxin A is highly related to the climatic conditions during harvest. Rye is the crop which is most often contaminated and contains the highest levels of ochratoxin A.

Effect of potato starch, cornstarch and sucrose on aberrant crypt foci in rats exposed to azoxymethane.

Studies have shown that different kinds of carbohydrates are able to modify the development of colo-rectal cancer in animals as well as humans. In the present study with rats sucrose and two types of starches were investigated for their effects on the development of aberrant crypt foci (ACF), which have been proposed to represent preneoplastic lesions of colorectal cancer. Fifty-six three-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups and dosed subcutaneously with AOM (15 mg/kg body wt) once a week for 2 weeks.