methylnitronitrosoguanidine and tyrosine-methyl-ester

The effects of combined administration of a catecholamine precursor, tyrosine methyl ester (TME), and an ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) inhibitor, 1,3-diaminopropane (DAP), on the incidence of gastric cancers induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), the norepinephrine (NE) concentration and ODC activity of the gastric wall, and the labeling index of the gastric mucosa were investigated in inbred Wistar rats. Rats received s.c. injections of TME, 512 mg/kg body weight, every other day and drinking water with or without 2.5 g/l of DAP after 25 weeks of oral administration of MNNG. At week 52, administration of TME resulted in significant increases in the incidence of gastric cancers, in the NE concentration and the ODC activity of the antral portion of the gastric wall, and in the labeling index of antral epithelial cells. Administration of both TME and DAP significantly reduced the enhancements by TME of gastric carcinogenesis, NE concentration and ODC activity of the antral wall, and the labeling index of the antral mucosa. Our results suggest that ODC inhibition lessens enhancement by TME of gastric carcinogenesis and that the enhancement by TME of gastric carcinogenesis is mediated in part by polyamine biosynthesis.

Topics: Animals; Diamines; Enzyme Inhibitors; Male; Methylnitronitrosoguanidine; Norepinephrine; Ornithine Decarboxylase; Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitors; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Stomach Neoplasms; Tyrosine

The effect of tyrosine methyl ester (TME) on the incidence, number, and histological types of gastric cancers induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) was investigated in male Wistar rats. Rats were subcutaneously given TME, 512 mg/kg body weight, every other day after 20 weeks of oral treatment with MNNG. Prolonged alternate-day administration of TME caused a significant increase in the incidence and number of gastric cancers of the glandular stomach by week 52. However, it did not affect the histology of the cancers. TME also caused a significant increase in tissue norepinephrine concentrations in the antral portion of the gastric wall and in the labelling indices of the antral epithelial cells. However, TME had no influence on the serum gastrin level and antral pH. These findings indicate that TME enhances gastric carcinogenesis, and this may be related to its effects on increasing norepinephrine levels in the gastric wall and stimulating proliferation of the antral epithelial cells.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Animals; Catecholamines; Drug Synergism; Epinephrine; Gastric Acidity Determination; Gastric Mucosa; Gastrins; Male; Methylnitronitrosoguanidine; Muscle, Smooth; Norepinephrine; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Stomach; Stomach Neoplasms; Tyrosine