pectins and 2-6-dinitrotoluene

Pectin-induced changes in microflora have been shown to elevate the covalent binding of 2,6-dinitrotoluene (2,6-DNT)-related materials to total rat hepatic macromolecules. Therefore, the effect of diets varying in pectin content on the induction of foci and hepatic tumors induced by 2,6-DNT was studied in male F344 rats. 2,6-DNT (3.0-3.5 and 0.6-0.7 mg/kg/day) was incorporated into NIH-07 (NIH), an open formula cereal-based diet high in pectin content, AIN-76A (AIN), a purified pectin-free diet, or AIN-76A supplemented with 5% pectin (AP). Hepatic foci were scored after histochemical staining for gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), canalicular adenosine triphosphatase or glucose-6-phosphatase following administration of test diets for 3, 6 and 12 months. The number of foci per cm3 of liver increased in a dose- and time-department manner following incorporation of 2,6-DNT into test diets with NIH greater than AP greater than AIN. In the NIH diet, 2,6-DNT did not alter the phenotypic distribution of foci. Animals fed control or 2,6-DNT-containing AIN and AP diets had few or no GGT foci throughout the study. Hepatocellular carcinomas and neoplastic nodules were observed only in rats fed NIH containing 2,6-DNT. The concentrations of 2,6-DNT-related material covalently bound to hepatic macromolecules after a single oral dose of radiolabeled 2,6-DNT given after 12 months on the diets increased in control rats and in rats receiving low dose 2,6-DNT in the diet with AIN less than AP less than NIH. These studies show that the carcinogenicity of 2,6-DNT differs depending on whether rats are fed an NIH or AIN (+/- pectin) diet. The results suggest that diet-induced alterations in the covalent binding of 2,6-DNT are not the sole factor in determining the carcinogenic response to 2,6-DNT. Furthermore, unidentified contaminants in cereal-based diets may influence foci and tumor production in rat liver during carcinogen treatment.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; Body Weight; Dietary Fiber; Dinitrobenzenes; gamma-Glutamyltransferase; Glucose-6-Phosphatase; Liver; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental; Male; Nitrobenzenes; Organ Size; Pectins; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344

Topics: Animals; Dietary Carbohydrates; Dinitrobenzenes; Drug Interactions; Intestines; Male; Nitrobenzenes; Organ Size; Pectins; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Rats, Inbred Strains; Spleen; Testis

The influence of diets varying in pectin content on intestinal microfloral metabolic capacity of rats has been investigated as a possible mechanism for the alteration of toxicity of 2,6-dinitrotoluene (2,6-DNT) produced by these diets. Male F-344 rats were fed a purified diet (AIN-76A), AIN-76A plus 5% or 10% citrus pectin, or either of two cereal-based diets that vary in pectin content, NIH-07 or Purina Chow 5002. After 28 days, rats were given tritium-labeled 2,6-DNT (10 or 75 mg/kg po) and killed 12 hr later. Total hepatic macromolecular covalent binding (CVB) was determined by exhaustive extraction. The CVB of 2,6-DNT was found to be independent of diet at 10 mg/kg. However, at 75 mg/kg CVB was increased 40% by feeding 5% pectin in the purified diet and 90% by feeding 10% pectin in the purified diet. Animals fed Purina 5002 and NIH-07 had 135 and 150% higher CVB, respectively, than animals fed the purified diet alone and significantly greater CVB than animals fed the pectin supplemented diets. Elevated (two- to threefold) beta-glucuronidase and nitroreductase activities, microfloral enzymes proposed to be involved in the activation of 2,6-DNT to a toxicant, were found in the cecal contents of animals fed the pectin-containing diets which correlated with a two- to threefold increase in total number of cecal anaerobes. These results suggest that pectin-induced changes in microflora may enhance hepatoxicity after high doses of 2,6-DNT.

Topics: Animals; Bacteria; Cecum; Dietary Carbohydrates; Dinitrobenzenes; Glucuronidase; Liver; Male; Nitrobenzenes; Nitroreductases; Oxidoreductases; Pectins; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Tritium