Induction of Leukemias and digestive tract tumors in Donryu rats by 1-propyl-1-nitrosourea.

Three groups of female Donryu rats were continuously given 600, 300, or 150 ppm solution of 1-propyl-1-nitrosourea in their drinking water. Leukemias developed in 62 of 109 (57%) rats surviving for more than 17 weeks and tumors developed in the digestive tracts of 31 (28%) animals. Of the leukemias, the differentiated myelocytic type was the most frequent, followed by myeloblastic leukemia and erythroleukemia. Tumors in the digestive tract, predominantly in the glandular stomach and duodenum, were both epithelial and nonepithelial. The other induced tumors were mainly in the mammary glands, ear ducts, and thymus, though the incidence was less than 15%.