Difference in target organs in carcinogenesis with a heterocyclic amine, 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline, in different strains of mice.

2-Amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ) induces cancers in the forestomach and liver, but not in the colon, of CDF1 male and female mice, which are thought to be resistant to induction of colon cancer by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine. In this study, we examined the carcinogenicity of MeIQ in C57BL/6N female mice, which are susceptible to 1,2-dimethylhydrazine. This strain of mice developed carcinomas of the cecum, colon and liver, but not the forestomach, when given a diet containing 300 ppm of MeIQ. This fact indicates that the target organs of a chemical carcinogen change depending on the strain of a given animal species.