Correlation between the carcinogenicities of nitrofuran derivatives and their destructive actions on sebaceous glands of mouse skin.

The effects of six nitrofuran derivatives (including a formerly used food preservative) on mouse skin sebaceous glands were investigated. A close correlation was found between the carcinogenicities and destructive activities of nitrofuran derivatives on the sebaceous glands. 5-Nitro-2-furaldehyde semicarbazone and 4-methyl-1-[(5-nitrofurfurylidene)amino]-2-imidazolidinone, which are carcinogenic, caused marked destruction of the glands at a dose of 1-5 mg/mouse. 2-(5-Nitro-2-furfurylidene)-aminoethanol almost completely destroyed the glands at a dose of 5 mg/mouse; its carcinogenicity has not yet been investigated. 1-[(5-Nitrofurfurylidene)amino]-carcinogenic, did not affect the glands, even at a dose of 5 mg/mouse. 2-(2-Furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)acrylamide, which is a potent mutagen but not carcinogenic, had no effect on the glands at a dose of 5 mg/mouse. Under similar conditions, the potent carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz(alpha)athracene almost completely destroyed the sebaceous glands at a dose of 0.05 mg/mouse, but dimethyl sulfoxide (used as solvent for the test compounds) had no effect.