The effect produced by some carcinogenic nitrosocompounds on organ cultures from human embryonic lung and kidney tissues.

Previous works using organ cultures of lung and kidney tissues of mouse, rat and hamster embryos exposed to transplacental action of some carcinogens showed premalignant growth. This paper presents the results of organ culture of human embryonic lung and kidney tissues. Direct action of some carcinogenic nitrosocompounds (N-nitrosomethylurea, dimethylnitrosamine and orthoaminoazotoluene) resulted in higher survival of the treated organ cultures and induced epithelial hyperplasia. The changes depended directly upon the dose of carcinogen employed.