Induction of tumours by administration of N-dibutylnitrosamine and derivatives to infant mice.

Pulse doses of N-dibutylnitrosamine(DBN), N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine(BBN) and N-butyl-N-(3carboxypropyl)nitrosamine(BCPN) suspended in 1% gelatin, were administered s.c. to infant CDF1 mice, and the experiment terminated at one year of age. Tumours were induced in lungs and liver. The incidences of lung adenomas were 73-95% in all treated mice, with no sex differences. Hepatocellular adenomas and a carcinoma were found with an incidence of 81% (21/26) in DBN, 59% (13/22) in BBN, and 32% (9/28) in BCPN-treated males and the incidence was 23% (5/22) in DBN-treated females. Only one papilloma of the fore-stomach was induced in mice treated with DBN. These results indicated that the s.c. administration of DBN, BBN, and BCPN induced tumours of the lung and liver, but no tumours of the urinary bladder, under these experimental conditions. The carcinogenic effect on mice at the treated dose level was DBN greater than BBN greater than BCPN.