Chemicals associated with decreases in the incidence of mononuclear cell leukemia in the Fischer rat.

A significant treatment-related decrease in the incidence of mononuclear cell leukemia (MCL) was identified in Fischer-344/N rats for 20 chemicals tested in the National Toxicology Program's 2-yr carcinogenicity bioassay. Fourteen of the 20 chemicals caused decreases of MCL in both male and female rats; 6 of the 20 caused a significant decrease only in males and a marginal or no decrease in female rats. Seventeen of the chemicals associated with a decrease in MCL had a free aromatic amine or nitro functional groups that could be metabolized to free amines. With 1 exception, all 14 chemicals causing a decrease in MCL in both sexes produced spleen toxicity in the 13-wk studies. Reduced body weight and decreased survival, related either to toxicity or to an increase in other types of lethal neoplasms, did not contribute to the decreases in MCL observed in chemical exposure groups. Thirteen of the 20 chemicals were positive in Salmonella tests, and 15 were associated with increases in neoplasms at other sites in rats and/or mice, suggesting that different metabolites could be responsible for these varied biological effects.