Tumor induction by a single subcutaneous injection of sterigmatocystin in newborn mice.

Sterigmatocystin, a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus sydowi, Aspergillus nidulans, and a species of Bipolaris, was given to newborn BALB/c X DBA/2F1 (hereafter referred to as CD2F1) mice by a single s.c. administration in 1% gelatin suspension. In an acute toxicity study, the maximum tolerated dose of sterigmatocystin was 5 mug/g body weight. In a chronic study, a single s.c. injection of 5, 1, or 0.5 mug/g body weight gave rise to high incidences of lung and liver adenomas when the animals were killed at the end of 1 year. The incidence of both tumors in mice at the dose of 5 mug/g body weight was statistically significant, and the incidences of lung tumor in female mice and of liver tumor in male mice at the dose of 1 mug/g body weight were also statistically significant, compared with tumors in control mice. Other tumors also were induced in treated mice (two malignant lymphomas and one adenoma of the submaxillary gland), in contrast to a zero incidence in vehicle control mice. These results confirm that a small quantity of sterigmatocystin induces tumors of lung and liver and that the dose of sterigmatocystin is related to the incidence of tumors in mice.