Promoting and anticarcinogenic effects of phenobarbital and DDT in the rat hepatocarcinogenesis.

The possible discrepancy between the dose level required for promoting action (when given after the initiation process, and that needed to exert an anticarcinogenic effect when given simultaneously with a carcinogen) of hepatic promoters were investigated in an attempt to obtain a "practical" threshold dose of promoters. Phenobarbital (PB) and dichlorophenyltrichlorethane (DDT) were used as promoters and 3'-methyl-4-(dimethylamino)-azobenzene (3'-Me-DAB) was used as the carcinogen. Male weanling rats were treated with either 600 ppm 3'-Me-DAB for 3 weeks followed by a diet containing a promoter at various dose levels (5-500 ppm), or the animals were treated with a low dose (100 ppm) of 3'-Me-DAB plus a promoter at various dose levels (20-500 ppm). The effects of promoters were measured by scoring size and number of enzyme-altered islands (EAIs) at 12 and 24 weeks of age. The promoting effect of PB and DDT was demonstrated in dose-dependent fashion, in the dose range of 10-500 ppm and 20-500 ppm, respectively. On the other hand, promoters given simultaneously with a low dose of carcinogen enhanced carcinogenesis at all the dose levels tested, in contrast with the inhibitory effect on carcinogenesis when given together with relatively high doses of carcinogens.