Serum estrogens and estrogen responsiveness in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced mammary tumors as influenced by dietary fat.

The effect of dietary fat on mammary tumor incidence, estrogen-binding capacity as related to the hormone dependency of the tumors, and circulating estrogen levels in Sprague-Dawley rats given an oral dose of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) was investigated. Rats were fed diets consisting of 0.5, 5, or 20% corn oil starting at weaning and were administered 5 mg DMBA at 50 days of age. Tumor incidences were 13, 46, and 75% for the groups given 0.5, 5, and 20% fat, respectively, when the experiment was terminated 20-22 weeks later. Serum estradiol, measured at proestrus at 50 days of age and at the end of the experiment, was slightly depressed at both time points in rats fed the 0.5% fat diet but was similar in the other 2 groups. Serum estrone levels were not significantly different at either time point. Estrogen receptor levels in the tumor were the same in the groups given 5 and 20% fat but were lower in the group given 0.5% fat. No difference was detected in the progesterone receptor concentrations. Furthermore, most (approximately 70%) of the tumors in all 3 dietary groups regressed in response to ovariectomy, which suggested that dietary fat has very little influence on the estrogen dependence of the tumor. This observation suggested that fat intake does not result in any intrinsic difference in the biochemical action of estrogen.