Rat strain differences in catechol carcinogenicity to the stomach.

The carcinogenic potential of catechol was compared in male Wistar, WKY, Lewis and SD strains of rats. Groups of 30 animals were treated with powdered diet containing 0.8% catechol for 104 wk and then examined histopathologically. Induction of glandular stomach adenocarcinomas occurred in 67, 73 and 77% of Wistar, Lewis and SD animals, respectively, but in only 10% of WKY rats. In addition, catechol induced forestomach papillomas in 20% (P < 0.05), and squamous cell carcinomas in 3% of SD rats. The results thus indicate that Wistar, Lewis and SD rats are much more susceptible than WKY rats to induction of glandular stomach adenocarcinomas by 0.8% catechol, and that this phenolic antioxidant also possesses weak carcinogenic activity for the SD rat forestomach.